The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-02-11
FOR SIX YEAR TERM
New Bill Introduced Create Long Term
For Highway Commissioners IN
der Control of Governor.

st. Paul-The house committee on
public highways introduced bill pro-
yiding for a six year term for the
highway commissioner, with the clause
that he is removable at the pleasure
Of the governor.
This provision puts the department
absolutely under the governors con-
troll, but has been agreed to by Charles
M. Babcock, the present and prospec-
tive commissioner. The governor
does not have to assign any cause for
removing the commissioner, and may
do 1t without any notice at all. The
bill. however, prohibits removal for
political reasons.
The office of the commissioner of
highways is hereby created" the bill
reads. 1.-THE term of such office shah
be six years, and the governor of the
state shall appoint a suitable person
thereto. The commissioner of high
ways may be removed from office by
the governor and at his pleasure other
than political.
Until the appointment and qualifi-
cation of the first commissioner of
highways under this act, the commits
sioner of highways previous to the
passage of this act shall act as COM
missioner of highways hereunder"
Whether the two deputy commission
ers shall be appointed directly by the
governor or by the commissioner is
yet to be settled. The bill as it reads
gives the appointment to the commits
sioner His salary is made $4,000 and
he may pay up to that amount for the
deputies, who are to be expert high
way engineers. IS
A resolution ordering an investiga
tion of the coal situation in the North,
west and bill providing for the ap-
pointment of state weed inspector
were the highlights of legislation of
Monday nights session of the Mime
sofa Senate.
Foreign Language Fought.
Minnesota schools are prohibited
from requiring a foreign language on
the curriculum in bill introduced
by Senator Arch Coleman of Mime
sofa. Another bill sponsored by SEN
ator Sam Rask, makes it gross mis-
demeanor to hire as teacher any one
convicted of violating the federal es.
pionage act. Both these bills are
backed by the American Legion.
Senator James Dwyer introduced
constitutional amendment exempting
cooperative associations or persons
farming and gardening, from taxation
and marketing establishments.
The commissioner of highways shall
assemble all Minnesota county COM
missioners each year in st. Paul to
discuss highway propositions under
Senate File 1858, thrown into the hop
per by Senators j. G. Callahan and G..
A. Turnham.
Oil Inspection Revise
The oil inspection laws are revised
in Senate File 81 introduced by Sena-
tor P. A. Gandrud. The measure ex-
tends the number of products subject
to inspection, and requires high test
gasoline to be superior product In
stead of inspection fees being fixed by
law, the measure authorizes the in
spector to fix the rates at not to ex-
coed 5 cents a barrel of SO gallons.
The death penalty for first degree
murder must be carried out by the
penintiary warden or deputy with
in 80 days after sentence is passed,
and the mode of inf1icting the penalty
must be the electric chair, under a bill
introduced by Senator j. H. Hall. The
bill provides that newspapers shall
print no stories about the executions,
except statements issued by the war
den.
Discrimination Bill Attacked.
Objections to Senator Magnus John.
sons unfair discrimination bill, voiced
by members of the Northwestern Lum-.
bermen's association at meeting Of
the senate committee on commerce
and corporation resulted in postpone
ment of further consideration of the
bill, pending an effort on the part of
the author, together with supporters
and opponents OF the measure, to
oSieo upoH Cei TAIN suggested changes.
j. B. Free of Melrose told the com.
mittee that ''if cooperative lumber
concerns do not get legislative assis
lance they will be stamped out in two
years"
Chairman George Wicker of the
house committee on taxes appointed
the other four members of the sub
= ,sal,
torney general as to the validity of the
tonnage tax bills. The members are
j. o. Haugland, c. M. Bendixen, A. G.