Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, April 28, 1909, Page 3

a x WER THE NORTHWEST Poedredeedeadeateateatentoatoate dion GOVERNOR VETOES TONNAGE TAX BILL | Executive Says Bill Is an. Ill Digested and Uncertain Experiment. QUIETUS FOR THIS SESSION Would Strike Blow at Future Develop< ment of Northern Minnesota— Inequality Shown. St. Paul, April 22—Gov. John A. Johnson sent a special message tothe house yesterday, returning the Bjorge tonnage tax bill without his signature. No attempt was made to,override the veto, and the tonnage tax is dead for this session. The members from the Heaq of the Lakes greeted the read- ing of the message with thunderous applause and later thronged the gov- ernor’s Office to congratulate him on his message. The measure provided a tax of 2 to 5 cents a ton on ore taken from the mines of Northeastern Minnesota. The entire range country strenuously objected and the governor was be- sieged with some seven thousand tele- grams and letters asking him to veto the bill. The objectors claimed disas- ter would follow the signing of the measure. On Grounds of Policy. The governor decreed the Bjorge bill for death on the’ broad question of policy. The grounds for the veto are, brief- iy: ! First—The bill, both in principle and administrative features, is a more or less uncertain and ill digested ex- periment. In application it threatens to violate the fundamental principle of taxation, that of equality, at the same time it fails to meet the consti- tutional requirement of uniformity in taxing the same class of subjects. Second—It would strike a severe blow at the development and pros- perity of all the great mineral-bear- ing counties of the state. Third—It is calculated to arouse a political and sectional feeling, which would injured the future development of the entire state, beside making the subject of just state taxation the mere football of partisan and sectional politics. Fourth — Minnesota is achieving marked success in the assessment and taxation of iron ore lands under the present ad valorem system, so that there is no urgent and vital public ance with the demand, and that the re- need of a measure of this kind at this time. Under the present tax laws the revenue could be increased in accord- turns were highly satisfactory. Points Out Inequality. He quoted at length the revenues raised on ore lands and the steady increase of taxes during the last few years. Urging equalization of taxation, the governor says that one part of the state should not contribute more than another; that at present fify-five coun- ties are drawing more from the state treasury than they put in; that the northeastern part is already paying a ‘number of times more taxes than any other part, and that the present sys- tem of taxation is so flexible that the mining country taxes can steadily be raised according to the demand for money. i Northern Minnesota claims, with some show of reason, says the gov ernor, that had its counties a legisla+ tive representation based on a just population apportionment, the bill would never have passed. UNCLE IKE TOO BUSY. Cannot Spare Tariff for Senatorial Primary Probe. , Madison, Wis., April 21. — United States Senator Isaac Stephenson will not come to Madison to testify before the senatorial primary investigation jcommittee at the present time. Mr, Stepkenson wired Sengeant-at- ‘arms Falconer of the senate yesterday ‘afternoon that consideration of the ‘tariff legislation would keep him in ‘Washington. Seeding In Full Swing. Red Lake Falls, Minn., April 22.— Seeding is in full swing throughout lthe county; the ground is in splendid ‘condition and the weather favorable. ‘Plowing was generally completed last lfall, so that the farmers are in posi- ition to have the crop in the ground at ‘a reasonably early date, and the pros. pects are good for a bumper yield. Gov. Lilley Is Dying. Hartford, Conn., April 22.—Attend- ing physicians announced late last might that the death of Gov. George iL. Lilley was a matter of probably fonly a few hours. He is unconscious ‘ond does not respond to stimulants. —— Preston Names New Mayor. preston, Minn., April 22. — AW. Thompson, former deputy state audi- tor, was elected mayor of Preston without opposition. License was not -oted upon and the town wil] be wet frartag the coming year. COULD NAME HIS PRICE. Offered Anything He Might Want to Make Up Quorum. Madison, Wis., April 25.