The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-13
STATE LEGISLATURE To
FACE A MASS OF BILLS
=. AT MEETING JANUARY 2
Continued from page u


ed for a majority in the senate Of 81
members. Making Of the senate
rules, and organisation of the upper
house, is considered its most import
ant procedure: "A senate with labor
sympathiss, 4 senate strongly ad-
lninistrati6n, or a senate deadlotked
for most ,of the session, may result
from the initial steps toward 'organi-
zation. ha -, %oH'e' .'-''4!>'4 10 e.
qtMqst members Of. both housesoare
looking for. an early attack by ,th,
wetsron 4the state prohibition. en-
f9rcement act. Wet leaders believe
enough votes can be mustered to re-
peal the act, and the fight will be on
CONGESTION that the state act is sup
erceded by the. Volstead act. The
Volstead act had not been passed in
congress when the state enforcement
act was passed. Reports were when
Thomas H. Girling, Robbinsdale,
leader of the vets, withdrew from
the speakership, race, that some
'''deal" was on with the wet element
A big highway program to be pre-
sented to the legislature holds prob
ably the most general public inter-
est. C. NJ. Babcock, commissioner of
highways, has definite legislative
program to present, and he will urge
the legislature to provide $780,
100000 bond issue for the next two
year period, which will enable the
state to complete at least rs per
cent Of the trunk highway program,
within four years. The state high
way department cannot. lay new
trunk highway routes until IS per
cent of the program adopted two
years ago is completed.
Reenactment of the county re-
endorsement law passed by the 1919
legislature, will also be asked. This
was an emergency measure and went |
into the discard after highway am
endme1t No. l was voted by the
electors Less than half the counties
in the state took advantage Of the
emergency act and it is hoped other
counties will take advantage Of it,
if it is re-enacted. It would permit
counties to issue bonds up to $780,
600 to complete construction on
trunk highways in counties affected
and they would be reimbursed by the
state later. Another law contemplat-
cd is one that would permit cities
and villages to issue bonds to I'M
prove streets on trunk highway
routes.
EQUALIZATION of automobile taxes,
which 20 into the state highway fund
is also certain. Many inequalities IN
the state auto tax have been found
since the law was passed by the last
legislature, and even courts have
asked citizens to be patient and a
,ws,ait revision Of the law, where 1t
vas prpyen inequalities existed:
+: It Is probable that the legislature
Will be asked to increase the occupa-
tional tax, known otherwise as the
tonnage tax, from 6 per cent to 1o
per cent.
Repeal of the political conven-
ton law will be also asked in this
session of the legislature. Reform OF
registration in cities Of the tlrse
class probably will be asked. Mea-
sares. will Re proposed that voters
in cities OF the: first class be per-
nitted to register with city clerks
avoiding registration before every
state or city election. When regis
tered with the city clerk, they would
remain permanently registered, un-
til moved. ~ = -, !
Reform on the state parole board
to make the body hold public ses-
sior, the same as the state pardon
board holds, may be asked, as re-
silt al. recent parole board scandals ,
The freeing of a number Of tconvlcts
Oh parole has aroused protest.
A big agricultural program is now
being framed by a special committee
appointed by w. I. Nolan.
Drainage legislation will urldoubt-
" take up much time in the coming
sessions. :...,l
!, Creation Of a state fund for the
payment of workmen's compensa-
tior, will be proposed. i T..
-. Increase of. taxes on real proper"
ty, and reduction Of taxes on person
al property may also come before
the Legislature. ...,.
School aid, state cement plant,
public domain, fish and game con-
versation, and legislation to prohib-
IL drug stores selling patent medi-
cilriIes where they are not confined
strictly to the drug business, will be
proposed. Grocers and retail mer-
chants are objecting to drug stores
selling groceries and other comnho-
dditiey in connection with their bu-
siness. g.. ! ,,r.
THE. state constabulary law, pet
}of Governor Preus, is admittedly
dead.z. It may not even be proposed
= ~ There will be four women in the
house of Representatives, for the first
time in. history. Miss Myrtle Cain,
Minneapolis, D Mrs. Mabeth, 'Hurd
Fpauhs MINNEAPOLIS" Mrs. Sue M.