The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-02

BEGAN
AT NOON
Minnesota Legislature Has
Heavy Program for the
Next Three Months

St Paul, Mimi. Jan. 2.--The Mime
sofa state legislature convened at noon
| today. with the prospect OF acting on
such proposed legislation az state
wide prohibition, woman suffrage. re-
organization of various state depart
ments and repeal of the boxing bill
before adjournment by time limitation
on April 10.
Interest in the initial session of
Mfnnesota's fortieth lawmaking body
centered about the election OF a speak,
ar of the house of representatives.
which follows brisk campaign of
several weeks. In preliminary con-
ferences, Ralph ]. Parker of Spring
Valley was decided upon for the
Parker said he was assured of election
If those who had pledged themselves
to vote for him stuck" Charles H.
Warner of AitlSin was Mr.. Parker's
closest opponent.
After organization of both houses of
the nonpartisan legislature. adjourn
ment will be taken until tomorrow,
when the two bodies will meet in joint
session for the Inauguration of Gov.
J. A. A. Burnquist for two-year cleo
tive term.
In the hope of reaching important
legislation early in the session. lead
ers have laid plans to work at high
speed during the first few weeks.
The Legislative Program.
Foremost on the legislative program,
in point Of importance, Is the proposed
statewide prohibition law. Leaders Of
the temperance forces declare pre-
election pledges bind q majority of the
newly-elected house members to vote
for submission to the people Of O. "dry"
amendment to the state constitution,
and predict that the sixty-seven mem
bers OF the senate who passed the
county option bill last session, will
pass the prohibition measure without
a serious fight. Senators are elected
for four year terms. Bills intended to
strengthen the county option law and
to provide more severe punishment for
persons convicted of illegal sale of
liquor also will be put forward early
in the session.
Second in Importance to the pro-
posed temperance legislation comes
the fight for woman suffrage. The ef-
fort to obtain passage OF a constitu-
tional amendment granting full suf-
rage will be abandoned. and the suf-
frage forces will seek enactment of a
statute permitting women to vote for
president. This. it is claimed, can be
granted without constitutional amend
ment. as in Illinois. and may operate
as an entering wedge to ultimate full
suffrage.
Bills will be introduced for changes
in the primary election law. for re-
peal Of the nonpartisan legislature law,
and for the enactment OF an absent
voters law.
May Repeal Boxing Rm.
Many legislators have expressed the
bill passed by the 1915 legislature, per-
hitting ten-round no-decision boxing
bouts, will be futile.
The Farmers Nonpartisan league will
including one authorizing
state loans on farm lands under a con-
stitutional amendment passed at the |
November election. The league also |
taxation on trades in grain futures, and
a tonnage tax on iron ore. |
Other important bills to come I'D at
The present session provide>for a topo-
graphical survey of the state and a |
state controlled drainage system; man.
fracture of newsprint paper by the /
state; legislation to curb stock promo
ion schemes, and the carrying out of
No. i, passed at the NoVem-t
,er election, by providing S250,000 from
he state school fund as a revolving
und for Improvement of state lands.
. Ihe efhciency and economy commits
o conduct survey of the various state |
departments and submit reorganization
has prepared. after
learly two years work, eleven meas
Tres which will be introduced early in
he session. These measures follow:
Efficiency and Economy Measures.
Creation of a state department of |,
public domain, embracing bureaus Of |
public lands, fish and game. forests, i'm
mines, highways and drain
Lge and waters, each headed by a conf
missioner.
Elimination of unsalaried state
boards and substitution of salaries COM
nissioners. the members to devote their
entire time to the states work.
A single state board of education to L
'eplace all existing boards with the ex-
Designation Of the state board of /
control to act as state purchasing
Lgent,s manage the capitol and handle
'ther new duties.
A state bureau OF investments.
Reorganization of the state health
department.. . @#"1
Amendment of the state constitution
o limit the house membership to 100
nd the senate membership to fifty.
A constitutional convention for the |,
omplete revision of the state consti-
ution.
A law compelling all state depart
1ents to turn ali miscellaneous receipts Il
ver. to the state treasurer as soon as
eceiVed.
Divorce of the state grain inspection
ystem from the railroad and ware
ouse commission.
Abolition of present hotel and inspec-
ion system, and the transfer of these
uties to the dairy and food commits
ion.