The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

TUESDAY, Jan. IL.
The House met at the usual hour and was
opened with prayer.
Mr.. CLEARLY presented memorial
for a change of the Dividing line between
Dakota and SCOTT counties.
Mr.. H. WALKER presented petition
from the citizens of Fillmore county for
State road.
The Committee on Towns and Counties
reported substitute for Fl. F. No. "a,
establishing the county of Monroe. The
substitute was read and accepted, and
referred to Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. MORRISON presented a petition
from the Supervisors of M'Leod county, and
from Louis Harrington and others.
The Committee on Agriculture reported
against an appropriation to the Lake Super
ior Agricultural Society.
The Committee on Constitution reported
in favor Of abolishing the Supreme Court,
and that the business of the Supreme Court
should be done by the Judges Of the District
Court. The report was laid on the table,
Mr.. NETTLETON offered resolution
that the members be allowed $3.50 each for
each night session, which was indefinitely
postponed.
Mr.. ACKER introduced bill fixing the
fees of Constables. This bill cuts down the
fees about 33 per cent.
Mr.. ACKER offered resolution directing
the judiciary Committee to prepare bill
providing penalties against the misappropri-
alton of moneys by any public officer, and
making it felony for Attorneys or other
collectors to retain money collected by them
when demanded by the parties to whom the
money belongs. The resolution was amended
so as to make it one of inquiry on the part
of the Judiciary Committee
Mr.. SECOMBE introduced bill for
State road from Granite City to Lake
Superior, and appropriating $1,000 out of
the Internal Improvement fund therefor.
Read a first and second time and referred
to Committee on Roads.
Mr.. SHERWOOD introduced a Usury
law, limiting the rate of interest to seven
per cent, and providing for the recovery of
all excess Of interest, over the legal vote.
Mr.. MORRISON moved to refer the
usury bill, and all other interest bills, to
select committee of five, which was agreed
to, and the Speaker named Messrs. Morri
son, Arnold, Tollman, Langworthy and
| Sherwood.
Two House bills were read second time
and referred to the Committee of the
Whole.
| Senate Bill, No. Is, to amend an act
providing for the Government of the State
Prison, was read third time, and referred
| to the Committee of the Whole.
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Mr.. SECOMBE moved to take up the
Apportionment Bill, which was agreed to.
| He then moved to refer the bill to the House
without recommendation.
To which Mr.. SANBORN moved SUBJ
stitute that the Committee recommend the
bill to 60 to committee of one from each
senatorial district, and a special committee
of ten from the Senate.
Mr.. STEVENS moved an amendment to
refer to the next session of the Legislature.
Mr.. ROBERTSON advocated the amend
ment of Mr.. Stevens He said he had been
informed by members of this House, that
several counties had been populated within
the past two years, and he Was satisfied that
far apportionment could not be made by
taking the census returns, because several
thousand people would be disfranchised /;
and that there could be no legal apportion-
ment made from the votes of the last cleo
ton. =
Mr.. ABBOT replied, charging Mr..
Robertson with inconsistency in thus advo>
eating the proposition to allow the present