—Assembly- man Peter F. Leuch of Milwaukee told the senatorial investigating committee yesterday that he was offered any- thing he might want if he would stay in the joint assembly to make a quo- rum when a yote was being taken for United States senator when the anti- Stephenson members went out. The offer, he said, was made by Da- vid Davies, a private'detective employ- ed by one of Senator Stephenson’s agents, Mr. Leuch said that he considered staying in the convention and thus making up a quorum equivalent to voting for Stephenson, and absolutely refused to do so, TWO ORPHANS KIDNAPPED. Missing Beloit Children Likely to Be Taken Out of Country. Beloit, Wis., April 24. — William Thomas Northey, aged six, and Doris May Northey, aged nine, orphans, are missing and are believed to have been kidnapped by a relative. It is thought they are on the way to Ireland. Charles Northey grandfather of the children, and a twelve-year-old broth- er, are distracted over their disap- pearance. The supposed kidnapper of the children went to Janesville, from which point all trace has been lost. MUZZLE FOR STENOGRAPHER. Law Providing Penalty for Those Who Betray Employers. Madison, Wis., April 25. — The as- sembly yesterday passed the Ledvina bill prohibiting stenographers from re- vealing the confidential matters of their employers. The bill is particu- larly directed against female stenogra- phers in some cities of the state who have been “giving away” business se- crets of their employers. The penalty is a fine of from $100 to $500, or im- prisonment in the county jail for six months, WOMAN BURNS TO DEATH. ‘Wood Left in Oven Takes Fire and Flames Envelop Her Clothing. Faribault, Minn., April 24. — Wood placed in a kitchen oven to dry was left so long that it became ignited, and when Mrs. Gunchild Rudningen, seven-five years old and residing on a farm near Nerstrand, opened the oven door and admitted the air the flames darted forth, setting fire to her cloth. ing and enveloping her whole body, causing burns from which she died. TWO LAWS FOR REFERENDUM. Vote to Be Asked on Electric Head- light and Militia Measures. Pierre, S. D., April 24. — Petitions are being circulated in the state to place two more laws of the last legis- lative session before the people for a vote through the referendum. One of these is the electric headlight law and the other the militia law. The latter is being agitated among the labor unions of the Black Hills: Boy Kills Spanker. Keokuk, Iowa, April 25.—Because George Jones, while playing, spanked him, Charles Alexander, nine years old, shot and killed him here yester- day. Jones was to have married Mrs. Lena Hammond, the boy’s aunt, to- day. The boy desclares he did not ‘know the gun was loaded. Mill City Hunters Nabbed. Annandale, Minn., April 24—On a warrant issued at the instance of the state game and fish commission, George P. Douglas and L. C. Bincliss of Minneapolis were arrested yester- day on a charge of having illegally in their possession eighteen ducks. Actor Is Arrested. Bozeman, Mont., April 25.—W. D. Glasscock, alias Waughan, an actor, was arrested here yesterday upon ad- vices from Leesville, La. He is want- ed for first degree assault in connec. ‘tion with the shooting of a bystander jin a revolver duel with a policeman. Joy Unlimited Cver Veto. Brainerd, Minn., April 23.—The ve- toing of the tonnage tax bill caused much satisfaction in Brainerd. At Deerwood, in the center of the Cu- ‘yuna range, all went wild when the ‘news was received. Arrested for Holdup. Brainerd, Minn., April 24. — Gus Kling and Arthur Wilkes were arrest- ed here yesterday charged with hold- ing up a man in a saloon in Black Duck. Probable Head of Normal School. Madison, iWs., April 24.—Prof. H. L. Wilson will probably be elected presi- dent of the River Falls normal schcol to succeed W. J. Brier, resigned, Kills Wife and Self. Cedarsburg, Wis., April 24.—Charles Gottschalk, Jr., and his wife were found dead in their room last night. A discharged revolver on the floor indi- cated that Gottschalk killed his wife and then Timself. The couple had quarreled frequently. Store Gas Plant Explodes. Bayfield, Wis., April 24—The gas fighting plant in the department store of A. Nelson blew up yesterday about five minutes after.Jlighting. No one was hurt. , LEDS o DHE | ITALIAN SLAIN BY BLACK HAND Murdered by Four Countrymen in Broad Daylight on St. Paul Street. IS RESULT OF AN OLD FEUD St. Paul, April 27.