The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-04-14
STATE LEGISLATURE
Bill to Impose Occupational Tax on
Mining of Iron Ore is Passed
--Preus Signs 1t.

House Passes Highway Adminlstra-
ton Bill Agreed Upon in Con-
ference of Committees.
The senate, by vote of 80 to ~
passed the bill to impose an occupa-
tional tax on the mining of iron ore.
The measure had already passed the
house, but in consequence OF clerl-
cal error it was necessary for that
body to repass it. The bill was sent
to the governor for approval or veto.
Hopes of those opposed to the bill went
glimmering on the roll call in the SEN
ate. reached after three hours of de-
bate, when on first counC "a votes were
registered in favor of the bill. When
all had voted the count had risen to
80 and the tonnage tax fight, as waged
at this session of the legislature, was
nearly over. Passage of the bill was
not reached until the occupational tax
theory, as presented in the statutory
bill. had met with a severe denuncia-
ton at the hands of members of the
senate. The phrase was kept in the
bill, however, by vote of 48 to IL.
The senate, like the house, felt that it
had a mandate from the people to
enact tonnage tax legislation. A ma
jority of that body was prepared to
pass the bill despite the fact that it
called for an occupation tax and de-
spite the efforts of those from north
eastern Minnesota and other sections
of the state to have it killed or amend
ed.
Governor Preus signed the occupa-
tional tonnage tax bill on Monday
evening while sick in bed at his home
This action means that the steel cor
poration will, in all probability, carry
the matter into the courts upon the
question of it's constitutionality, and
Attorney General Hilton predicts that
the state will, in consequence, be in
volved in one of the biggest lawsuits
in its history. However, in placing his
signature to the bill, which makes ii
a law, Governor Preus has kept faith
with his promises to the people which
he made during the campaign.
Sitting as committee Of the whole
the senate recommended for passage
the bill giving women the right to vote
on juries and placed on the calendar
subject to amendment, the measure
exempting from jury service women
engaged in nursing the sick and
mothers whose presence at home is
reasonably required. Two amend
ments making jury service optional
with women were voted down. One
Of these provided exemption for all ex
cept those who filed with the clerk Of
courts, the other would have excused
those who asked relief from jury du
ty.
The house, in an effort to shift re
sporsibility, passed two bills provid
ing for bank deposit guarantees-on'
recurring all state banks to subscrib'
to the fund and the other making sucl
subscription voluntary. Despite tn
obvious fact that these measures wer
in direct conflict with each other tn
house approved both simply in orde
to get rid of vexatious subject. For
tunately the state senate had tn
courage to deal with it and has killc
both bills. Bank deposit gu:rante
laws penalize stable and well-conduct
ed banks and put premium on 'wilo
eating"
Wholesale slashes in University G
Minnesota appropriation requests Wcr
made by the house appropriation
committee. When it was de
termined that a cut Of approximate
ly 100000 would be made in tn
total requests of about $780, 900, tn
regents indicated to the legislator
which of the requests could best stan
cutting and the knife was applied az
cordingly.
Amended to provide that the high
way commissioner may at his discrt
ton spend 33 1-3 per cent Of the al
nual road construction fund for har
surface roads, provided that is nece:
sary to obtain federal aid, the higl
way administration bill as agreed VI
on in conference between house ar
senate committees was passed by tt
house on Friday night. The bill r.
tans the 20 per cent limitation on e.
penditure for hard surface roads ar
a specific proviso authorizing expe1
diture Of the additional Is Is p'
cent if necessary.
The house committee on CONNER,