The Tomahawk., 1919-04-10
HOUSE FAVORS
new BUREAU
Passes Unanimously Bill for Es-
tab|ishment of State Depart
ment of Agriculture.
so BILLS IN LAST RUSH

introduced IN senate az lme Limit
Expires, Making Total in That
Body 1881, While House Goes
Nearly 100 Higher.
st. Paul.-The Minnesota house of
representatives has passed without
opposition the bill creating state de-
partment of agriculture. The vote
| was ia to 0.
The measure, considered one of the
| most important from the standpoint
| of the agricultural interests of the
! state, was recommended in the COVER
nor's message. 1t was first sponsored
by Representative Elias Nordgren.
| Many other farmer members of the
house joined with Mr.. Nordgren in it's
introduction. The bill provides for the
appointment of a commissioner of az
riculture.
1t. gives such official wide powers
of investigation in all matters con-
cerning development of agricultural
possibilities. 1t provides also for gen.
eral supervision of marketing of farm
products.
The licensing of land dealers is one
of the features of the bill. Establish
ment of potato grades is another.
|, The house already had passed the
Nordgren bill regulating cooperative
associations. That bill and the one
just passed make up the real farmers
program in the present legislature.
Last Rush Of Bills.
Nearly so bills were introduced in
the senate in one session, that session
being the last in which bills can be
introduced without suspension of the
rules, or consent of the governor. In
all 1881 bills have been introduced
in the upper legislative branch this
session. The house members have in
troduced nearly 100 more than that
number.
New Tonnage Tax Bill.
A new per cent tonnage tax bill,
introduced by Senator James A. Car
ley of Wabasha, was one of the last
measures introduced. The fntroduc-
ton was made in the senate in an.
ticipation of the governors consent to
permit the introduction of a compan.
ion measure in the house.
Boxing Bill Recommended.
The house committee on general
legislation has recommended the pas
sage of the Burrows bill, to permit
boxing matches In the smaller cities
of the state.
AS amended, the bill is limited to
cities of 100000 Inhabitants or more.
It will permit sparring bouts to be
held in the chief cities on the Iron
range, where there has been a demand
for the sport, and in the Village" of
Hibbing, which fs larger than most of
the cities.
For stockyards Control.
The house voted to place the public
stockyards of the state under control
of the state railroad and warehouse
commission, 1O2 to 0. The bill pro-
vides for supervision by the commits
sion over rates, conditions of facilities
and service. stockyards are required
to make comprehensive reports an
nually of their operations.
Senator Sworn In.
Senator A. c. Gooding of Rochester
was sworn in as member of the SEN
ate. During all of the early part of
the session Senator Gooding was con-
fined to his homo by illness, having
twice submitted to surgical operations.
This is Mr.. Gooding's first term as
senator. He was formerly state treas
urer, succeeding Walter J. Smith, and
resigned to become a candidate for
senator from his district.
Committee o. ks 2 Per Cent Beer.
BY, a vote of five to three, members
Of the senate temperance committee
recommended for passage the Norton
dry enforcement bill with an amend.
ment to permit the sale of beer con.
tanning 2 per cent of alcohol by weight.
The proposed law is made possible
by the fact that the Federal consti-
tutional amendment, which the meas
ure is designed to enforce, does not
define Intoxicating" as applied to
beverages, and gives the states con-
current jurisdiction in enforcement.
If the bill should become a law ::
would stand unless a contradictory
ruling ts made by Congress or the
Federal courts.
Surgeon General Protests.
Telegrsms have been received from
Surgeon General Rupert Blue and
other Federal health officials, protest
ing against the action Of the state
senate appropriations committee in
eliminating an appropriation for the
maintenance of state division of
venereal disease. The division was
organized during the war. Blue poined
out that the state must defray part ef
the expense for such work in order to
receive government assistance.
Return to state Grading Uraed.
st. Paul.-Members of the Senate
and House committees ON grain and
warehouse heard arguments for and
against re-establishment of state grain