—Although fore- : warned and forearmed, Vincenze Mey- na, an Italian, was assassinated by four of his fellow countrymen in broad daylight yesterday afternoon at the crowded corner of Seventh and Neil streets. Gestinat Meyna, a brother of the murdered man, escaped death by a hairsbreadth, the bullet fired at him striking a money belt at his waist, following it around his abdomen. The murders escaped to the nearby railroad tracks ang eluded the police. Motive Not Known. The cause of the tragedy is not known, but the police hold to the Black Hand theory, although some believe that the killing was the sequel to an old feud. Meyna died in the police ambulance while being taken to the city hospital and the body was then removed to the morgue, where Coroner A. W. Miller will hold an autopsy and inquest to- day. The murderer and his three accom- plices are known to the surviving brother, and the police are confident that they will be captured before long. Warned of Danger. Vincenze Meyna and his brother, it is said, formerly worked in St. Paul under direction of the St. Paul pa- drone, Paul Carbon, Last winter the brothers went to Winnipeg, and they had just returned to this city yester- day morning. A third brother lives at Winnipeg, and when Vincenze and Gestinat were leaving the Canadian town he warned his departing brothers that they would have trouble in St. Paul. He said that they would be killed because of trou- ble that originated in this city be- tween the three brothers and mem- bers of the Italian colony here. The brothers arrived in this city this morning, and after dinner started east on Seventh street. When they reached the corner of Neil — street, four Italians emerged from a building and before the intended victims had time to realize what was happening the four men fired a fusillade of bul- lets at them. FAKE TELEGRAM NETS $500. Swindler Tries to Repeat Trick, but Fails and Disappears. Des Moines, April 27.—Upon a fake telegram from an Omaha accomplice, purporting to be from the First Na- tional bank there, Clarence A. King of that city Saturday cashed a bogus check for $500 at the Citizens’ Na- tional bank here. King was foiled in an attempt to repeat the trick at the Des Moines National bank and fled. There is no clue to his whereabouts. LAWYER IS INDICTED AGAIN. Fraud and Embezzlement Laid to Great Northern’s Attorney. Spokane, Wash., April 27. — Three more true bills against Judge M. J. Gordon has been returned by the grand jury, making six in all. The six indictments charge him with ut- tering worthless checks for $8,000 and with with five cases of embezzlement from the Great Northern railway while acting as its counsel. ee BAGGAGE SMASHER IS SHOT. Throws Grip Contain'ng Revolver Onto StatioW Platform at Edinburg. Grand Forks, N. D., April 27—Dan Bull, an employe of the Northern Da- kota Railway company, was wounded when he threw a grip in which was a loaded revolver on th? platform at Edinburg. The bullet lodged below his knee. He continucd the journey to Grand Forks, where the bullet wag located by an X-ray, —_—_—_____ SURVEY CAPITOL GROUNDS. State Officers Begin Work for Parking at Pierre. Pierre, S. De, April 27—Prof. N. E. Hanson of Brookings college and State Surveyor Nelson of Mitchell made a preliminary survey of the state capitol grounds for the purpose of making a plat for parking the tract. The present plan is to do the work with the aid of state employes. Indians Go on Strike. Aitkin, Minn., April 27. — Lo, the|} noble red man, went on a strike here yesterday morning, and for two ‘hours the main street of this city was crowded with Chippewas. Seven- ty or eighty of them had gathered here to go on the log drive, with a promise of $2.25 a day. When in- formed that $2 was all the lumber- imen were paying, the Indians struck. Matters were finally settled by the old chief, Little-boy-afraid-of-logs, ar- Minnesota’s thirty-sixth legislature has passeq into history, and its work before the people. The important results of the session are not many. A large part of the time and attention of both houses was taken up by measures that came to nothing, such as tonnage tax, county option, the Cass Lake normal school, primary election amendment, gross earnings measures, reapportionment and the bills concerning the building of the Armour plant near New Brigh- ton. The session, however, had some positive results, among them the fol- lowing: Creation of a state department of banks. Provision for a new state prison, to cost $2,250,000. Creation of a commission to study the employers’ liability question and report a scientific compensation act at the next session, Relief of Minnesota river valley from flood conditions by dykes and dredg- ing. Extension of university campus, $350,000 more allowed. Creation of correspondence school of agriculture attached to state agri- cultural college, $20,000 provided. New inheritance tax law. State license of automobiles and chauffeurs, with