The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-03-05
HOUSE DEFEATS
CHILD LABOR BILL
Amendment to Submit Issue to
1926 Election Ruled Out by
Lower House.

st. Paul-The proposed child labor
amendment to the federal constitution
was rejected by the house of repre-
sentatives.
After four hours Of debate the low
or house of the legislature voted 6S
to Sc in favor Of joint resolution re-
jecting the proposition.
The resolution Of rejection as
adopted by the house now goes to the
senate. If the senate goes on record
as rejecting the twentieth amend.
ment, the secretary Of state in Wash.
ington will be notified. If the senate
fails to adopt the amendment, or ii
1t "dies" in the last-minute rusL OF
the legislature, the authorities al
Washington are notified of Mime,
sofas action in formal way.
The house started on a resolution
to ratify the amendment. The first
move of the opposition was to force
vote on an amendment changing
the word ratification" to rejection
where it appeared in the joint resolu
ton. On this test of strength, the
opponents of the child labor amend
ment won, 67 to So. Then, on the
vote to adopt the joint resolution sc
as amended, the vote was 68 to 81
against the amendment.
The battle on the child labor
amendment developed wealth OF
last-minute support for it's ratifica
ton. Since the opening days Of the
legislature, the spirit of the house
has been decidedly against the ratifica
ton. Up to week or SO ago it was
difficult to find many legislators who
were in favor of ratification. But
during the last week the measure
clearly gained strength.
The State of Minnesota will scale
down it's trunk highway construction
program to less than one-tenth of the
construction of the last few years ii
the refnancing plan now before the
legislature is rejected.
In the last few years about $1,000,
900 annually has been spent on trunk
highway construction. Without the re
funding of county reimburs ement
bonds, now proposed in bill before
the legislature, the total amount
available in 1925 would be about 81,
100000, c. M. Babcock, highway com
missioner, said.
Mr.. Babcock said he believed nc
funds would be available in 1925 from
the gasoline tax. which the legislature
morn proposes to impose. He forecast
a test in the courts and he pointed
to the experience of the Michigan
highway department. The legislature
in that state imposed two cent gas
oline tax in 1928. Frank Rogers, Mich
gan highway commissioner, just has
Informed Mr.. Babcock that tests in
the court have established the validity
of the tax and the money just has
become available after nearly two
years delay. .-
If reinancing is rejected and the
motor vehicle tax schedule is main
tanned, Mr.. Babcock said only 100000
would remain for new construction il
1925. A maximum of 100000 woul6
be obtained from the motor vehicle
tax. To maintain the trunk highway
system, 100000 would be needed
and $4,500,O0O would have to be placed
in the sinking fund, in accordance
with requirements laid down by the
states public examiner. The $500,00(
remaining would be met by $50O,O0(
federal aid. This aid is to be met dol
lar for dollar by the state to maxi
mum Of $2,100,O0O from the fedora
treasury.
Mr. Babcock emphasized that with
$11,OO0,OO0 available in the last yeal
for trunk highway construction, the
state is tagging behind other az
gressive states in road building.
Ask Board Refunding Bill.
A proposal to extend provisions o.
the Adams bill for refunding of coun
ty reimbursement highway bonds tt
the entire outstanding issue Of $33,
100000 was being discussed by
members of both houses of the legis
lature. The bill as introduced take.
care of only $22,371, 900 of the bonds
the rest to be met directly, from thu
highway fund when they mature.
Increase in the iron ore tonnag,
tax from to 10 per cent, proposed il
a bill by s. A. Stockwell of Mime
apolis, would mean virtual confisca
ton of mining properties, the house
committee was told in the first house
argument on iron mining of the SEES
sion.
1.-THE industry is overdeveloped
mines through the two ranges ar,
being surrendered, and development
of new mines through drilling is at ];
standstill, all because of burdensom,
taxation" e. p. Scallon of Crosby
said. He declared tax of $118 OF
every ton OF ore is being assessed
including an ad valoren tax, the ta1
on stock piles, the tonnage tax ant
the royalty tax.
To Cut Printing Bill.
Promiscuous printing of state de
partmental reports must stop, accord
dng to an amendment to the reorgan
fzation bill which was adopted by tn,
senate civil administration commit
tee. The committee agreed with Sen
A No e.