The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-03-27
STATE LEGISLATURE
WEIGH Nonpartisan League Tonnage
Tax Bill is Put to Sleep for
at Least This Session.
Hamer and Serline Bill Legalizing
Elections Where Notice Has
Not Been Given Passes.

The WEIGH (nonpartisan league)
tonnage tax bill has met it's fate-it
has been laid to rest for at least this
term of the legislature. In fact the
nonpartisan league members are re-
,sponsible for it's death. The measure
was in aetuality beaten by playing
the Welch and Bendixen bills against
each other. So, as prophesied by the
Union, no tonnage tax measure will go
through at this legislative session.
~ A bill was introduced by Senator
Hamer to legalize elections by villages,
authorizing sales and leases of their
electric lighting plants where notice
of such election had not been given in
accordance with law. The measure
was passed under suspension of the
rules. A similar bill was introduced
in the house by Representative Serline
and passed. Governor Burnquist has
signed the bill. This makes the sale
of Princeton's lighting plant valid.
Only one vote, that of o. A. Devoid,
socialist, was cast in the senate
against Theodore Christianson's sedi-
ton bill, when it was brought up on
motion of Senator James H. Hall and
passed under suspension of the rules.
The bill has been signed by the COVER
nor. 1t strengthens the sedition act
passed two years ago to cover such
things as attacks on the coming Lib
erty loan, but applies only when the
country is at war.
Residences, whether in city or coun-
try, are to be assessed at only 10
per cent of their value, under terms
of bill by Senators Bessette, Gandrud
and Hegnes. Farm buildings, house.
hold goods, agricultural products in
the hands of the producer, and tools
and implements in the hands of users,
also are placed in the 10 per cent class.
The house general legislation COM
mittee has recommended for passage
the C. H. Warner street railway bill,
after Incorporating several important
amendments. The bill authorizes
street railway companies to surrender
their local franchises and licenses and
to operate thereafter under the license
and supervision of the state railroad
and warehouse commission. One of
the amendments to the bill, as report
ed out by the committee, gives the
railroad and warehouse commission
control over the issuance of all securi-
ties. Another requires the mainte-
nance of an adequate depreciation ac-
count of the upkeep of street railway
property. A third amendment re-
quires that in all cases of appeal of
the companies from orders of the city
councils the cases will be brought be-
fore the railroad and warehouse COM
drought before the city councils.
Ralph J. Parker's bill, levying a 5
per cent tax on royalties collected by
mine owners, has been reported for
passage by the house committee. The
committee killed two other royalty
tax bills by H. H. Emmons and John
Kelly. 1t also vetoed the Wicker bill
transferring enforcement of the in
heritance tax law from the attorney
general to the state tax commission.
After hearing the house civil adj
ministration committee killed the bill
to abolish the state weights and
measures department.
With known opponents of suffrage
voting for it, the house bill giving
women vote on presidential electors
was passed by the senate 40 to II, and
the governor has attached his sigma
ture. Men. still fighting the measure
declare such bill should be made a
constitutional amendment, and it is ex-
pected it will be taken to the courts.
The house has passed the Burrows
bill providing for the recording of SOL
sdiers' discharge papers with registers
of deeds. The records are made con-
elusive evidence of the soldiers hon
orable discharge when it may be ques-
toned in court and they are to make
permanent record of the citizen SOL
diers of each county.
The DeLury bill, providing certifica-
ton of Minnesota seed potatoes, has
been indefinitely postponed by the
house. The Peterson bill covering the
same points, was then placed on the
house calendar subject to amendment.
The Peterson bill has passed the
senate
An increase from three to five cents
ton in the tax on ore hauled in
freighters plying international waters
is proposed in bill introduced by
Senator Magnus Johnson of Litchfield.
Senator Hamer introduced the fol-
lowing measures: Relating to oil in
spection fees and the collection there
of; relating to duties of state treas