The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-03-01

The Legislature of 1929 has run one
half of its courSe-itS least important
half, the half of short sessions and
long adjournments over week-ends, the
half of organization and getting ready.
Now comes the rush of activity, the
time of weighing and bordering, the
time of choosing and rejecting, the
actual coming to grips with the max
ing of laws.
The matters about which we shall
are now pretty well determined. What
are these things?
Economic issues usually bulk larger
than any other in any program of
legislation, but social legislation
arouses great interest and sometimes
the greatest excitement. In 1927 evolu-
ton rocked the legislature, or it might
be more correctly said, the circum-
ambient, atmosphere as did no other
single issue But it was like the froth
that foameth in the glass; one NOM
ent it heapeth itself high above the
rim and threateneth to overflow
around about, the next it dieth down
and is not So it often is with social
legislation-it sometimes arouses the
most intense passions, but for the
most part they are passions of the
moment.
How Shall We Marry?
Marriage bills pend in the legisla-
ture. Shall we abolish the common
law marriage? England did it 200
years ago. 1t is relic of old days
old times which knew not flying ma
chimes or motor cars and it was often
hard to find a preacher to tie the
knot. No good and much evil, social
workers say, come from the common
law marriage. But you'd be surprised
to see the vigor with which this am
biguous and uncertain relation is de-
Tended.
Shall we require two trips to the
county clerks Office and five day
waiting period before q license to
marry is issued? Wisconsin with its
eugenic laws and North Dakota with
its strict regulations drive cooling
couples to Minnesota where license
may be had for the asking, county
clerks get themselves fat fees in con-
sequence and there. is great cutlery
against the five day waiting period.
Minnesota has sterilization law,
rockribbed in its safeguards. Shall the
Board Of Control, using this law, be
permitted to authorize morons in its
charge, under certain circumstances,
to marry?
Curling the Loan Sharks.
For three sessions of its legislature
Minnesota has made the most vigorous
efforts to curb the loan shark who
fattens on the desperate needs of the
poor in the big cities, but this vora-
cious beast of prey still twists and
Squirms and writhes completely out
Of the clutches of the law Labor has
much to answer for in the defeat of
this legislation and the farmer, too.
has shown the white feather. Rather
than risk the accusation that we have
legalized rate of 1-2 per cent a
month, AZ per cent per year, we allow
the loan shark to bludgeon 300 per
cent and more from the unfortunate
that falls into his clutches.
Minnesota once protected the work.
ing girls with 81 hour a week law.
but between the legislature and the
governors Office a careless clerk
stubbed his toe, the supreme court
found it out and the law was not. Now
we are trying 90 enact another. bun
the country hotels and some others
are against it.
War on the Border.
Crusading Walton Leaguers, Horri-
BILE Ogre Backus and Suspected and
Nefarious Somebody Else who may
or may not be the Weyerhauser in
terests gave the senate q bad four
hours Senators protested that MOTH
ing could come of it, but great many
words came Of it that day. The Ides
OF March are hard upon us ana with
them the death of the Shipstead- New
ton BIZ to save the border from the
hand Of the despoiler. It Is still q