The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-01-31
SENATE CONCURs
IN PRIMARY BILL
ALL SPECIAL ELECTIONS MUST
BE PREcEDED, AT LEAST ONE
WEEK. BY PRIMARY.
THREE SETTLEMENT BILLS
encouragement for Settlement Of
Northern Minnesota by Soldiers is
Purpose of All Three Measures
Referendum Bill introduced.


ST Paul.---Primary elections must be
held at least seven days before special
elections to fill vacancies. according to
terms of a bill introduced by Senator
Charles r. Fowler and passed unani-
mously by the Senate as amended by
the House.
AS originally drawn. the Senate bill
provided for no primary. but amend
ments offered in the House provided
for the primary election. and rather
than delay longer the special cleo
tions to fill vacancies caused by the
deaths of Carlton L. Wallace and
Harry F. Weis. members of the Sen,
ate concurred.
A resolution memoralizing Congress
to give all discharged soldiers three
months pay. passed in the House,
was unanimously adopted by the sena-
tors. only those senators with sons or
|. brothers in the service declining to
vote
Three Settlement Bills.
Three bills were introduced in the
Senate to encourage settlement of
Northern Minnesota lands by soldiers.
One. introduced by Senator Fred Bes-
settle of Orr. would give clear title. to
their land to soldiers who had signed
homestead contracts before their en-
listment.. without further payment on
their part. Another bill, also intro
duced by Senator Bessette, would al
low settlers who occupy land owned
by mining companies and leased to
settlers for one year terms to hold
such land for ten-year terms. Senator
Adolph Larson of Sandstone, was au-
thor of bill providing for an appro-
priation and investigation of the best
methods for clearing cut-over land.
An appropriation of 100000 was
asked in bill introduced by Senator
Leonard Nord of International Falls,
James Cumming of East Grand Forks,
and Nels Keynes of Argyle, for fur
Their drainage of the Red Lake. river to
relieve the overflow from Red lake,
which it is said is damaging adjoin-
ing farms.
Cannot Slash Budgets.
County boards of tax levy would be
unable to cut a road and bridge budget
submitted by the county commission
ers to figure below the proceeds
from a 2-mill county tax under the
terms of bill introduced by Senator
George Turnham of Minneapolis
Employment of deputy highway en-
gineers by the state highway commits
sioner was authorized in bill intro
duced by Senator Patrick McGarry of
Walker Creation of county schools for
children who are deaf, blind or back
ward in their studies on account of
impediments in their speech were pro,
vided in a bill introduced by Hiding
A. Swanson of Brainerd
Initiative and Referendum.
The initiative and referendum
amendment to the State constitution
is now squarely up to the Legislature.
In both House and Senate bills were
introduced proposing this legislation
in amendment Of present statutes.
The bill provides that 10 per cent
of the legal voters of the state shall
be sufficient to petition for either mi
tiative or referendum or amendment
of the constitution, provided that not
more than 10000 shall be deemed nee
essary.
Provision is made in the bill that
legislation enacted by any session of
the legislature that is of public neces-
sity shall be in full force until def
initely defeated by the referendum vote
of the people. A majority of the votes
cast shall determine the matters pro-
posed.
1t is provided that the governors
veto shall not be operative on meas
ures voted on by the people.
Would Limit Farm Work.
Representative Leo ]. Gleason of
Minneapolis went other advocates of
the eight hour working day one better
when he introduced bill in the House
providing that eight hours shall con-
stitute a days work and forty-eight
hours weeks work in farming as well
as in other lines of employment.
To Aid Fire Sufferers.
The bill providing for an appr6pria.
ton of 81 100000 for the immediate re-
lief of forest fire sufferers in northern
Minnesota was passed unanimously by
the Senate and will go to the House at
once, where similar action is expected.
The bill, introduced by the relief COM
mittee. was passed under suspension
of the rules to make the money avail
able as early as possible.
The bill provides that the state shall