The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-14
Nolan and Christensen
The Authors
WASINTRODUCED TODAY
Writers Say 1t Resembles Very
Closely That In South
Dakota
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch1

IAssociated Press Dispatchl
st. Paul, January IA state bud
get, bill, identical with those which
failed in the regular and special SEES
sions OF 1919, was introduced in the
house late today by Speaker Nolan,
Minneapolis and Representative Theo-
dore Christianson, Dawson, chair.
man of the appropriations commit
tee.
1t unanimously passed by the
house at the regular session in 1919,
but was pocketed by the senate. At
the last special session it passed the
house with but one negative vote, but
was so amended in the senate that
when il came back the house refused
TO acknowledge it. The most i'm
9ortant feature OF the bill, in Repre-
sentative Christianson's opinion is
that it confers inQ0isitorial powers
upon the budget commission. or I'M
portance is the provision charging
the commission with the duty OF
considering revenues as we'll as ex-
penditures toward insuring that The
appropriations will be brought with
in the revenues.
Present Budget Law Defective.
The present budget law is de-
fective, Representative Christianson
said, because it does not afford the
machinery necessary TO investigate
departments and that il affords rep
resentation to neither house OF the
legislature with the result that rec
ommendation are less authoritative.
1t differs from the budgetary secre-
: tary plan proposed by Governor J.
A. o. Preus, and Representative
Christianson explained that this sys-
tenn was not adopted because ii was
believed that such an official would
not assume the report by off cutting
the reQuisiions.
1.-THE commission will be empower
ed by adoption OF this bill to subpoena
and examine witnesses under oath in
investigations at public hearings, said
Representative Christensen and that
provision we deem of first Importance.
Makeup Of Commission.
The proposed commission is to be
made up of the governor and state
auditor as eX-officio chairman and
secretary respectively, and the chair
men Of the state tax commission the
senate committee on finance and the
house committee on appropriations.
All shall serve without compensation
save endorsement for expenses act
ually incurred in their duties. 1t
would be authorized TO employ neces-
sary clerical assistance.
In response to notice given sixty
days in advance by the secretary, each
state department heard must file re-
QUESTIONS before October / of each
proceeding q session of the legisla-
ture.
Meetings Commission.
The commission will meet the third
Tuesday in November, two weeks
after election, and consider the re-
quests and then make it's report and
recommendations to the legislature
not later than the fourth day Of the
session. It is required further to
furnish estimates of money required
to be raised on outstanding interest
bearing obligations of the state and
statements of estimates Of revenue of
the next biannum and of uneXpended
balances remaining in the various
funds.
The bill was prepared after study
of the budget system in other states,
Representative Christianson said,
but resembles most closely that in
South Dakota.
Eradication of Noxious Needs.
Better enforcement Of the state
laws for eradication OF noxious
provided for in a bill to be intro
duced in the senate by Senator
James Cummings of East Grand
Forks. The bill will have the support
of the state department of agricul-
ture, which will CO. operate with
Senator Cummings in preparing the
bill.
A leading feature for the bill will
be provision for an educational cam
paign to show the farmers the dam
age done by noxious weeds, how
rapidly they spread from highway to
farm and from farm to farm, when
neglected. 1t also is proposed to ap-
point county weed inspectors, who
will search for the noxfous varieties
and CO. operate with county boards in
graduating them.
FavorabIy Recommended.
Providing machinery by which
farmers CO. operative associations
may organize to become eligible to
membership under present rules of
the Minneapolis Chamber of Com
nierce, as recommended by Governor
j. A. o. Preus in his inaugural mes
sage, bill to amend the CO. operat-
i've law Of 1919 was favorably recon-
mended today with twenty one af-
tee on markets and marketing.
House Soldier Bonus Bill.
Authorizing the state soldiers
tonus board to issue 100000 addi-
tional bonds and with $4500.000 re-
naming from the original 500, 900 900
authorization, sales at less than par
subject to a six per cent interest
rate maximum, the bill by Represen-
tative Theodore Ch:istianson at the
request of the board, was passed by
tho house late II lay.
IT further ratiHns board acts relat-
'"g to bonds and repeats all incon-
-'Eient acts OF the legislature. The
measure was unanimously recon-
-,er6ed by the committee on SOL
dier's home. which considered it
-7es'erday, and was passed under sus-
n>nisou of rules On the motion Of
Croirnan J. g HomEe There were
1es affirmative and no negative