The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1919-02-12
WHAT THE MINNESOTA
LEGISLATURE IS DOING
By Vance Chapman.

If there is a member of either the
house or senate who is not for a
comprehensive system of good roads,
the cost of the same to be met by a.
bond issue running up into the mil
,lions. of dollars, he has not yet de-
clared himself. However, while the
two legislative bodies to a. man are
for the permanent establishment of
a trunk highway system. the same
to be written into the constitution
they are not going to stand for any
particular mans scheme to bring
about the desired Improvement.
Members generally are going to in
sist on being shown and it is certain
that the question will be thoroughly
threshed out before final action is
taken. This week it might be said
saw the firing of the opening gun in
the campaign for the passage of the
needed legislation when bills, incor-
porated in which is what is known
as the Babcock trunk highway plan
were introduced in both houses and
have since been printed in sufficient
quantities for general distribution
among those interested. Oscar A.
Swenson of Nicollet County is ia
thering the measure in the house
while P. H. McGarry of Cass County
is performing a. little service in the
senate. To be frank about it the
McGarry- Swenson bill is not to the
fancy of a number of members in
either house who look upon it as too
involved and also writing into the
constitution fixed system of trunk
highways without any fexibility as
regards the future. So far the criti-
cism INDUCED in has been more or
less under cover as the feeling is
general that nothing should be done
to obstruct, but all that is wanted
is leader and then look out. I
think several are in the making.
Nothing big in a legislative way was
ever attempted or put over, but
what some one worked out bunch
that there was a niger in the wood
pile somewhere and the present high
way bill is no exception to the rule.
The bunch with some is that the
asphalt and bithulitic fombines are
taking too active a part in the pro-
posed legislation. Speaking plainly
persons formerly connected with
fhese two hard road service mater
gals are quite active in behalf of the
SPECIALIZED Babcock plan. The neces-
sary propaganda for good roads,
however, must have it's inception
somewhere and the interests men,
TONED are only doing their part.
Necessary all road material men are
lEnerested in a movement that is
now sweeping the United States and
1t is only natural if they busy them
selves. To date their work has been
clean. Perhaps it may not be the
Babcock plan, but you can be certain
that it will be a system equally as
good. The Forty-First Minnesota
Legislature is pledged to good roads
and the necessary legislation will be
enacted.
:: !: X = X
Women's suffrage, both federal
and state has the full sanction of
the house with excellent chances for
similar action on the part of the
senate in the matter of the submis-
sion OF the state amendment. Unex-
pectedly Wednesday the house bill
memoralizing congress to submit the
question to the states was called up
by Rep. Theo. Christensen of Daw-
son and went over with few dissent
ing votes. Almost immediately the
Warner bill providing for the SUBJ
mission Of the question to the voters
two years was taken from the elec-
tions committee and passed bv al
most as large a VOTE The whole
thing was a surprise and caught the
women behind the movement nm
awares. They were planning for a
field day and had arranged to thronp
the two chambers with their SUBJ
porters and boosters. The senate the
same day passed the bill memorable
ing congress, but refuses to take up
the state amendment at this time.
** $50
: Sen. F. L. Cliff of Ortonville has
taken upon himself the task of pro-
,Sviding the state with .comprehen-
ksive drainage system. It is to be
brought about by the adoption of a
new drainage, act and will include
the establishment of flood control
zones and basis. North and South
Dakota flood areas are involved. That
the Minnesota drainage system is far
from perfect is generally known, but