road regulations. Authority given cities to adopt the “commission plan” of government un- der home rule charters, Designation of 1,000,000 acres of land in northern Minnesota as a big game preserve. Six constitutional amendments sub- mitted. Anti-cigarette law. State aid for ten high schools in- stalling departments of agriculture. Sunday baseball legalized. State’s title to minerals under lake beds asserted. . New act for protection against for- est fires. State license act for peddlers out- side large cities. Teachers’ pension bill. Probation system for juvenile de- linquents extended to whole state. Uniform bill of lading act. Law defining vagrancy and enabling police to drive out fortune tellers. Saloon licenses hereafter limited to one for each 500 people. Suburban electric lines taxed 4 per cent of gross earnings. State’s appraisal of railroad prop- erty to be kept down to date. Railroads required to keep track of freight charges paid in excess of state law while in the courts, and refund excess if state rates are sustained. Two new district judges for north- ern Minnesota. Prohibiting indecent medical adver- tising. Regulating trading stamps. Give $600,000. to roads. Ten cent mortgage tax. Extending Torrens systerh to whole state, State fair grandstand. More than 2,000 bills were intro- duced, and the record shows that 508 of them passed. The senate was in actual session on seventy-one days, and the house seventy-nine days. Owing to the new salary law the cost of the session to the state was far in excess of any previous one. The sum of $288,000 was set aside, and will nearly all be used. The 1907 session cost $189,975.25. : ‘Phe tonnage tax bill caused the big- gest fight of the session. It was in- troduced in the house by Mr. Bjorge. The bill provided for a graded tax from 2 to 5 cents a ton, according to quality of ore, for state revenue only, the property to be assessed and taxed fas before for local purposes. The bill aroused a storm of protest from the northern part of the state. It was made a special order in the house for March 17, after many public hearings by the committee, at which advocates and opponents of the tax were heard. The bill passed the house by a vote of 61 to 57, after three hours of debate. On April 16 the senate passed the bill after debate lasting five hours and a half. The yote was 38 to 24. Duluth and the iron range was afire when the news of the vote reached there. Im- mediately telegrams and letters began to pour in on the governor asking him to veto the bill. On April 20 the gov- ernor returned the bill to the house without his approval. The veto was based on the grounds of public policy. Probably¢ the greatest constructive work of the session was one whose tangible results will not be seen for another two years, but are bound to assume vast importance. This was the creation of a commission of three men, to be appointed by the governor, to investigate the question of com- pensation of employes for injuries, and fee a workingmen’s compensation ni ct to the next legislature. Two bills ere also passed requiring reports ; BEMIDJI FAIR DATE FIXED. i —_ Bemidji, Minn., April 25.—The third annual fair of the Beltrami County Agricultural association will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 15, 16 and 17, these dates having peen selected at a meeting-of mem- ers of the society last evening, at ‘which the officers for the ensuing year iwere elected and plans for the year’s fair discussed, as well as the sending ‘of a county exhibit to the state fair next fall. WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE: REVIEW OF THE LAWS ENACTED — POSITIVE RESULTS ARE FEW—MUCH TIME SPENT ON MEASURES WHICH COME TO NOTHING. on accidents to employes, which will give the commission Minnesota data to work upon. Another important piece of legisla- tion was the creation of a state super- intendent of banks with a staff suffi- cient to examine all state banks twice ayear. The law goes into effect Aug. 1, and Gov. Johnson will name the superintendent after consulting with the leading bankers of the state. This act leaves the public examiner with nothing but public offices and institu- tions to supervise, Two years ago a start was author- ized on a new plant for the state prison at Stillwater, which long ago had outgrown its crampeq@ quarters. At the same time the act was passed under which the state is to undertake the manufacturing of harvesting ma- chinery. At the very opening of the 1909 session the movement began to provide for the new state prison. Un- der the plans and estimates of the board of control