The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-03-15
STATUTORY DRY
BILL IS KILLED
LAWMAKERS SEEM WELL Salts
FLED WITH THE CONSTITU-
TIONAL AMENDMENT
Vote IS NEARLY Two TO One
ANTI-LIQUOR MEN SEND MEAS
URE TO ITS LAST RESI-
ING PLACE

URE TO IT'S LAST hEol-
ING PLACE
St. Paul, March 12.-Statutory pro-
hibition has gone the way of its pre-
decessors and both house and senate
feel better. The house by vote OF
nearly two to one sent the bill to the
bonepile. The knife was applied after
the house committee on temperance
had reported it out for passage. The
action of the house was prompted by
its former stand on the question OF
drv or wet Minnesota when it ap-
proved of the bill putting the matter
I'D to the people. That both house and
senate had already passed on the mat
ter of a dry or wet Minnesota and
that continued agitation of the subject
would tend to involve and embarass
other needed legislation was pointed
out to the committee, but that body
insisted on reporting the bill favora-
bly,. 1t was then that the determina-
ton to kill it on the floor was reached
and both drys and vets Joined in the
slaughter which followed. In the past
house and senate temperance commit
tees have been conspicuous for what
they failed to do in an accepted dry
way, but no one can cast any doubt
as to the makeup of the present house
committee. It's dry and that is all
there is to it.
A bill, with J. D. Sullivan of St.
Cloud as it's chief hacker, abolishing
the state immigration department, ap-
peared in the house and in conse-
quence admirers of the department
are much perturbed. What is back of
the bill is their chief concern. mas
much as nearly all of the Western
states maintain similar bureaus and
the wiping out of the Minnesota de-
partment would render valueless
costly equipment it is not thought
that the Minnesota immigration
the bill will get very far. There is nc
doubt that the Minnesota immigration
department has been of immense
value to the state and that it might
have done greater and better work
had it been properly financed. Many
a settler dates his Minnesota resi-
dence from some activity of the pres
ent bureau.
Statutory suffrage for women only
as it relates to the right of the fair
sex to vote for presidential electors
had the boards in the senate the past
week when the senate elections COM
mittee permitted a public hearing OF
the Ole Sageng suffrage bill. 1t was
show day for the Twin Cities and the
women made the most of it. So far
no committee action has been taken
But it is more than likely that t.
Sageng bill will be reported out. In
addition to the Sageng bill there is
another measure in the committee put
ting the question of woman suffragc
up to popular vote, but it may never
see the light of day. The drys ar
said to oppose the measure, as they
fear it's appearance on the ballot a.
the next election will detract from
the prohibition constitutional amend
ment, which has been approved by
both houses.
DR.. Marion LIE Roy Burton, the new
head of the university of Minnesota,
made his first bow to the Legislature
when he delivered a short talk before
the lawmakers in joint session. Th'
new president is a youthful looking
person and made an excellent impress
sion. His first test of strength will
be his ability to induce the house an
senate committees to loosen up in thf
matter of desired university appropri-
ationS.
The senate has sent to the house
its latest in the way of good roads
legislation. The bill, the product of
the activities of R. c. Dunn of Prince
ton, abolishes the present state high
way commission and provides in its
stead a highway commissioner wfo
shall devote all his time to The work
The new office carries a salary Of ST.
500. The details as tc road work, to-
gether with the apr 0rt'onrlent of road
funds, is about the same as the Ole
iaw.
The senate has relegated to the
scrap heap the Sullivan bill giving
state employees an eight hour day. He
could not convince the country mem
bers of it's merits and they gave the
measure its death blow. That labo:
will get very much out Of this session
of the legislature is doubtful. Natur-
ally all proposed labor legislation has
its inception in the cities and major.
ity of the country members refuse to
be brought around to the city men,
bers' way of thinking. The only fear
generally is that farm labor will be
involved.