Weekly Minnesotian and times., 1859-12-31
eported for the Mnnesotian and Times.
Minnesota Legislature.
SECOND SESSION.

SECOND SESSION.
FRIDAY, Dec. %, 80.
SENATE-Met pursuant tcndjurnment.
, RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. ADAMS-That the Secretary pro
cure the printing of all bills on paper of uni
form size. Adopted.
By Mr.. FROST-That the Committee on
Printing be instructed to prepare with the aid
ofpersons experienced with printing and &C
quainted with the prices thereof, schedule
Of prices for the printing necessary to be
done for the Senate, and to report thereon
to this body at an early day. Adopted.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. TAYLOR-An act to amend an
act &C., to establish the boundaries of certain
counties and provide for their organization.
By Mr.. BISHOP-An act relating to Taxes
By Mr. McLAREN-TO authorize the bu-
siness of Banking in Minnesota. CThis bill is
the same as the Wisconsin Banking Law.)
| By Mr.. FRQST-To provide for the filing
of Chattel Mortgages and the effect thereof
| REPORTS.
Mr.. NELSON presented the Annual Re-
port of the Surveyor of Logs and Lumber Of
the first district.
Mr.. COWAN presented a minority report
from the Committee on Printing, on the reso-
luton offered by him that all printing for the
Senate shall be done by Earle S. Goodrich
The same was, on motion of Mr.. Hail. laid on
the table.
THE PRINTING QUESTION.
Being made the special order for this day
was called up and the majority report was
| read
Mr.. HODGES moved the adoption of the
report.
Mr.. HALL moved to lay the majority report
on the table.
Mr.. HEATON thought there was no good
reason for longer delay. Marked courtesy had
been extended the opposite side, and ample
time had been given them to consider this
question. The minority report was substanti-
ally the same as the one introduced in the
House.
The motion to lay the report on the table
was lost.
Mr.. COWAN objected to such hasty pro-
ceeding, as to the disposal of the minority re-
port.
Mr. McLAREN said there was no DISPOSE
ton to dispose of this matter summarily. He
would move, therefore, that the report be
taken up and read, that the minority might
have time and full opportunity to discuss the
whole question. He deemed it fair and just
that this should be done.
Mr.. COWAN said he would not vote for
the motion of the gentleman (Mr. McLaren).
The ukase had gone forth that this matter was
to be decided on party grounds. He would
not take up the time of the Senate to discuss
the question further. Let it 60, and let the
responsibility rest where it belongs.
Mr.. WINN replied to Mr.. c. and went over
the whole ground embraced in the two re
ports, He cited to precedent where similar
contract which hid been entered into at Was
hington, had been annulled and declared void
He would vote for the adoption of the majority
report.
Mr. FROST would coincide in the conclu-
sions to which the Committee had arrived.
In examining the law relating to printing, he
found it signed by Chas. L. Chase Acting
Governor, and he did not believe that any
law signed by that individual was valid until
it could be shown that said Chase was the
bona .1ide Governor of the then Territory
Mr. F. gave other and more explicit reasons
why he should vote to annul the Goodrich
contract In conclusion, lie read an edito-
rial article from the Winona Democrat, Ga
pdpCIJ III WLtCI IL ID ulSlluClly
set forth, that the contract of Earle S. Good
rich was obtained by fraudulent collusion
with the State Auditor. .
Mr. ANDREWS had read both reports,
and had given the subject impartial attention
He would pass upon Mr.. Goodrichs claim
not as politician, but as printer. He had
always thought that the act authorizing the
printing contract was a wise measure of re-
fOrr md hot II xyoc N oOpciIoroI hu oil Tf
the Auditor had exceeded his duty, there
was tribunal to which he was amenable
The Senate was not judicial tribunal, and
had no legal right to pass upon this matter.
Mr. MCLAREN said this question had not
been sprung suddenly upon the Senate. 1t
was matter which had agitated the minds of
the people of this State for two years past.
The minority report was confined mostly to
two bids, and did not present the question
fairly The intention of the Legislature was
to let the printing to the lowest bidder, not on
the printing as whole, but to those who bid
the lowest on the separate items. There was
cOllusion had with the Auditor in this matter,
and special agreement had been made be-
tween the parties that the money paid for
printing should be paid in gold. When the
Auditor had transcribed the powers vested
in him as an officer of this State, it was the
duty of the Legislature not to encourage his
action.
Mr.. BISHOP gave reasons why he
should vote for the adoption of the majority
report. He thought the contract had been
obtained by fraudulent means, and it was so
shown by the Committee who had thoroughly
investigated the matter.
Mr. HEATON-I do not desire to take up
| ,,,ncb in fbo f,rthor 6ohofo Of fhic
| tion feel that my health will not permit
me to make speech much as I would like to
enter into full and fair discussion of the
whole subject, and pursue an investigation
through all the twistings and turnings of this
most doubtful of all contracts. Were stran-
ger to enter the Senate at this time, and hear
the deep drawn sighs and doleful lamenta-
tons which are breathed and uttered by
those on the opposite side of the House, he
might suddenly be constrained to believe
that all that was sacred and dear to the
rights of Mr.. Goodrich, were to be ignored
and trampled under foot l thought at
times, while sitting in my seat, and casting an
eye to the few friends of Mr.. Goodrich who
have assembled here for his good, that l
could detect tear now and then glstening
on the cheek of more than one of that little
van, who lead so despondingly fOrlorn hope
am glad that this discussion has taken
place. We have had a striking exhibition
how hard it is for the party which has re-
yelled in power for the last two years, to die.
They die hard-uery hard. Their power of
scenting the public plunder has been remark
ably keen. Not content with dying decently
under the overwhelming verdict of public
opinion, which has recently come up from
every quarter Of the State, they are still ca-
moring at the very threshold of this Capitol.
Never did a pack of rapacious wolves or bay
ing hounds, follow stag over hill and dale
with more fierccness, and a sharper sense of
hunger, than they have in pursuit of the pub
lie treasure. Not content with the $4,000
which this cormorant has already taken un-
der the slim covering of his mOccasin con-
tract, he still cries Justify for "more, "more." !"
Our Democratic brethren on this floor are
welcome to all the glory that can be achieved,
by defending this martyr printer. During the
late campaign the people became acquainted
with this distinguished gentleman and the