The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-03-22


senate finance committee, and Chair
man Rockne and his associates are
laboring hard with that end in view.
But to hold down the appropriations
is something not easy of accomplish
ment. The house has already passed
a bill that appropriates over one mil
lion dollars to make good the amount
due the high and graded schools, and
it is conceded that the deficit must be
provided for. There is large amount
due the counties of northern Mime
sofa for the states share of ditch as
sessments where state lands have
been benefited. The house has also
passed bill appropriating $500, 100000
for extra pay for the members of the
national guard who served on the Mex
lean border, and while the senate may
pare down the amount, the boys will
undoubtedly receive some extra COM
pensation, and they are deserving of
it. The state university and every
state institution are clamoring for new
buildings and increased maintenance.
More room in some of the hospitals
for the insane is an imperative neces-
sity. Then every department Of the
state government is asking for an in
crease in their allowances. It looks
as if there were no escape from sub
stantial increase in the state tax levy
for the next two fiscal years.
* * *
For weeks the senate finance COM
mittee has been daily patiently hear
ing from the heads of the educational,
correctional and charitable institu-
lions as to their needs, and the house
committee on appropriations has been
doing likewise. Anyone who imagines
that money will be lavishly appropri-
ated by the present legislature had
better disabuse his mind of that idea.
There is no desire to cripple any in
stitution or department of the state
government, but there is an earnest eff
fort being made not to increase the al
ready heavy burden of taxation. The
senate finance committee is composed
Of level-headed men,-men who have
the best interests of the state at heart,
and it has the confidence Of the SEN
ate, and when it's appropriation bills
are reported out every member of the
senate will know and feel that every
item contained in the bills has been
given careful consideration. Last ses-
sion, when the finance committees
bills were reported out, not dollar
was added to or substracted from by
the senate. The membership Of the
senate finance committee is the same
this session as it was last session.
| * * *
r Several bills have been introduced
in both houses dealing with the prim-
airy election law The Rustad BILL
which provides that conventions may
be held to recommend candidates to be
voted for at the primary election was
a special order in the senate Tuesday
afternoon and was discussed for sew
eral hours. Finally, when everybody
was tired out, the special order was
continued until week from today
There is unquestionably considerable
sentiment in both branches Of the leg
islature in favor of at least a partial
return to the convention system, but
doubt if it is possible at this late
day to secure the enactment of legis;-
lation along the lines proposed in the
Rustad bill.
X * *
Last Friday afternoon the amended
road bill monopolized the attention of
the house from two until six o'clock
Several minor amendments were
adopted, and the bill was passed by a
vote of 100 to Il. The senate refused
to concur in the house amendments
and conference committees were ap.
pointed. The conferees got together
Tuesday and speedily reached an
agreement. The bill will be repassed
by both houses virtually as it came
from the senate in the first instance
A supplemental road bill was reported
out of the public highways committee
Of the senate today. 1t contains some
meritorious provisions that were over
looked when the big bill was drafted
and it will undoubtedly pass if it can
be reached before adjournment.
| * X * ~,
While mo one was looking" bill
was rushed through the senate under
a suspension of the rules on Saturday
which legislated George D. Hazard
superintendent Of the Taylors Falls
park, out Of office. Mr.. Hazard has
been superintendent of the park since
it was first established, and was re-
appointed by the late Governor Ham.
mond. When the bill came up in the
house Monday Representative Bob