and its architects the amount was finally fixed at $2,250,000, to be raised by certificates of indebt- edness, and paid off in nine years by special levy. The legislature made a special trip to Stillwater and inspect- ed the site, after which the bill was passed. Another important Dill, in connection with the prison, allows the board of control to set aside 25 cents a day from the earnings of any pris- oner for the support of his family. ‘A bill prohibiting the sale, manu- facture or giving away of cigarettes or cigarette material was passed. It becomes effective Aug. 1. There was a marked change in the attitude of this legislature toward the railroad problem, as compared with other sessions of recent years. It was recognized that the state had gone far enough along the line of regula- tion, and that under present economic conditions it was wise to give the big transportation companies a little rest. Two measures growing out of the state suits were passed. One re-enact- ed the commodity rate law of 1907, with the penalty section omitted. The other measure requires the companies in all cases where rates fixed by the state are resisteq in court, and are not put into effect, to report monthly to the railroad commission as to every shipment under the contested rates. The report must show the excess paid by every shipper over the state rate, and in case the state rates are finally upheld the railroad is to pay the full amount of such excess with interest to the railroad commission, which is to distribute it to the shippers. An. other bill requires the railroads to keep in all towns of 500 or more an agent at the station at least an hour and a half. before the arrival of each train. The distance tariff bill was again killed. The railroad commission was given authority to keep up its work of the physical valuation of rail- road properties. The need for more adequate protec- tion against forest fires was empha- sized by the heavy losses of 1908, and there was little opposition offered to a bill making stringent rules about the setting of fires in the timber coun- try. The needs of reforestation ,were recognized, but little provided for. In compliance with the views of,the tax commission, a constitutional amend- ment was submitted which, if passed at the election, will make it possible to exempt lands for taxation which are being used for reforestation. Rather less time was spent in the investigation business than usual, but the results gained were fully as im- portant as at previous sessions. Two special committees were engaged in such work. One took up the school problem and the other looked into the financial operations of the state agri- cultural society. There was consider- able spicy testimony in the book in- quiry, Interference by an agent of the American Book company in the selec- tion of a superintendent at Winona, anq activity in school board elections in Minneapolis, were testified to. The committee’s report was a thoughtful discussion of the problem. It found there was no real book trust, but a sharp competition which led the com- panies to unwise methods. Some complaints against the man- agement of the state fair were heard by the special committee. The report offered some criticisms mostly regard- ing the methods of pookkeeping. Many attempts were made during the session in the line of regulating street railways, telephone companies and other public service corporations. The one which aroused the most at- tention was the Nolan bill placing street railways under the control of the state railroad commission. The matter was thrashed out in the house, and was finally defeated. ~ Outside of voting money liberally from the state treasury, to be spent under local supervision, the legisla- ture did nothing toward improving the SAYS SON HE CHIDED SHOT HIM. lowa Doctor Wounded, It Is Charged, by Enraged Youth. Des Moines, April 25.—Dr. N. Kep- per, a physician at Collins, was shot in the bresst, just above the heart, it is alleged, by his twenty-four-year-old son yesterday. The doctor, reprimanding the young man, it is charged, because of his hab- its, enraged the son, who fired at his father. The wounded man may sur- vive, highways of the state. The funds at the disposal of the state highway com- mission were not increased. The’ “pork barrel” bill, voting money to; each county in the state, was raised! from $200,000 to $300,000 a year. A bill providing for local option was introduced early in the session. It was killed by a vote of 51 to 66.' Similar treatment was given to every measure proposed by the radicals re- lating to the liquor question. Many