The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-03-01

prohibitionists are making serious
mistake in pushing a statutory pro-
hibition measure at this session of the
Legislature. They, the temperate tenn
perance members, say: .The question
is squarely before the voters Of the
state. 1t is for them to determine.
If the prohibition amendment is adopt
! ed the liquor question will be effective
ly disposed of for many years to
come. If we get prohibition by enact
ment Of the legislature, the next or
some subsequent legislature may re-
peal the law. Besides statutory pro-
hibition might have a prejudicial
effect on the voters and cause the de-
feat of the prohibition constitutional
amendment" On the other hand the
friends of statutory prohibition argue
that the enactment Of such law will
help to secure the adoption of the con-
stitutional amendment. It is my in
dividual opinion that the conservative
temperance people are pursuing the
right course.
* X X
Many of the senators devoutly wish
that the house had killed the super-tax
on iron ore measure, especially those
senators who have political ambitions.
The vote on the measure in the senate
will be close. There will not be
more than two or three votes to
spare either way. At the present
writing the opponents of the bill seem
to have a shade the best of it. There
is disposition to have the matter
disposed of as speedily as possible
* X X
At a meeting of the senate tax
committee on Tuesday afternoon, Sen
ator Griggs of St. Louis county,
moved to have the bill made a special
order for next Friday afternoon. But
the friends of the measure, who were
a majority Of the committee, objected
to such haste and urged that the au-
thors of the bill should be offered an
opportunity to be heard. It was final
ly decided that public hearing
should be given in the senate cham
Der next Tuesday afternoon, and that
the bill should be made special order
for next Thursday or Friday after
noon, when it will be finally disposed
of for this session.
* X X
There was joint session of the
house and senate highways commit
tees on Tuesday afternoon. The pro
posed amendments to the Dunn road
law were thoroughly explained by the
chairman of the senate committee, who
in connection with Mr.. Louis Weeks of
the attorney generals Office had draft
ed the amendments. Both committees
unanimously approved of the amend
ments. The bill will be made special
order in both houses for next Friday,
and will probably pass as amended
Next week I will endeaver to explain
to the readers Of the Union the nature
of the amendments, that is if the bill
passes both houses.
X X X
By an overwhelming majority-only
eight nays-the house on Tuesday
voted 100000 to give the members of
the national guard who served in Tex
as so cents day additional to the pay
received from the US. government. l
am afraid the bill will not have
smooth sailing in the senate, but some
Of the senators will make hard fight
for it. The trouble is there are so
many demands for increased appro-
priations from the charitable and
correctional institutions Of the state.
There is one million dollars and over
due the high and graded schools from
last year, and there is an urgent de-
mand that the deficit be made good.
A large amount is due counties for
ditching state lands. Then there is
an imperative necessity for increased
accommodations for the states insane.
Nevertheless the boys who responded to
their country's call are entitled to gen
erous treatment by the state.
R. c.. D.