The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-03-20
STATE LEGISLATURE
Two Tonnage Tax Bills Eliminated
and Nonpartisan League Mea-
sure Doomed to Defeat.
Warner -Hompe Bill, Providing for
State Nominating Conventions,
Recommended to Pass.

tax measure, drafted by Representa-
tive Welch, was on Tuesday placed on
general orders in the house after the
elimination of the tonnage tax meas
ures of Representatives C. M. Ben
dixen and r. A. Wilkinson. Strenu-
Gus opposition to the adoption of the
majority report of the tax committee
favoring the Welch bill was made by
Representative Bendixen and supper
tiers of the bill. Mr.. Bendixen de-
clared the WEIGH bill was put up be-
cause enemies Of the tonnage tax be-
lieve it cannot pass. There will be no
tonnage tax legislation this session,
legislators predict. They point out
discrepancies in the Welch bill which
makes the measure, they declare, I'M
constitutional. Should the measure
pass the house, they say, it will be
killed in the senate.
The Warner-Hompe primary cleo
ton bill providing for state nominat-
ing conventions, has been recommend
ed by the senate elections committee
to pass with but two minor amend
ments.
One of the most important bills
passed by the senate during the 'ses-
sion was that introduced by N s..
Keynes requiring sleighs sold and used
T., in the state to be Of the same standard
widths as wagons. In the course of
short time the provisions of this
bill would eliminate entirely the mar
row-gauge sleigh and prove of in
calculable benefit to those who have to
travel over the country roads in the
Wintertime.
The house judiciary committee has
recommended for passage the Levin
bill increasing the salaries of both SUI
preme and district court judges The
bill adds $500 year to the compen-
sation of district judges, giving them
$4,000 a year instead of $4,000. The
district Judges in Hennepin, Ramsey
and St. Louis counties are to receive
$1,000 additional, to be paid by their
respective counties as at present. The
members of the supreme court are to
receive $500 year additional, giving
the chief justice $4,000 a year and the
associate justices and commissioners
$500 year each.
Banks will not be allowed to accept
as collateral on loans the stock of other
banks where their directorates are in
terlocking, according to the terms of
bill introduced by Senator H. N.
Benson of St. Peter.
IT. house, on special orders, last
Thu saay passed the following high
way bills: One authorizing the COM
missioner of highways to revoke state
roads where county boards fail to main
tain them in proper condition, was
passed after a vigorous debate, in
which attempts were made to amend
the bill so that the county board should
have the final word about mainte-
nance. Another bill passed in effect
ASSe%AAASo q P4CSCASc COuI1I1Ol Ill COun-
ties where work on state roads is paid
for by the county auditor on the
records Of the engineer in charge
without going through the hands of
the county board. This practice, fol-
lowed to expedite the paying of day
labor, is placed in the hands of an
assistant engineer, who is made a SUI
perintendent of maintenance of state
roads. The bill limiting the; total
amount of salaries to be paid the
office of commissioner of highways to
$4,000 was passed.
The McGarry bill, amending the
present statute providing for the ap-
pointment by the. commissioner of
highways of his assistant engineers,
and providing that the counties sh'
pay the compensation fixed for their
services, also was passed. The last
highway bill on the special order, pro-
viding for good roads bureau of in
formation, was indefinitely postponed
because the committee on appropria-
lions refused to vote $4,000 for it's
maintenance.
The Peterson motion picture cen
sorship bill has been recommended by
the committee for indefinite postpone
ment.
Buyers of grain would be required
to pay the value Of dockage after the
foreign seds have been separated from
: the grain, under the terms of bill
by c. M. Bendixen and L. &C. Dorweil-
er, introduced in the house. The same
members introduced joint resolu-
ton directing the state railroad and
warehouse commission to investigate
+ the question of grain dockage and re-
port to the next legislature.
Representative w, S. Enger has in
PRODUCED measure providing that all