The labor world., 1917-02-03
LEGISLATURE BEING
WATCHED BY FARMERS
Society of Equity sanguine of
Securing Reform Measures
at St. Paul.

Drawing their conclusions from
what has been done during the first
three weeks OF the legislative session,
the officers of the Minnesota State
Union, American Society of Equity,
who are in the capitol building watch
ing closely all developments pertain
ing to the interests OF the organiza-
ton, express confidence that favoraple
action will be forthcoming on the
various bills whose passage is desired
| IN accordance with the program
| adopted b., the last annual conven-
ton.
Much of the time since the legis
lature convened has been taken up
with the preliminary details Of the
session, such as the election Of the
speaker. appointment of committees
and the work of organizati ton in gen.
cral. A host of bills of every char.
! acter have been pouring into both the
senate and the house and the distribu.
ton Of these measures among the diff
ferent committees appointed to handle
them has been, perhaps, the most i'm
portant work thus far. Now, with the
bulk of the bills introduced, the CON-
mittees are getting down to business
and reports on many of the importan;
, measures may be expected soon.
Methods Of Inspection.
The bills indorsed by the Society Of
| Equity, relating to improved methods
| of inspection, weighing and marketing
| Of grain, have been introduced in the
house, either by Magnus johnson or
! A. c.. Welch, or jointly by both, and
have been placed before the grain
and warehouse committee for consid-
! Grafton. This is the committee which
! Speaker Parker permitted the farmer
members of the house to name, as
he pledged himself to do before his
, election, and, inasmuch as twelve IT
! it's members are farmers, and two
! others are known to be in sympathy
with the Society of Equity's pro-
! gram, no fear is entertained that the
! grain measures will not receive fair
treatment.
; The grain and warehouse commit
) tee has had under consideration
/ House File "a. bill to prevent dis
: elimination in prices paid by the old
! line elevator companies for the pur-
pose of maintaining monopoly of
|
! business farmers elevators at points
| where those discriminatory prices are
paid. At the several meetings of the
! committee. representatives Of the
| Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce
I and the old line elevator companies
! were on hand to oppose this BILL
/ claiming that there was no reason
! for law Of this kind, as they had
never been guilty of such practices;
and, so loud were they in their asser-
tlons of their innocence and virtue,
that the committee was convinced OF
, the necessity of such law and has
recommended the bill for passage.
Farmers Forum.
, The farmer members OF the legis-
! lature have formed an organization
called the Farmers Forum, the pur-
pose of which is to give special study
i and consideration to all bills in which
! the farmers of the state are interest
ed. At a meeting held Monday night
Jan. -, the forum gave unanimous
! Endorsement to House File 90, a bill
| introduced by Magnus Johnson and
providing for the organization of CO.
operative business corporations in
! Minnesota. Wednesday afternoon the
! committee to which the bill was re-
ferred con sidered it and recommend
cd it for passage.
The Society of Equity has every
! reason to feel elated that it has sue.
ceeded in bringing it's program of re-
fern measures before the Legislature
this year with such a display OF
strength and determination as to make
the prospects for the adoption of al
least majority of the bills exceed
ingly bright. The state officers, whom
the convention placed in charge OF
Legislative matters, have made ar.
rangements to follow the movements
OF the legislature during the entire
session and nothing will be left un-
done to accomplish the work to which
the organization has pledged itself.