The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-30
the Railroad Bonds. and their cost to each
BILLS INTRODUCED.


Mr.. SANBORN submitted lengthy
bill entitled bill to authorize and regulate
garnishee proceedings.
Mr.. MITCHELL submitted bill regu.
lating the manner Of making assignments.
The Judiciary Committee submitted a
bill providing for township organization.
SUPREME COURT REPORTS.
The bill providing for the publication of
Supreme Court reports, having come up in
committee of the whole, motion was made
by Mr.. ACKER that all after the enacting
clause be stricken out, urging that if it was
necessary to have the reports published, let
the reporter have the copyright for his SER
vices.
Mr.. MITCHELL took the same views as
Mr.. Acker, contending that if the State
assumed the publication of the report, the
State would never receive any benefit there
from, as the Legislatures would be voting
themselves copies without cost.
Mr.. SANBORN opposed the motion,
contending that the bill under consideration
was similar to those of other States, and to
meet the views of members could be readily
amended.
After some further debate, the motion of
Mr.. Acker was adopted and the bill ordered
70 be reported back with recommendation
for reference to the Judiciary Committee.
THE SUPREME COURT.
Mr.. SECOMBEiS joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to section 2, article 6,
of the Constitution, was taken up in COM
mittee. The amendment provides for the
Judges of the Supreme Court to be equal to
the number of Judicial Districts, and pro-
viding that the District Judges shall act as
Supreme Judges.
Mr.. COGGSWELL proposed to report
the resolution to the House with recon-
mendation that it be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. SECOMBE appeared in defence of
his proposition urging it as a matter of
economy, in the first place, but afterwards
acknowledging that this was not the occa-
sion of introducing the resolution. He
charged the Judges in the second place with
dabblng in politics, and thirdly, that they
had violated the prerogatives of a coordinate
branch of the government. He then pro-
ceeded to speak of them as partisan in char
acter, and unworthy to hold their seats as
Judges.
Mr.. STEVENS said he was in favor of
the alteration, but not for the reasons set
forth by Mr.. Secombe. He referred to the
formation of the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States, and contended that the principle
had worked well in several States.
Mr.. ACKER was in favor of lessening
the number of Judges, and thought the mat
ter might be accomplished without an amend
ment to the Constitution by adding two
more Judges to the Supreme Bench, and
having them perform in addition to their
Supreme duties the duties of District Judges.
Mr.. ABRAHAM said the proposed
reform was one that had met with the ap-
probation of Democrats and Republicans in
the late canvass, and while he held similar
views concerning the Supreme Judges, he
would not advocate the amendment as a
political measure.
Mr.. MITCHELL said that with his
present viewshe was opposed to the proposed
amendment, but did not know but he would
concur in some reforms in the Courts of the
State. He was opposed to the resolution in
question, because it looked like political
project of the majority of the House. He
deprecated any action that would look like
a partizan attack upon the judiciary.
Mr.. ROBERTSON said the course pro-
posed was one tried in Ohio, and found to
work badly. He contended that the Dis
trict Judges had now nearly as much labor
as they could perform, and if additional
labor was placed upon them additional COM
pensation would be necessary, and the ex-
pense not lessened. He would not touch
the political question. He was opposed to
the adjustment of the Supreme Court
Mr.. COGGSWELL said he made his
motion to ascertain the object of the resolu-
ton, to know the reasons why the PROPOSE
ton was made. He enumerated the reasons
given by Mr.. Secombe
As measure of economy he thought that
the amendment would be failure. He
believed that an increase of services upon
the District Judges would require an in
crease of salary, or the Judges would
resign. He referred to the Judge of the
9Th District who had nine counties to travel
over, and after summing up all his expenses,
if his salary was paid in gold and silver,
he was just about even and to increase the
duties, he was satisfied the Judge would
resign.
As to the charge of the present Judges
dabbling in party politics. He wasn't
fully posted, but he thought there was no
constitutional provision of law to prevent
the judges from having their opinions upon
politics the same as other people. He could
not regard this as as weighty reason.
AS to the vic alton Of the perogatives of
a coordinate branch of the Government, he
was not fully posted, but if such was the
case he did not suppose the CO ordinate
branch was obliged to obey the mandates
of the Court.
He then proceeded to argue the exper-
fence of other States, showing that the pride
of the District Judges in their opinion had
been found to influence their brother Judges
and so rulings Of the Court below had been
affirmed by the Supreme Court, which should
have been revered; and the conse quence
was the adoption of a plan similar to the
one at present in vogue. He deprecated the
political remarks of Mr.. Secombe. He
thought that the selection of Judges should
be made from the best men without refer
ence to their political views.
The Committee rose without taking &C.
ton.
The afternoon Session was taken up en-
f;rolx, with tho constellation ~ bo ~ ,ort