The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-20
STATE LEGISLATURE...S
SESSION.

SESSION.
Reported for the Pioneer and Democrat.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, January IL.
The Senate was called to order by the
President. After prayer by Rev. j. D.
Pope, the Journal of yesterday was read
and approved.
RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. MLAREN : That when the
Senate adjourn, it be to meet at 9 O'Clock
tomorrow morning, and that the session be
ended at IL O'Clock NJ, and that after that
hour the use of the Senate Chamber be ten
dered to the Democratic State Convention.
Adopted.
By Mr.. TAYLOR: That hereafter the
Senate meet at 9 o'clock A. NJ, and adjourn
at 2 o'clock P. NJ. and that the same shall
be in force until otherwise ordered by ma
jority of the members present.
Mr.. M'LAREN'S resolution that the
Senate take recess from l21a to ~ P.
NJ. each day, was taken up.
REPORTS.
Mr.. HEATON from the standing Com
mittee on Federal Relations, to whom was
referred the joint resolutions Of both Houses,
on the subject of the Homestead Bill, re-.
ported a substitute for both, embrac-
ing Instructions to our Senators and
Representatives to use their votes and in
fuence to secure the passage ofa Homestead
Bill, to secure to all actual settlers one
hundred and sixty acres of land and that
the law should be so framed that upon com.
pliance with its provisions, those settlers
who have not paid for their claims may
avail themselves of its advantages.
THE PRINTERS ovERHAULED.
Mr.. FROST inquired when the Govern
or's Message would be ready, and said that
it had been in the hands of the printers
nine days, and that it was time that it was
laid on the tables of the Senators.
Mr.. STEWART stated that the Com
mittee on Printing had used every exertion
to get the printers to furnish the message,
but without success, but hoped they would
soon be ready. The Pioneer Printing
Company always had the message ready for
the Legislature on the morning after it was
delivered.
BILL INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. AVERILL: A bill for the pro-
lection of Telegraph Companies. The bill
gives the Companies the right to erect their
poles along the public hi hways, provides
for punishment to injuries to them, &c.
By Mr.. GLUCK: A bill to provide for
%lo of ho I e <ho
State
House Bill providing for a re-survey of
the town of New Ulm.
BILL PASSED.
An act to amend an act entitled an Act
to regulate the traffic in logs and lumber.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
The Senate resolved itself into Committee
Of the Whole. Mr.. Hall, of Ramsey, in the
chair.
The Joint Resolutions reported by the
Committee on Federal Relations, in relation
to the Homestead Bill, was taken up.
Mr.. ANDREWS offered as a substitute
the resolutions originally introduced by
him. He commended that the great and
main remedy for our difficulties was emf
grafton, and that the resolutions offered by
him should have the preference on the
ground of merit
Mr.. HEATON contended that the reso-
lutions reported by the Committee better
expressed the Democratic and Republican
doctrines on the Homestead Bill.
Mr.. STEVENS objected to the subst
tute offered by Mr.. Andrews, from the
simple fact that they made discrimination
between those who are able and those who
are unable to pay for their land. All should
be served alike. Every living head of a
family in the United States, who has not a
homestead, should have one bestowed upon
them from the public lands by the General
Government. 1t makes no difference wheth
er the landless have means to pay for their
lands or not. He protested against this
system of discrimination. 1t was the prin-
cipe of the question he wished settled
none of us were able to pay in these times
for these lands. He went on to state fur
ther that he was in favor of all enjoying
as much land as was necessary for them to
obtain livelihood from, and support their
families, and no more. Should the substitute
of the Senator from St. Cloud be adopted
it would open up loophole to perjury and
fraud, which would create greater evil
than the whole public domain was worth.
Mr.. WELLS hoped never to see such a
law as was passed by Congress in 1918, pro.
viding that those who were unable to pay
for lands alone should be exempted from it
1t led to false swearing to great extent
He would not discriminate between the rich
and the poor man in any law. He would
never drive poor man into court of record
to prove his poverty.
The substitute moved by Mr.. Andrews
was lost. and the resolutions reported by the
committee were recommended to be engrossd
for third reading.
An act for the relief of the creditors O
the State came up.
Mr.. BISHOP moved that section five be
stricken out; this is the section which pro.
vides interest on State warrants, at the rate
of per cent per annum. Lost.
Mr.. CLARK moved to insert IL per cent
Lost.
The committee recommended the passage
of the bill.
An act to provide for the compensation
of members and officers of the Legislature