New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-09-10
SPECIAL SESSION
OPENED ON MONDAY
EIGHT TOPICS ARE TAKEN UP
IN GOVERNORS MESSAGE
TO LEGISLATURE.
LABOR LEGISLATION. WOMAN
SUFFRAGE, HIGH COST
OF LIVING, ETC.

OF LIVING, ETC.
The special session OF the Minnesota
State Legislature opened last Monday.
Governor ]. A. A. Burnquist read his
message on the eight topics, headed by
the woman suffrage amendment, on which
he asks the members to take legislative
action at once.
The other subjects of the governors
message deal with legislation for ex-
service men; forest fire prevention;
flood prevention; amendments to the
primary law; budget system; high cost
Of living problems, and labor legislation.
Measures enacted by the last legis-
lature for the benefit Of ex-service men
affect comparatively few of then," the
governor said, "a nd such additional
legislation should be enacted as will
best show to all of those who were in
the service our appreciation of what,
they have DONE
Within comparatively short time the,
constitution of the United States will
provide that there shall be no further
discrimination against American women
in the matter of the electoral franchise,
the governor said, according to informa-
ton he had received from other state
executives. The governors evident con-
viction that the suffrage amendment
will be adopted is expressed as follows:
: our memorial to congress on this
subject during the regular session made
it apparent that this legislature, if again
convened, would ratify the proposed
amendment
Prevent Forest Fires.
j Compelling private owners to remove
from their lands whatever might in
crease the danger of fire, with the state
doing the same on its own lands, is the
governors suggestion for forest fire
prevention.
The state drainage commissioner
should be given authority and adequate
funds to remedy the flood situation in
northwestern Minnesota, the governor
declared, and PREPARATION for losses of
settlers during the past summer, if the
state were at fault. is recommended.
Asks Change in Primary Law.
Pre-primary party conventions or
e-primary party elections are the
governors remedies for the present
primary situation, under which 'sif
there are more than two candidates
for the same office, nominations are
by minorities instead of majorities.'
"Unlegalized political gatherings give
to political and inscriptions agitators
an opportunity to manipulate their
own meetings for their own benefit
without sufficient legal restrictions COM
polling proper procedure and publicity
the governor said, in deploring the lack
of legal provision for holding party con-
ventions Meetings of that kind dem
onstrate the need of laws to regulate
political convention"
Budget Officer.
Provisions for a budget officer to
investigate the states financial needs
prepare budget forms and secure esti-
mates from the different state depart
ments is urged upon the legislature
Such an officer appointed by the COVER
nor and independent of every depart
ment, would be much better than bud
get board, the governor declared. I'M
less such an officer is provided the
governor should be relieved of the pre-
paration Of the budget for which now has
neither the time nor the machinery.
Food Control Act.
A food control act, similar to the
federal regulation, is proposed to in
vestigate and reduce the high cost
of living. This would provide the
machinery by which additional facts
may be ascertained and more stringent
rules against unconscionable profits can
be esta blished, the governor said. He
OlufuCIdCu CldC Clic ucW. dSTlCUlCuEdl
department be given additional authority
so that it could cooperate with federal
investigators, and that provision should
be made fer more severe punishment
|of those who conspire to fix prices or
make unjust charges.
An additional interim committee
should be appointed to continue inves-
tigation Of an employers liability insu-
rance fund and other forms Of Industrial
insurance, the governor declared, so that
legislation could be enacted at the next
regular session which will do much
toward the securings Of industrial peace
land goodwill within this state. =