The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-14
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS
Legislation To Control
Coal Situation Asked
ACTION ON TONNAGE TAX
This Will BE Made Special Or
der Business Before Mime
sofa Legislature
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatchl


st. Paul, January 12.-Judge John
F. MCGEE, former state coal admin
istrator, appeared before the senate
committee on agriculture this morn
ing and asked that the legislature
memorable congress for legis-
iation to control the coal situation as
to supply and prices.
Hold Weekly Meetings.
The st. Louis county senate and
house members have decided to
meet weekly for the consideration OF
measures pertaining to that county.
There will be lot Of these measures
since the census returns raised ST.
Louis county from the 10000 10 the
100000 class. A complete revision OF
county salaries will be necessary, the
clerk Of courts having already filed
an application for an increase from
$4,000 TO $4,000 a year anu others
will expect proportionate Increases.
There are several measures pIopos-
ed for the financial relief of the d.
iuth schools and increase OF their ia
CITIES and several OF the smaller
towns in the county are demanding
legislation, all OF which will be con-
aidered al these weekly sittinss.
A subcommittee consisting of
Senator Charles Z. Adams of Du-
luth; Representative Charles r..
Murphy OF Aurora; A. ]. Thomas OF
Ely; and NJ. b. McCuiium and Frank
u. Scribner of Duluth, has been ap-
pointed to take UP the county meas
committee. Representative w. L.
Bernard, Duluth, has been chosen
chairman OF the delegation ami
Representative Thomas OF FAY, sec
rotary.
Special Order For Bill.
Special order Will be asked for the
Bendlxen tonnage tax bill, probably
in about three weeks, Representa-
tive c. NJ. Bendixen OF Morgan, the
author, said this morning. The tax
committee of the house considered
the bill informally at messing this
morning and the first hearing on the
measure will be held Monday morn
ing Mr.. Bendixen opposed the rule
requiring two Thirds v1te q
n1aEeS a special 0u1oR< beczsis6 zsl.t
feared that it might interfere with
Obtaining a special order for this
bill, but it has been assured that he
will have no difficulty in obtaining
the consideration for II that he de,
Sires.
The Nonpartisan League bill, by
Representative A. c. WEIGH, probably
will be considered together with thS
Bendixen bin.
The Bendixen bill provides for a
tax OF eight per cent on net earnings
in lieu OF all other state taxes. The
WEIGH bill provides for a supertax o.
ten per cent on net earnings in ad
dition to the ad Valorem tax. The
Bendlxen bill is7eXpected to yield the
state an annual revenue OF $4,000,
900.
Another Tonnage Tax Bill.
Representative &. II. Warner, will
introduce within two or three days 8
tonnage tax bill that will differ in a,
least one important respect from any
sarner will propose that inst-.S Of
turning the revenues from the ton
mage tax on iron ore into the general
revenue fund that it be turned into q
trust fund for the benefit of the state
in the future when the iron ore shall
have been exhausted.
To accomplish this constitutional
amendment would be necessary and
this will be proposed in Mr.. Warmers
bill. The measure also will make the
tax a superior tax, that is a tax on
the earnings Of the mines over and
above the ad valorem tax now levied
The rate of taxation proposed in his
bill will be left for further consider
alton and possibly for determination
the committee, Mr.. Warner said
today.
Restore System OF Grain Grades. z,
The LEGISLATURES of North and
operate with the Legislature of Min
nesota in restoring the old MinnesoA a
system Of grain grades which were in
force before the federal grading sys
tenn was established. IL q movement
rted by Senator J. L. Void of Nor
man county is successful. =
Senator Void proposes that the
legislatures of North and South Da
kota send Representatives for confer
ence with representative of the MIN
nesota legislature looking to plans for
united action to bring about the
'hange.
Another Review Highway Laws.
Following the injunction by Charles
NJ Babcock. state highway commits
sioner to surround the state HIGHWAY
funds with all possible safe guards thu
today began another review OF the
'roposed recodifcation of highwar
laws to provide for carving amend
ment No. ! and tentatively adopteG
several proposed amendments. Action
was deferred pending consultation
with G. Louis Weeks, deputy attorney
General.
: Would Restore Power.
Restoration of the state railroad
md warehouse commissions power
tn regulate railroad rates within tht
state Is asked in concurrent resolu.
ton introduced in the house late
vacterdav nv Reprasentattve O. M
Bendixen, author Of Minnesota's two
cont passenger law, later. thrown "
discard. by ruling that the I. c
c.. has sole power to regulate intra
state as we'll AS interstate railroad
rates. The effect of this ruling wa!
to increase the passenger rate In Min
nesota from two cents to 3.6 cent
per mile.
Mr.. Bendixen's resolution ask
congress to amend the Esch- Pomer
inc law so as to prohibit the l. c. {
| from interfering with state rates.
Senate Bill.
A bill providing for the appoint