The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-04-19

commission of five did not appeal tx
the house, which made an amendment
to the bill giving the governor vett
power in the consideration of the com
missions acts and orders.
The public domain bill, product Of
the Carley efficiency and economy
commission, and regarded as the most
important of the reform measures
drafted by that bdy, probably went
the way of it's predecessors Saturday
when the senate refused to give it spe'
cial consideration. This was after the
house had approved the bill, anc
means that it will probably die with 9
lot of other unfinished measures now
lying in the senate bill hopper. The
public domain bill, which brought I'm.
| der one head number of activities
now controlled by State Auditor Preus
and other department heads, was es-
pecially desired by Governor Burn
quist as he brought unusual pressure
to secure it's passage. Aiding him was
Secretary of State Schmahl, while
State Auditor Preus led the opposition.
So warm was the fight over the bill in
the house that some nasty charges of
lobbying and trading resulted. Rep
resentative Charles Warner led the
fight for the bill in the house and was
victorious. Behind the scenes, how
ever, was Secretary of State Schmahl,
and it is admitted that his persuasive
powers went far to bring about the de-
sired finish. l. A. Caswell also was in
terested in the fight to the extent of
helping out State Auditor Preus.
*
Probably some of the measures
either passed or killed by the present
legislature may not be to the satisfac-
ton of some, yet no one can complain
of lack of attention to duty by men,
bers of the two bodies. For over a
week the house held day and night
sessions and the product of their ac-
Invites is seen in a mass of laws that
has fairly swamped the executive de-
partment. Dozens of them are cura-
tive measures and quite a few are lit
tie better than special legislation. In
one day the senate alone passed
ninety-five bills. The grind has been
terrific and in some respects is I'M
equalled in legislative history.
Another measure of Importance was
listed among the things that might
have been when the senate put the
knife into the Rodenberg text book
bill. The bill provided for state text
books, the same to be published by
the state and sold othe users at cost.
Its passage, it was predicted, would
cut the cost of school books through
out the state at least one-half. Text
book concerns and interested educa-
tors are credited with the defeat of
the measuer. This bill has been at
tempted time and again, but has never
been able to get by.
1t is now a misdemeanor to shoot
game from an automobile. The bill
providing for such has been signed by
the governor. The new game and fish
laws, representing the combined eff
forts of Senator James Carley and
Representative Inderhus of Stearns
county, are among the best of recent
years.,
Bank legislation for the session rep
resents about fifteen measures cover
inge minor additions to and corrections
of the present state banking laws.
Senator Harry Weis of LeSueur, who
was in charge of this particular line
of legislation in the upper body, says
that while none of the bills passed
can be listed as important they mate
rally strengthen the present state
bank act.
The state fair lost out completely
on it's big plan for improvements, so
far as the senate committee on fl
nance is concerned. In the estate &C
Invites" bill reported to the senate
not cent of the 100000 asked for
new buildings, sewer connections and
other betterments is granted. The bill
as reported calls for total of $1,416,-
900, Of which the largest sum, $780,
300, is for the maintenance of farm
ers' Institutes, aid to fire department
associations and to all the various
quasi-public societies and institutions
that have been receiving state aid.
Senator Nord's bill greatly strength
ening the hand of the state in dealing
with the l. w. w., or any organization
melting to violence OR riot, has been
adopted by the house. This bill also
has companion defining vagrancy.
1t is very broad. The only house mem
Der to vote against the bill was Rep
resentative Strand of Two Harbors, a
Socialist.
Benlidji won fight for an appropri-
alton to begin construction of the new
normal school when the house voted
on the educational omnibus bill. L. G.
Pendegrast succeeded in getting an