New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-01-03
STATE | 4! B. SIO ] IN
b B ANNUAL I GRIND
LEGISLATIVE SESSION OPENS
! FOR THREE MONTHS MORE
2 ~ 2 ID i
OR LESS WORK

ii f. !.
FIGHT FOR THE OFFICE OF
SPEAKER
With the election of Ralph j. Parker
OF Spring Valley, Fillmore county, as
Speaker of the House of Representatives
= practically assured, the Minnesota legis-'
3 lature began its bi-annual grind at the
State Capitol yesterday. That Mr..
Parker had won the fight which has
been Waged almost from the day after
election, was conceded following CON
ference in St. Paul Saturday night. The
new presiding officer is looked upon as
dry candidate, and his selection
was decided upon by self-styled "elimi-
nation committee, of members who
favor the submission of prohihitory
amendment to the people at this session.
There were originally five ..'drys'' in the
field, where now there is only one. i&
1t is understood that Mr.. Parker has
his organization mapped out, and his
committee and other appointments will
have been made by the time this issue
OF the Review has reached it's readers.
The legislative session which opened
MT noon yesterday will end its labors at
the tap of the bell on Wednesday, April
~. From now until then the show will
be continuous performance.
Frankson Takes Oath
There was but little doing in the SEN
ate yesterday. Lieut.. Governor Thos.
Frankson was sworn in He has an
nounced that he would keep the organ
Iation perfected by Governor Burn
quist two years ago when he was Lieu
tenant Governor.
Both branches of the legislature will
convene in the, House chamber today to
witness the Inauguration Of Governor
Byrnquist and to hear his message.
Probably the most impor tan tegisla-
ton to be enacted, or at least considered
will be that Of the Efficiency and Econ
omy Commission. There is also likely
to be considerable interest aroused
turnout the state over two other proposed
changes in the laws of the commonwealth
These are the one proposing the sub
mission of a prohibition amendment to
the constitution, and the one that would
change the present election laws. ".
The Efficiency and Economy Commits
sion in its bills will deal with nine pro-
posed reforms in conducting the affairs
of the state. They are reforms relating
to the administration of the public
health, public domain, bureau of in
vestments, independent grain inspection,
merger of educational boards and other
subjects. The other changes advocated
by the commission include the creation
OF state purchasing department in the
board OF control, abolition of the board of
managers of hesitate public school at Owa-
tonna and the abolition of the state print
ing commission.
1t is said that some Of the members of
the legislature have their own ideas of
economy and efficiency to the extent
that they have prepared bills of their own.
Bitter Fight in Prospect.
The most bitter fight probably to be
enacted during the session will be that
over the liquor question. While there
is plan on foot to enact state wide
5Astatutsry prohibition bill, the drys are
pM'f1ing to make a big drive on a
!. prohibitory amendment. They claim to
have votes enuf in the house to carry out
Their plans but refuse to make any state
& ment as to how the senate will vote. The
friends of the amendment intend to start
the ball rolling at once and have their
pet hobby out Of the way early to prevent
any possibility of trading later on.
Election Law Change
OF all the proposed legislation none is Of
more Importance than changes in the
election laws, say a majority of the
leaders in both houses. 1t is frankly
admitted that the primary system as
.trfed out here has been a failure. A
lgreturn to modified convention system
has been suggested. Placing legisla-
tive and other offices back on partisan
basis will be one Of the propositions
of most interest to the lawmakers
themselves. Democrats thruout the
state are the chief protestants against
this suggested change.
The state auditor, ]. A. o. Preus.
will ask the legislature to provide for