The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-30
posing Luke Marvin as commissioner, at
an expense of $50, which was adopted.

PRINTING QUESTION.
The chairman of the Printing committee
submitted majority report upon the CON-
munication of EARLE s. GooDR1cH, demand
ing OF the clerks of the House, the copy of
bills, &C. ordered to be printed, to be placed
IN his hands as the State printer. The
committee reported that in their opinion the
Auditor had violated the law in awarding
the printing contract; and further, that the
law, so far as it related to the incidental
printing OF the Legislature, was void and
imperative, as contravening the rights and
powers OF the present and succeeding Legis-
latures; and conclude their report by giving
it as their belief that the best interests of
the State required that some other person
than EARLE S. GOODRICH should be selected
by the House as printer.
The report of the minority committee
was presented and read. 1.-THE minority
report is published in other cOlumns.1
Mr.. SECOMBE offered the following
resolution:
- RESOLVED, That the majority report of the
Committee on Printing be adopted, and that
elected to do the Incidental Printing of the
| House for the present session of the Legisia.
| ture the said printing to be done upon scale
ofprices to be agaeed upon by and between the
said persons and the Committee of this House
on Printing.
Mr.. ROBERTSON moved to lay the
Reports and resolution upon the table.
Lost-ayes 20, nays 81.
Mr.. STEPHENSON stated as the
reports presented several legal points, he
would move that they be submitted to the
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and
the vote being taken the House refused to
refer, by yeas 81, nays 81.
MIR. ROBERTSON offered resolution
that the reports be submitted to Messrs.
Sanborn, Stevens and Mitchell, for
opinion upon the legal points submitted
therein.
The previous question was moved by Mr..
| Secombe, buI was voted down.
Mr.. ROBERTSON proceeded to speak
upon the proposed action of the Republican
members, in violating their oaths and the
laws of the State. He was willing to SUBJ
NIT the question to the legal opinion of the
gentlemen named, members of the Republi-
can party. He thought this proposed
action of the House was the most disgrace
full act ever perpetrated by Legislature.
He knew the caucus of the party demanded
this violation of law, but he hoped there
were few members conscientiously opposed
to perjuring themselves. He presente the
names of these three gentlemen for the
reason that the question had been political
one by the majority, and he wanted their
opinion to go on record as lawyers.
Mr.. SECOMBE spoke against the
adoption of the resolution of Mr.. Robertson,
on the ground that the printing of the
House had been delayed up to this time,
and as the question had been amply con.
sidered by members, he would, if there was
no further debate, again move the previous
| question.
Mr.. ABBOTT thought very important
reason why the contract was not binding
upon the State, was because the Contractor
had specified that his earnings should be
paid in specie, or its equivalent; and because
there was no money in the Treasury, if for
no other reason, the contract should be
broken, as otherwise the State would be
obliged to pay the difference between the
market value of State orders and specie.
Mr.. TROW went on to say, (the pre-.
vious question having been withdrawn that
the House had been in session for two
weeks and had done nothing, and he trusted
the question would be settled to-day. He
charged that the minority should be held
responsible for the delay. He wanted the
Republican members to 60 to work in
earnest, to step up to the rack, fodder or no
fodder, and show to their constituents that
they were determined to work. We were
spending now some 5000 or $500 daily, and
he hoped the House would show work for
the expense.
Mr.. SANBORN hoped the resolution of
MIR. Robertson would not prevail, and pro-
ceeded to say that he never W ould vote for
a political measure in opposition to what he
considered law or his conscience. He con-
tended that there was no contract between
the State and E. S. Goodrich, because the
latter had not made legal bid, and claimed
the right of the Legislature to elect an In
cidental Printer-even if the contract was
binding.
Mr.. ROBERTSON replied that he
wanted these legal gentlemen smoked out,
and have their legal opinions as lawyers put
upon record along with their political &C.
ton. He ridiculed the argument of Mr..
Abbott, and in reply to Mr.. Trow he
charged upon the Republican members the
responsibility of having done no work for
Two weeks, while they were at an expense
of 5000 or $500 daily. He had been elected
to the Legislature to aid in,reforming abuses,
but was not the advocate Of the reform
proposed by the Republicans, which con.
sumed two weeks of the session in consnm.
mating plan to violate the law, in order to
get rid of an obnoxious political opponent
as contractor. He charged upon the
majority that their proposed violation Of
law would oblige the State to pay the
| printing twice. He referred to Mr.. Trow's
remark, that the Republicans should come
up to the rack, fodder or no fodder. This
he interpreted to mean the State Treasury,
and the action of that party so far showed
disposition to thrust their arms the full
length into the Treasury after public pun
der.
Mr.. MANN took the same views of the
subject as did Mr.. Sanborn.
Mr.. SECOMBE stated the stale argu-
ment that the law under which the contract
was made, was void, because of its approval
by G. L. Chase, as Acting Governor, be-
fore the State officers were sworn in.
The House took recess until half past
| two o'clock.