The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-03
SENATE.

ulSSlOuCIS W hNC.
SENATE.
SATURDAY. Jan. 20.
The President being absent, Mr.. Stannard
was called to the chair pro tenn. Prayer by
the chaplain. Journal read and approved.
Lieut.. Gov. Donnely soon afterwards ap-
peared and took the chair.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Mr.. BALDWIN, of Sherburne A
bill for an act providing for the alteration
of the State road running from Quincy, in
Sherburne county, to Princeton, in Benton
county.
By Mr.. STEVENS: To provide for the
location of State road from Franklin. in
Mcleod county, to Aliens Grove. in Rem
vile county.
RESOLUTIONS.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Watson
yesterday, that the Senate shall consider no
more bills for the location of State roads,
coming up, was lost.
By Mr.. ROGERS: That the Committee
on Towns and Counties. be instructed to
report bill abolishing the office of county
auditor, and providing that the duties Of
that Office shall be performed by the Regis
ter of Deeds Laid over under the rules.
By MIR. PETIT: That hereafter the
Senate meet at 10 o'clock A. NJ, and take
a recess at l P. M. until P. M. Laid
over, notice of debate being given.
REPORTS.
The special committee to whom was re-
ferred the petition of Messrs. Combs &
Bro, and James Davenport, reported that
th. bills for stationery, etc., were about Is
per cent. above cash prices, and therefore
reported adversely to the same.
THE TOWNSHIP BILL.
The bill providing for township organi.
zation, introduced in the House, was read
first time.
MIR. WELLS pointed out what he deemed
numerous inconsistencies in the bill and
moved an indefinite postponement, but SUBJ
sequently withdrew his motion.
Mr.. HALL moved the bill be rejected.
Mr.. McLAREN hoped the motion would
not prevail. He believed the general fea.
lures of the bill were good. In many re-
spects it is similar to the old law. Its merits
and dement's had been discussed inI the
House for month or more, and it could
not be deemed otherwise than disrespectful
to that body to reject the bill without full
and fair examination of its provisions. The
main features of the old law were good
the great objection 20 our present system
arose from the expense entailed upon coun-
ties, in their government. He was willing
to abide by the will of the Senate in relation
to county government, providing for five
commissioners as expressed in resolution
passed some time since, but he would oppose
any and all efforts to repeal and do away
with the township law. The people de-
manded good law, and for one he would
now willingly 60 back to the old Territorial
plan.
Mr.. FROST said the Senate should show
more respect and courtesy to the House
than by summarily rejecting the bill. Let
the Senate first consider the bill and ascer.
tain what are its provisions before reject
ing it.
Mr.. HALL denied any intention of
showing disrespect to the House. He un-
derstood the bill to b" substantially the
same as the present township law, which the
people generally had condemned. He was
informed that the House had already spent
several days in the consideration of two
bills of this kind, and had rejected them
both. He was opposed to spending the
time of the Senate in the consideration of
this bill, which was mongrel concern in
which the systems of two States were
blended together.
After some further discussion the vote
was about to be taken on the motion to
reject, when Mr.. King, who had Just entered
the Senate, called for the re-reading of the
bill.
AS the bill was very long and upwards
of an hour and halt had already been con.
sumed in the first reading, many Senators
objected, and the yeas and nays being called
for, the motion to re read was negatived. =.
The question then required upon the
snotion of Mr.. Hall, to reject the bill, and
the yeas and nays were called.
Mr.. KING indignantly, when his name
was called Is" am not prepared to vote
on this question. claim the constitutional
right to hear the bill read. do not wish
to be excused" After spending some time
in discussing Mr.. Kings vote, he finally
voted No. The request of the Senator
was certainly most unreasonable one.
The vote to reject the bill did not pre-.
vail.
BILLS PASSED.
To provide for the election and define the
duties of county attorneys in this State.
MIR. CLARK moved to amend the title of
the bill by adding, " and to increase the
expenses of the counties about $lO0 per
year." Lost.
The title of the bill was then agreed to.
The bill providing for the destruction of
blackbirds coming up for final passage, it
was referred to the committee on agricul-
ture.