The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-04-22
Tax Limiting Measure Passes After
Drastic Features are Trimmed
Off-Auto Theft Bill. /,

st. Paul-The bill to impose per
cent royalty tax on the proceeds of
leased ore lands in Minnesota has been
defeated.
The senate voted it down 2S to "a,
the measure receiving five votes less
than the same membership gave it two
years ago. Argument that from 60 to
80 per cent of the lease proceeds were
paid outside of Minnesota and would
be difficult to get at for purposes of
taxation played leading part in the
measures defeat
Tax Limit Bill Passed.
Shorn of its most drastic features,
the bill to limit municipal expendi-
lures in Minnesota passed the house
80 to A. The bill as finally amended
raised the limitation on local tax levies
from $50 to $160, with proviso that
buildings contracted for may be fin
ished without their cost being counted
in the statutes limitations.
Ten Years for Auto Theft.
Ten years will be the penalty for
stealing an automobile as soon as the
governor signs the Nimrock's bill pass
ed after the house had concurred in
the senate amendment increasing the
penalty from years to TO- Also there
will be a fine of $1,000.
"Now if the officers will catch the
thieves and enforce this law, the insur-
ance companies will have no excuse
for increasing their rates on automo-
bile theft insurance" the author Of
the bill stated.
About 1000 automobiles have been
stolen in Minneapolis every year and
about 700 in st. Paul. Under this law
the officers should be able to reduce
the average by more than half at the
very least.
Refund $24,ooo,ooo.
Counties of the state will receive a
refund of approximately $24,329, 900
for road work they have done accord
ing to a bill passed by the SEN
ate. Hennepin county, C. M. Bah
cock highway commissioner, explained,
will be required to pay the interest on
this S1,000,0O0 until the bonds mature,
but the state assumes interest charges
for work in other counties and for or
binary work in Hennepin county.
Most of the obligations assumed by
the state are to meet bond issues which
will mature in from 10 to 20 years,
although some of the refund will be for
money spent by the counties out of
their tax fund
The bill, so interpreted after amend
ment by the senate, was rushed back
to the house, where an effort was to be
made to have the senate bill substitute
ed for the house bill.
Besides the amendment providing
that Hennepin county pay the interest
on its special obligation, although the
state will meet the bonds at maturity,
the other principal amendment adopted
by the senate provided that work paid
for by bonds authorized by the coun-
ties hitherto but not yet issued must
have the approval of the state high
way commissioner before it is started
This amounts to approximately $685.
900. 1t involves 20 counties which
have work planned ahead. 1t is not
certain, do all of the work for which
they have authorized bonds, Mr. Bah
cock said.
Trolley Measure Law.
The street railway measure is now
law. Signed by Governor ]. A. o.
Preus, it was deposited with the other
session laws in the office of the secre-
tary of state.
The bill allows all street railway
companies to surrender existing fran
chises and in return take indetermin-
ate permits.
The companies, after doing so, be-
come subject to regulation as to their
fares by the state railroad and ware
house commission and the district
court. In other respects the cities will
control, making regulations as to serv-
ice and extensions, except that new
securities cannot be issued without ap-
proval of the state commission.
Valuations are to be determined by
state commission, subject always to
appeal of the district courts of the
county, in which the street railway
property is located.
Cities and companies are both made
parties to valuation proceedings.
"Day of Rest" Bill Killed.
The senate committee on labor
amended the house bill restricting
hours for women in industrial employ
ment to eight and made it read nine
hours day, or 81 hours week, and
and killed the Boylan day of rest"
bill. 1t recommended for passage the
house bill aimed to suppress lynching
War Memorial Bill Passed.
The house passed the senate bill au-
thorizing the governor to appoint a
war memorial commission to plan a
fitting memorial for the veterans Of the
World war; 1t is to be erected in the
vicinity of the state capitol.
Hospital Bill Up to Governor.
Bills of application to Minneapolis
and Hennepin county are practically
cleaned up The senate committee on
cities, pleading that the measure had
come up too late, killed the bill author
izing the twin cities and the Univer-
sity of Minnesota to equip an electric
power plant at the high dam. in case
the government agrees to lease.
The house passed the bill increasing
salaries in the state legal department.
81 to 20. The bill makes the salary
of the attorney general $4,000; deputy
attorney general $500; assistants $4,-
800. and the department clerk $500.