Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-01-24
COMPROMISE. ON
Near DRY BASIS
Proposition Circulated Among
State Legislators.
WOULD WIPE OUT SALOON
Scheme 10 to Permit Sale Of Beer and
Light Wines by Manufacturers
to Consumers Direct.

st. Paul-(SpeciaD-Do not be sur
prised i the movement to place Min
nesota In the dry column, which in
the minds of many has an excellent
chance Of reaching the voters Of the
state, finishes on pear dry basis. A
halfway scheme is under consideration
and the surprising feature of it all is
the apparent eagernes Of quite a mum.
Der Of legislators, regarded as dry, to
climb aboard. The proposition ad-
vanced is to amend the prohibition
measure as introduced in the, two Min
nesota houses to the extent of con-
fining it to high proof liquors only.
This would hit the whisky end Of the
liquor business and permit the manu-
facture and sale of beer and light
wines in limited quantities. Such
sales would be by the manufacturer
to consumer direct Further; it would
wipe out Of business the public drink.
ing place, which is the chief object Of
the Anti-Saloon league, now behind
the movement for dry state. The
idea of a compromise was whispered
several days ago, but it took on sub
stantial proportions when copies Of
the proposed dry amendment were
printed and circulated among a few.
These few included the dry leaders In
the house and senate and while they
have maintained strict silence as to
their view Of the scheme it can be
said on good authority that a number
of them are interested. That the new
bill will be offered as q compromise
should the real dry act reach the floor
with favorable committee report is
a certainty. Accepting the claims of
the league, and there is no reason to
dispute them, they have seventy-one
pledges in the house for a dry state,
which is more than enough to put the
prohibition amendment over. Quite a
few of those pledged, however, are
near drys, and It is here where the
shoe pinches.
+ i. +
Opinion is greatly divided as to the
reception a dry amendment would re-
ceive at the hands of the voters two
years hence. Many think it would be
rejected, but take it from yours truly
the wet end of the game is not overly
anxious to bet their good money on
the outcome. Likewise the drys. with
full knowledge that Their are
many in the state more than willing
to put the saloon out of business, but
are not anxious to separate them.
selves from the "cup that cheers" IL II
can be obtained in some other way,
have agreed to eliminate the trans;
portation" clause from the bill now in
the hands of the two temperance com.
mittees. The bill as introduced pro.
hibits the manufacture, sale and trans.
portation of liquor within. the state, but
at secret meeting of the drys, which
included such noted dry leaders az
Representative Norton of Minneapolis
and Rev. Stafford of the Anti-Saloon
league, 1t was agreed to eliminate the
word Transportation" Such elimtna'
ton, it was pointed out, would catch
the near drys, Of whom they are some
what in doubt.
1. 4. !.
A bill offered in the house proposes
an increased gross earnings tax fol-
the two big telephone companies op
Grating In Minnesota and judging from
the activity of the two big concerns
the Tri-State Telephone company and
the Northwestern, it is not at all to
their liking. The measure, which Is
fathered by Representative c. H. War
ner of Aitkin and Representative c.
M. Bendixen Of Morgan. is a classifi
cation affair. It provides a per cent
tax for companies earning in excess
of 100000 a year, one Of 3 per cent
for companies earning less, and tai
of 10 cents per instrument for the lit
tie fellows The present tax is pei
cent for all telephone companies re
CARELESS Of their earnings. The two
companies at which the increased tai
is directed showed up their toll rates
from rs to 1915 per cent two years
ago following the passage Of the Min
nesota telephone state control bill
and in consequence sympathy fol
them as far as the two houses is con
cerned is limited. Bills are also II
preparation returning the toll rates o.
the two companies named to theil
figure Of two years ago.
+ + +
The wiping out Of the nonpartisar
provision Of the statewide primary
law, as far rs the legislature is con
cerned, is now UP to that body. Sena
tor w. S. Dwinnell of Minneapolis
took the initiative Friday when he OF
Tered a bill repeating the nonpartisa1
provision and it was sent withou
comment to the committee on cleo
| kie,nr NIha& tic fata mill ha Ia La rnol,