attempts were made to amend the primary election law, but they came to naught. A bill was passed which prohibits the killing of game in the limits of national forest reserves. The Dill’s main effect is to create a preserve of 1,000,000 acres on the northern boundary of the state, opposite a like area set aside by the proyince of On- tario, within which moose and deer may not be legally killed. A bill permitting all cities of the state to adopt the commission form of government was passed. Bills creating different state sys- tems of extending courses in agricul- ture dragged along during almost the entire session. The only one that passed was Senator Putnam's bill ap- propriating $25,000 a year for the first ten high schools to comply with its conditions. The liberality displayed toward the new state prison did not operate to the serious injury of other institu- tions. The buildings for which money has been provided within the next two years do not meet all the needs of the- situation, but will make a big showing nevertheless. The state uni- versity gets several new buildings. Normal schools at Winona, Moorhead and Duluth draw $290,000 for new buildings. New buildings at four of the institutions for the insane will cost $240,000. More than usual attention was paid to the solution of the drainage ques- tion. The claims of the Minnesota valley for relief from the frequent overflowing of the bottom land were heeded. A complete survey of the ba- sin will be made to determine what improvements are practicable. Owners of automobiles are required to get licenses from the secretary of state in a bill which also imposes strict road regulations. Uncertainty as to the constitutional latitude for tax legislation was not re- moved until the session began, when the supreme court decided that the “wide-open” amendment of 1906 really carried. The tax commission, on ac- count of the uncertainty, made a few important recommendations to the legislature, and it was hard to con® mand support for any of the numerous innovations proposeqd by members. The end of the session found the state about where it was before. Many bills aimed at corporations were offered, but nearly all were killed in commit- tee. A bill taxing all grain passing through elevators half a mill for wheat and flax and one-fourth of a mill on coarse grains was passed. The bill raising the gross earnings tax on freight line companies was passed, raising the rate from 4 to 6 per cent. All attempts to correct the inequali- ties in representation in the legisla- ture failed. Efforts in the house to give the northern counties a better representation in the lower house were nullified in the senate. One slight change was voted, giving the seventeenth legislative district three members, so Lincoln, Lyon and Yellow Medicine counties will each have a house member. This raises the house to 120 members. MILLING PLANT SOLD. New Owner Will Take Possession of Little Falls Business on May 1. Little Falls, Minn., April 25.—The Northwestern Milling company’s per- sonal property, book accounts and stock on hand have been sold to J. W. Stephenson of Mahaffey, Pa. Mr. Ste- phenson paid $85,000 cash and assum- ed a mortgage of $25,000 which stands against the mill property. The new owner will take possession May 1. SPRING BLIZZARD AT MORRIS. Snow Drifting in Fields Where Seed- ing Was in Progress. Morris, Minn., April 23.—About an inch of snow fell in this part of the state last night. The wind is from the northwest and snow is falling thick and fast, blowing in drifts and giving a blizzardlike appearance to fields where teams hitched to plows and drills were at work yesterday. Street Workers Strike. Albert Lea, Minn., April 25.—All the | men at work on streets are out on strike because the city council fixed | their pay at 15 cents an hour until May 1, and it seems likely street work | will be abandoned until that date, when the pay will be 171-2 cents an hour, Ostrander Bank Dynamited. Spring Valley, Minn., April 25.—The State bank at Ostrander was burglar ized last night, the vault being dyna mited, but the cracksmen failed to get any of the money contained therein. Two men are being held at Le Roy as suspects. PABST AUTO KILLS GIRL. Milwaukee, April 25.—Col. Gustave Pabst, while driving in an automobile yesterday, accidentally ran down and killed Lillie Winkler, a fourteen-year- old girl, living at 946 Beecher street! The accident occurred at Lake and Reed streets, just as the girl alighted from a street car and walked in front: of the rapidly moving automobile: Col. Pabst was taking a trip to Chi- cago. " oc teeta.