The Tomahawk., 1921-03-24
BILL PASSED
Four "Farm Program" Measures Sent
to Governor After Passing Both
Houses on "Wednesday.


St. Paul-Four measures affecting
the agricultural interests of the state
were sent to Governor Preus late
Wednesday afternoon, having been ap-
proved by both houses of the Mime
sofa legislature.
The measures all received a strong
vote in the Senate, only one or two
minor changes being made in couple
of the proposed laws. The bills are
the outcome of the sO-called farmers
program" legislation fostered by the
leaders Of the two houses, and the
measure that went to the Governor for
his approval were as follows:
Bill to prohibit trading in grain fu-
lures, except for purposes of hedging.
Bill making Minneapolis Chamber
of Commerce, Duluth Board Of Trade
and South st. Paul Live Stock Ex-
change open" markets, by requiring
them to admit to membership co-opera-
tive associations of all kinds.
Concurrent resolution requiring the
state boards of grain appeal to re-es-
taDllSh MINNESOTA grades.
Bill submitting constitutional amend
ment, providing for establishment OF
a rural credits system.
The Senate had made minor amend
ments to three of the bills, and these
were reported to the House late in the
afternoon. The lower branch promptly
accepted them, and the measures were
sent on their way to Governor Preus.
Although no information has come
from the chief executive there is said
to be strong possibility of a veto of
the anti-futures bill. Governor Preus,
in his message, called particular atten-
ton to the futility of the Minnesota
Legislature passing anti-futures law.
He said it was a matter for national
legislation.
From the very first. in the Senate,
it was evident that senators would fol-
low the lead of their House colleagues
in passing all the bills in the farmers
program" regardless of what those
bills might do Complete dominance
by agricultural interests was the rule.
AS passed the anti-futures bill de-
fines a gambling contract as an agree
ment "wherein the actual delivery Of
the commodity sold is not, in good
faith, contemplated, or intended by the
contracting parties"
In the House bill the last clause of
that definition read "by one or both Of
the contracting parties" On motion
of Senator F. H. Peterson, the words
lone or both Of we're stricken out as
unnecessary and confusing.
Senator Charles r. Fowler of Mime
apolis, made the main talk against this
bill and against the so-called public
markets" bill. Senator Fowler said
that the anti-futures bill was intend
ed to destroy the greatest wheat mar
ket in the world
Senator George H. Sullivan of Still
water, was one of the main speakers
for both bills. He was joined by Sena-
tors Sageng, Benson and others.
Proposes Tax on Occupations.
Taxes on practically every occupa.
ton except that of farming and labor.
ing are provided for in bill intro
duced in the House of Representative
by F. J. McPartlin of International
Falls.
The bill fixes 10 separate classified.
lions of occupations for the purposes
of taxation.
This bill is the logical sequence to
the occupational tax bill passed by the
House under the guise of tonnage
tax bill,' said MIR. McPartlin,. the
author
IF my bill passes we can tax every
body except the farmer and the labor
err and they will need to pay no taxes
because everybody else is taxed under
the bill and the revenues will be suff.
Gent"
Exemption Bill Killed.
Proposal to exempt dwelling houses
from taxation. up to $4,000 in. value,
was defeated in the House by vote