Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-02-12


Oh ! / ! IONS 5 !
(By . Cornfeld Philosopher.
xxIv--LEGIsLATlvE LETTER.. /.
The Safety Commission.
On Jan. 18th, soon after the legisla-
ture convened, The Public Safety
Commission, bills having been intro
.duced in to both houses to abolish the
commission, promulgated an order
that on Feb. 5th they would go out sof
business unless otherwise instructed
by the legislature. Friends of the
Commission were in control of the
Committee in both Houses, having the
matter in charge, but the feeling
against the Commission was so strong
among the Legislators that they did
not care to make the issue, but salts
fed themselves with pigeon holing all
bills and resolutions fired at the Com
mission. The Nett resolution requir-
ing the Commission to submit full
and complete report of its expendit-
ures and the resolution by Siegel a
Labor member, to investigate all the
doings, and activities Of the Commits
sion are slumbering in the House Com
mittee on Civil Administration await
ing the return of Chairman Teigen
from Washington. Sen Bessette got
his bill safely through the Senate Com.
h11f 10 C,,11; 80
St. Cloud it was sent back again on
his statement that he was absent when
the bill was considered. Sen. Sullivan
is one of the most reliable of the "Old
Guard" and his action in the matter
was not unexpected.
A Field Day for the Tonnage Tax.
The House Committee on taxes and
tax laws, Adams, Chairman, gave an
open hearing to the friends and op.
ponents of the Tonnage Tax on iron
ore. Two bills on this subject are
pending in the House. The Bendixen
bill similar to the one defeated two
years ago taxes ore at the rate of 2
per cent Of its value at the month OF
the mine and would bring in a revenue
of about $2,SOO,O00, annually. The
WEIGH (League) bill places a tax OF
| 10 per cent on the profit or net value
and it is estimated would enrich the
| state to the tune of $6,S00,000, each
year or $4,000, 900, more than the Ben
dixen bill. Hon. A. E. Bowen, a well
| known League economic specialist
made some telling points for the
WEIGH bill after the author had ex
planned it in detail. G. ]. Buell. follow.
ed along the same line. Carl Zappe
geological expert from the Guyana
Iron Range and Earl Hummer OF Du
luth opposed both bills, predicting
| that the tax on the Bendixen plan
would ruin small operators and pro
| ducers of low grade ore. Further
| hearings will be given, but a majority
of the House is determined to put
| through some kind Of a Tonnage tax
at this session, very likely the Welch
Bill.
The Anti Grain Gambling Bill.
Sen. Peterson of Clay has stirred
up the animals on the Minneapolis
Grain exchange good and proper, by
the introduction of a carefully pre-
pared bill to prohibit gambling il
grain. The bill would abolish trading
in futures" where there. is no inten
ton on the part of the seller to deliver
the grain. AS might be expected the
'big fellows" have called to their as
sistance the owners of small country
elevators. At a recent meeting a Mr.
St. John, owner of a small elevator
at Heron Lake testified that specula
tive prices "stabilized the market.
Further hearings will be held and il
| is probable that the bill will pass the
Senate, it having the support of The
Senators from all the grain growing
districts. Action by the House will
| also be favorable if the bill is no
held up in the Committees.
| The Farmers Inning.
The farmers and milk producers ha(
an inning in the House one day las
week and they scored heavily. Thu
Wilkinson bill to authorize co-opera
| tive concerns-like milk producing as
sociations to- sell their products col
lectively came for final action. 1t wa!
ably defended by it's author and say
agely attacked by Rep. Solem ant
other city members who feared i
might legalize milk trust. An effor
was made to side track the measur,
which failed and. the bill passed, 10!
to 9, every single member outside tn
the Twin Cities lining up with tn
farmers on the roll call.
The State Motor Corps.
A bill has been approved by tn
House Military Committee providin,
in addition to the regular Militia
new Military unit to be known as tn
Minnesota State Motor Corps consist
ing of not more than four regiment
of 1000 men each. This Motor Corp
the bill reads, shall be at all time
subject to the call Of the Governo
for use singly or in cooperation will
other military units" In addition t,
the per capita allowance from the mill
tary fund, $150,000 is provided fo1
This measure is being strongly oppos
ed by organized labor and is not look
upon with much favor by the farme
members who fear it might be use'
to suppress labor agitatOrs and inter
fere with farmers meetings where BIZ
business interests are being criticize'
by the speakers. The bill has bee1
approved and reported for passag
by the House Committee on appre
priations with the amount cut in tw
in the middle.
To Maintain the Price Of Wheat.
Both Houses have passed by pract
cally unanimous vote resolution O
memorial to Congress asking that tn
prevailing price of wheat be STABILIZE
ed and maintained for the next sea
sons crop.
The Potato Market.