The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-03-11
House Passes Measure Prohibiting
Grain Speculation by Record Vote.

Grain Speculation by Record Vote.
ST. Paul-By vote of 101 to Is, the
House of Representatives passed the
Futures bill which is designed to abol
ish specializing in grain contracts in
Minnesota.
The vote was no surprise either to
friends or opponents, amendments hav.
ing been added by the House commit
tee on markets, which removed some
principal objections of the opposition.
The galleries were crowded and many
visitors were present on the floor to
hear the debate.
Mr.. Howard, in talking against the
bill, said he hoped further amend
ments would be offered in the Senate
Opening the debate, Mr.. Wilkinson
said it would bar gambling but permit
hedging. He maintained the original
bill would have done likewise and said
the legislation was called for by mar
keting conditions, that producers felt
they were Disseminated against and
passage of the bill would restore the
grain business to point where supply
and demand would govern.
He said julius Barnes had admitted
there was gambling and that "con-
sciences of the business men would
finally bring remedy" and interpret
ed Mr.. Barnes statements to be "we
are cherubs and if you will let us alone
we will become full grown angels" j.
Ogden Armour received respects of
the speaker, who alleged that Mr..
Armour was active in "cornerins''
grain Mr.. Wilkinson closed by quot
ing figures showing that thousands of
members of the Farm Bureau fedora
ton were unanimously for the bill.
For Sunday Passenger Service.
In response to complaints from
many towns in Minnesota that they
have no Sunday passenger trains, Rep
resentative c. F. Serline, of Mora, in
troduced bill requiring the Railroad
and Warehouse commission to hold
hearings in county seats regarding
train service, and providing that each
county seat, located on railroad, shall
be entitled to at least one passenger
train daily, including Sunday.
Minnesota voters may ballot on the
eight-hour day if the legislature gives
serious consideration to a constitu-
tfonal amendment, introduced by Rep
resentatives o. d. Nellermoe, F. E.
Miner, George Nordlin and others.
Workers in mechanical, mining, tele-
phone or telegraph exchanges, indus
trial establishments, mercantile, laun-
dry, bank, hotel, public lodging, apart
ment house, school, hospital, theater or
restaurant work, come under the pro-
visions, and shall not work more than
48 hours a week.
Proportional Voting Bill Before House.
Seeking to facilitate adoption of the
voting system known as proportional
representation" and to guard against
its rejection on grounds of unconstitu-
tionality, advocates of the system have
induced Introduction of bill for an
amendment to the Minnesota constitu-
ton, to be submitted to referendum at
next state election. The bill, intro
duced In the House, provides for
amendment of Section of Article 7.
of the state constitution, to read as
follows:
"All elections shall be by ballot ex-
cept for such town officers as may be
directed by law to be otherwise
chosen. The legislature may provide
for equal preferential or cumulative
voting and counting to secure proper
tional representation for minorities in
the state or any Of it's subdivisions. j"
This measure, it's sponsors say, is
merely intended to validate proper
tional representation if it be desired
to make 1t part of the voting system
by which a city council or other body
may be chosen. 1t is system already
in use extensively in European coun-
tries and it has been adopted in some
American cities as the means by which
members of their legislative bodies are
chosen. 1t is used only when several
persons-certainly more than one
are to be chosen, as aldermen or mem
bers of school board.
1t follows, from the nature of the
system, that it can be used only to
place more than one person in office
as representing given district or the
city at large. For it is a system of
voting by which it is declared every
group Of citizens can obtain their pro-
portionate share Of representation on
elected bodies.
Colonization Measure Up.
A bill, said by Representative F. J.
McPartlin of International Falls, 'to
be the most important measure before
the legislature for northern Mime
sota," was recommended for passage
by the House, sitting in committee of
the whole. This proposed law creates
a state land colonization committee,
provides for the settlement of north
ern Minnesota lands, gives preferen-
tial privileges to soldier settlers and,
if passed, will greatly enhance devel-
opment of the unsettled parts of the
state, according to Mr. McPartlin's
statement.
Motor Tax Rate Set.
The Senate and House sub-commit-
tees on refundment and on motor fees
have agreed upon the tax rate of 1.8
per cent on the cost Of passenger cars
+. o. b. the factory with a minimum
of $12 for cars under 1000 pounds
weight and SIS for cars of 1000
pounds or over.
Bank Bill Passed in House.
A bill authorizing state banks to en-
gage in the trust company business
and act as trustee, assignee, and so