The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-01-27
STATE LEGISLATURE
Counties Which Expended Money for
Preparatory Work on Roads /,
to be Reimbursed.
Developments in Tonnage Tax Fight
Will Doubtless Come to Head
Within Short Time.

Counties which were confident that
the Babcock amendment would pass
and spent millions for good roads in
advance are slated for reimbursement
in a bill introduced by Representative
Oren. It is estimated that $4,000, 900
was expended in this preparatory
work.
By a vote of SO to the bill of
Representative w. J. Darby, requiring
towns and villages to maintain public
rest rooms was passed in the house.
The bill, as passed, requires the rooms
to be open from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.
Representatives Serline and Enger
have introduced bill providing that
the compensation of a road officer be
SIS per day for the time employed and
that he furnish bond of $3.50.
Senator P. J. McGarry and Repre-
sentative G. H. Harried are authors Of
a bill providing for branch school of
agriculture at Grand Rapids, to be
maintained as department Of the
University of Minnesota.
Armisticc day, November IL, is
made legal holiday in Minnesota by
Henry N. Benson's bill which passed
the senate. There was no opposition.
A similar bill is pending in the house
and the Benson bill will be substituted
for it. The senate also passed Frank
E: Putnam's bill permitting the incor-
poration Of American legion posts.
Developments in the tonnage tax
fight before the MINI >sota legislature
will come to a head within the next
few weeks. In spite Of the confusion
due to the five different bills on the
subject that are pending, it is possible
to make close forecast as to the re-
port of the committee. The bill which
the committee will send out, and which
probably will pass the house with lit
tie change, is not going to differ very
greatly from tie Bcndixon bill passed
at the 1919 extra session, and vetoed
by Governor J. A. A. Burnquist. Only
one question remains in the air. It is
whether the tonnage tax shall be in
lieu Of all state taxes on the iron
properties or in lieu of the state tax
on the mined ore.
Supporters Of Highway Commits
sioner Charles M. Babcock and the
one-man commissioner idea are in the
saddle in the lower house following
victory for the one commissioner plan
in committee. The committee, by
vote Of 6 to %, defeated w. D. Wash
burns motion to insert commission
of three salaried members in the high
way bill. It then directed subcom-
mittee to draft the bill with single
commissioner provided, to be appoint
ed by the governor, with power to
name two assistants. Sentiment in
the senate is said to lean, strongly to
three-man commission, but Senator
P. H. McGarry, chairman of the SEN
ate committee, wants seven commits
sioners to represent the various Sec
lions Of the state. He would have
one from northwestern Minnesota,
one from the northeastern part of the
state, two from southern Minnesota.
one from the western counties, and
two from the twin cities.
Of the 10 former service men who
are members of the new house, nine
are against Representative o. D. Mel
le1moe's bill allowing conscientious OBJ
jectors, who claimed exemption, but
later were dr~:ted and served, to &c
ceive Minnesota state bonus. A SUBJ
committee, headed by Representative
Sherman w. Child, met and drafted a
measure which was satisfactory to the
service men, and eliminated the OBJ
jectional feature.
Adoption of compromise plan for
financing soldiers bonus claims,
reached at a conference in the office of
Governor J. A. o. Preus last Friday.
is expected to result in carly payment
of remaining bonus claims. Governor
Preus acted as mediator with success.
A resolution memorializing congress
to prohibit immigration for one year,
pending passage of law for select
ing desirable immigrants, was report
ed for passage by the house committee
on public welfare. "They are sending
over the offscourings of GENITAL Eu-
rope" said Sherman w. Child, chair
nan of the committee, who recently
spent 10 months in Europe.
p The senate finance committee will
allow the bill on state bonus to lie
dormant until February 3, when bids
m bonds will be opened. If bids are
avorable a bill providing for the sale
# bonds to- finance the payments will
'e rushed through. If bids are not