The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-04-21
STATE LEGISLATURE
Measure Providing for Tax of z Per
Cent on Motor Vehicles is
Passed by Both Houses.
Senate Kills Bill to Impose lax on
Royalties Amended Bonus
Bill is Passed.

The senate on Friday, by vote OF
SO to 0, passed the motor vehicle TAX
bill with an amendment raising it to
2A per cent. The house originally
fixed the tax CIR pleasure cars at l.o
per cent and the senate highways
committee raised this to per cent.
On Saturday the senate conference
committee came to an agreement that
the tax should be fixed at 2 per cent,
the senator's yielding to a cut Of one
quarter per cent. The compromise in
creases trailers from / to 2 per cent,
and trucks also are at that figure,
making all new motor, vehicles pay an
annual tax of 2 per cent on the fac
tory cost. The bill allows rs per cent
off for depreciation after the third
year and so per cent after the fifth
year of the cars life.
On Tuesday both houses accepted
the conference report and the vehicle
tax bill was repassed by both the house
and senate.
Final action on the amended bonus
bill was taken by the senate on Satur-
day, when the measure passed 50 to y.
The bill provides for the continuation
of the bonus board in office until June
80, 1922, and for creation Of board
of review with powers to consider ap-
peals from bonus board decisions re-
fusiHg claims.
The house voted, 81 to %, to make
the South St. Paul livestock exchange
an open market.
In one day (Friday) the senate
passed five highway bills. Among
them were the bill limiting the
length, width and weight Of motor
vehicle used on public highways, CIV
ing the highway commission rcgula-
tory power over use of highways at
certain times of the year when the
roads are soft, and permitting the
railroad and warehouse commission
the right to order grade separations
on proposed roads over railroad rights
of way.
Three bills, which taken together,
make women liable for jury service in
Minnesota and alter the jury statutes
to accommodate the court system to
this change were put through to final
passage in the house.
A "war chest" is provided in bill
which gives the state board of relief,
composed of the governor, state audi
tor and state treasurer, the power to
borrow funds and put them at the dis
posal of the attorney general when
necessary. This is done rather than
make a straight appropriation, be-
cause it is uncertain when and how
far some of the expected litigation is
going to go. The state board of relief
will supply the funds as it appears
they are needed Special counsel will
have to be employed to fight some of
the cases. Litigation is certain, for
instance, over the occupational, or
tonnage tax bill.
Minnesota has paid approximately
10000 soldiers bonuses, while 5000
remain unpaid, Of which $500 have not
yet been passed upon, it was brought
out in the debate on amending the
bonus bill in the senate. Bonus ap-
plications, it was decided, will be re-
ceived up to December 81, 1921.
The senate tax committee, after a
stormy hearing, approved for the Sec
ond time the bill requiring ware
houses to disclose the property they
hold in storage for others for purposes
of assessment: It was opposed by a
delegation of warehousemen. The
committee amended the bill so as not
to require statements in detail"
which the warehouse owners said
would be burdensome, as inventories
of household goods are lengthy affairs.
The state educational appropriation
bill introduced in the house by the
committee on appropriations calls for
$16,O26,247.4O, an increase of 1884,
3S5.4O over the appropriation made
two years ago. The high, graded,
semi-graded, consolidated, industrial
and rural schools receive large share
of the increase. The bill allows these
schools $7,422,875, against $6,656,070
two years ago.
Frank E. Miner, socialist member
from Hennepin county, was barred
from further recognition on the floor
of the house until he makes an apology
ordered for remarks in the debate on
the street railway bill. Miner, at that
time made sarcastic reference to "the
gang that is running this house, On
s~a@k;ox rs Do1nL Do~1.o. L