Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-29
OBSERVATIONS
(By a Cornfield Philosopher.)
xxIl-LEGisLATlvE LETTER.
A Flood Of Bills.

sssa' = 1AAVPp0A W W GROUND out
IN que time into 1aws-at least the |
authors SO hope-but experience. has |
uemonstrated that not many of these |
hopes are ever realized: There IL a
regular routine, of course, that bills |
I4u ust takes unless two-thirds ~ +ha
tou. use WISH 90 expedite or hurry than
+ ~ "aru. me most important NJ tha.a
- measures VIII be treated from time |
~ t!ne as they come up for conaiJ,
% &c. 10 simply enumerata tha
oils at this juncture would mara1v
confuse the reader.
20 Correct the Governors Mistak..
Among the few bills that have al.
READY become laws are the Appronri-
atoms to pay the bounty on Woif
soaps and the million dollar school
denclency that were vetoed by the
Governor two years ago.
Field Day for Suffrage.
On Wednesday the House unexpect-
cay settled the Suffrage question for
inc session, so far as that body is
concerned. Theo. Christianson made
d motlon to make special order for
thursday OF the memorial requesting
me National Senate to submit the
ousan b. Anthony Amendment Oppo-
atoms to pay the bounty on Wolf
ADAMS suggested that the question be
settled right now. Christianson had
no objection so the memorial was
passed with whoop-100 to %. Rep
resentatlve Warner then arose and
SAID, Let us finish the whole Stuff
rage business" and called up his bill
to submit an amendment to the state
constitution, granting suffrage to the
women. Rep. Adams wanted the right
restricted to those able to read and
write the English language, but the
speaker ruled against his amendment.
Warmers bill then passed by substan-
| TALLY the same vote given for the
memorial. A large number of enthu-
slastlc st. Paul suffragets were pre-.
pared to attend the session in a body
when the matter came up and were
disappointed at the sudden ending of
the matter, but will have an inning
in the Senate later. Rep. Iverson of
Grant, one Of the most promising
young farmer members made his maid
en- speech in support of Suffrage for
women and was loudly applauded The
Senate passed the same memorial to
Congress with only seven votes against
it, but held up the State Suffrage
amendment for the present. A bill
granting Presidential Suffrage to wom-
en- has been introduced, but is hardly
likely to pass, mainly on account of
doubt as to it's constitutionality.
The Safety Commission.
The Safety Commission evidently
seeing the Handwriting on the WALL
no fn 04h ,,cS
of it's orders fall by the wayside on
Feb. 5th, unless enacted into law by
the general Assembly. The legisla-
ture does not seem anxious to endorse
the acts Of the Commission, although
made. A skilfully worded resolution
extending the life of the Commission
for the alleged purpose Of finding en-
ployment for the returning soldiers
and sailors was held up in the House
McGrath, and it's friends have with
drawn the resolution after a careful
count of noses, not daring to push it
as its defeat would be equivalent to a
vote Of want Of confidence which they
are anxious to avoid. The Pittinger
bill to abolish the Commission is still
slumbering in the Committee and it
may be that the Commission will be
allowed to quietly retire and drop out
of sight, However, the act creating
the Commission having served its pur-
pose will almost certainly be repeal
ed.
Constitutional Amendments.
The people are likely to have an op-
portunity to make several changes in
the organic law at the next election.
The Woman Suffrage amendment is
almost certain to pass unless lobbied
to death in the Senate by the
the Suffrage Association itself on the
ground that it don't want to make a
fight in this state while the National
Amendment is pending. The League
farmers have introduced an amend
ment to the Constitution authorizing
a generl tax levy to cover all losses
from hail throughout the state.
This measure is being opposed by
certain big tax paying interests that
hail-storm would not damage, but it
has the unanimous support of all farm
ers from every section and no country
member would hardly care to face his
constituents after voting against this
bill. The League amendment to auth
OriZe State Terminal Elevators, ware
house, packing plants and other enter
prises Of a similar nature has been in
troduced in both Houses, fathered by
leading League members, but may not
get through at this session. Repre-
sentative Adams also has an amend
ment to disqualify anyone from voting
who cannot read and write the Eng
fish language and there is strong
sentiment in its favor.
To Amend the Primary Law.
The sweeping changes in the Prim-
airy Laws to put everything back on
the old party basis as recommended by
1Governor Burnquist will not be made
at least such are the indications at
this writing. Two years ago with the
prestige and power conferred by ap-
proximately 100000 majority the Gov
ernor welded great influence but at
this session a vastly different condi-
ton exists. A Governor by virtue
Of mere plurality of votes
land in minority of nearly 49,
600 cannot be expected to cut much
of figure in legislative recommends
lions. Then his suggestion in regard
to laws to suppress labor agitators and
those whose addresses have tenden-
cy to stir up class feeling have alarm
ed even some of the more cautious re-
dictionaries. The Warner bill to hold
regular party conventions of delegates
!; elected at the primary to nominate
state officials, except judges Of the
supreme court may get through; This
method taking the place Of the gener-
al state wide primary law now in
force. But to put the candidates for
the legislature on a party basis as re-
commended by the Governor is not
likely to succeed, although bills with