The Tomahawk., 1921-04-28

Under an act passed, the matter OF
establishing state rural credits Will be
submitted to the voters at the next
regular election.
Provision is made for the organiza-
ton of land mortgage associations.
Counties are permitted, under the
Bissette law, to appropriate money for
the clearing of lands that are agricul-
tural in character.
A resolution passed by both the
House and Senate provides that unless
the desired changes in the federal
grain standards be granted by the Bu-
reau of Markets at Washington, the
state Board of Grain Appeals is re-
quired to re-establish Minnesota grades
based upon the standards in vogue
prior to the passage of the Federal
Grain Standards act.
Highway Legislation.
The state road tax on motor vehicles
was fixed at per cent Of the list price
of a car. The House originally fixed
the tax at 1S per cent, and the Sen
ate at 2.25 per cent. The 2 per cent
tax was the compromise. This tax law
provides for a tax of 2 per cent OF the
list price of car for the first three
years. The tax for the fourth and
fifth years in the life of a car is fixed
at per cent of three-quarters of the
list price After the fifth year the
Value of car is figured at one-half of
the list price. The minimum tax un-
der this law is $12 and, it is said, that
the average tax will be approximately
$1S
Under the terms of the third big bill
in the highway program counties
which had the foresight to develop the
trunk highways included in the Bah
cock system will be reimbursed out Of
the highway fund. Approximately
$23,0OO,O00 was spent in this manner
by 2S counties.
Workmen's Compensation.
A series of laws was passed covering
this whole subject. The main one pro-
vides for the creation of an industrial
commission, made up of three men,
bers, which will not only administer
the compensation insurance law, but
will take over supervision of the La
Dor department and all it's branches.
Pre-Primary Conventions.
A law was passed during the session
permitting political parties to hold pre-
primary conventions, for the purpose
of endorsing candidates for state and
congressional offices.
Only one other law affecting elec-
tions was; passed. It prohibits a can
didate defeated at the primaries from
filing again for the same office as an
independent.
Public Utilities.
Street railway systems in Minnesota
are placed under control of the State
Railroad and Warehouse commission
so far as \the making of rates and val
uation are concerned.
The law gives to city councils COM
plete control over service, extensions,
and routing, and makes the local gov
erning bodies parties to the valuation
proceedings before the state commits
sion. The state commission, however,
is given exclusive and initial right to
regulate rates, subject to appeal to the
courts
Taxing Telephone Earnings.
Gross earnings of telephone CON-
panies, now taxed at 3 per cent, will
be taxed at per cent, under the law.
Women Jurors.
Three bills, having for their purpose
the making of women eligible as
jurors, were passed. The first amends
the law, specifying the qualifications
for jurors to include the words "men
or women, or BOTH" The second gives
the district court the power to excuse
women from jury service at it's discre-
ton. The third provides for the ap-
pointment of women bailiffs in all
cases where there are women on juries.
Maternity Hospitals.
I A. bill permitting cities to take ad-
vantage of the so-called Shepard
:Towner bill appropriating money for
maternity and infancy work was
passed.
Street Trades Law.
Tie so-called street trades bill, az
fecting newsboys, was sponsored by
women's organizations, particularly
the League of Women Voters, so it can
be included under the general head of
women's bills.
Tax Commissions.
Both House and Senate authorized
the appointment Of interim commits
sions to study the whole question of
taxation and revenues in Minnesota.
City Measures.
During the closing hours of the ses-
sion both branches passed a bill to
permit, the state and the city of Min
neapotis to exchange certain pieces of
property in order to provide site for
an Armory-Auditorium adjacent to the
grounds of the Dunwoody Industrial in
stitute.
Two laws having to do with the
charter we're passed. The first, termed
the charter enabling act, was practic-
ally repassage Of the original charter
bill, in order to cure all possible de-
fects The second known az tho char.