The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-27
Laid on the table, on motion of Mr.. Sc

combe.
Mr.. MANN introduced bill proposing
amendments to sections 2 and 5, of article
of the constitution, concerning the Su-
preme Court making the Supreme Court to
consist of one chief justice and two assist
ants, but the Legislature by two thirds
vote, may increase the number of associates;
and to give jury trials in certain cases of
mandamus, &C., and to correct an omission
in the constitution, concerning the jurisdic-
ton of the District Court in suits under
500, involving title to real estate.
A memorial for an appropriation by Con-
gress for the improvement of the Rapids of
the Minnesota river, was finally passed q
second time.
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
An act to change the boundaries of the
Fifth Judicial District, attaching the county
of Goodhue to the Third District, and the
county of Scott to the Sixth District, came
up for final passage
Mr.. CLEVELAND opposed the final
passage of the bill attaching Scott to the
Sixth District. He understood the move
ment for a change did not come from the
citizens of Scott county, and he therefore
asked to amend to attach Scott county to
the Fourth District but afterwards moved
to refer to the Judiciary COMMITTEE.
Mr.. SWEET spoke against attaching
Scott county to the Fourth District.
Mr.. GREENE, of Steele, stated that he
introduced the bill at the instance of Judge
Donaldson, of the Fifth District, and had
enquired of the parties interested as to the
propriety of the change. Judge Donaldson
had said that he had twelve weeks more
court service than either Judges Wilson or
Branson and that Judge Wilson was sat-
isfied to receive Goodhue county into his
district.
Mr.. SECOMBE said the constitution
provided that the Judicial Districts should
be as near equal in population as may be,
and on examination he found that the vote
of the Fifth District, last election, was
1888, while the Sixth District did not
contain one third of that number of voters !;
and from this basis, argued that the bill
should pass in its present position.
The motion to refer waslost, and the bill
coming up for final passage, the vote stood,
yeas 80, nays Is. A constitutional major
ity not voting therefor, it was not passed.
Mr.. SECOMBE moved a reconsideration,
which was carried.
A call of the House was then moved, and
after some members were reported in their
seats, the proceedings under the call were
suspended, and the bill again put upon its
passage, resulting yeas A, nays "a so the
bill was passed.
An act to change the time of holding
terms of Courts in the Fifth Judicial Dis
trict, was taken up for final passage, and
laid on the table for the purpose of having
its provisions Incorporated in general bill.
The House took recess until half-past
two o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr.. SWEET introduced bill to abolish
capital punishment upon females.
Mr.. MITCHELL called up the motion
to reconsider the vote by which the bill
organizing the county of Monroe was
passed.
The Clerk announced that the bill had
been distracted from his desk without his
knowledge or consent. So no action was
had on the motion:
Mr.. SECOMBE introduced two bills,
the one changing the county seat of Mile
Lac county to Princeton the other chang
ing the boundaries of Benton and Mile
Lac counties. The two bills together effect
the same Object as was to be effected by the
establishment of Monroe county.
Mr.. SANBORN introduced a bill to
amend the Statutes concerning the punish
ment of murder by hanging, providing for
executions to take place in the Jail, and to
be private.
TIE TOWNSHIP ACT.
Mr.. ACKER moved to 60 into commit
tee on the Township Act, No. ID, which by
previous vote had been substituted for
H. F. No. IS. The latter bill provided for
a collection of taxes by the County Treas
urer, instead of by town collectors and
the bill substituted leaves the collection to
be done as at present.
Mr.. ROBERTSON proposed to make a
test vote upon these two systems, and urged
that the bill providing for the collection by
County Treasurers, should be again brought
forward. The town collector system had
failed in Ramsey county, and he was in
formed that it had failed in several other
counties in the State; and he believed that
the State government could not be carried
forward unless there was some change in the
present mode of collection. He believed
there had been change in the minds Of
some of the members, and that there was
now majority in favor of No. 35.
For the purpose of vote, Mr.. NOR
RISON moved to amend Mr.. Acker's mo-
ton, by adding, "that it is the sense of this
House that the Township Organization
should embrace in its provisions the collec.
ton Of taxes by town collectors"
Mr.. SANBORN felt that the only way
to secure the collection of taxes was by
County Treasures. The only way to make
non.residents pay their taxes, is to make
the tax sales so as to have tax titles good,
and this could only be done by placing the
whole matter of collecting the taxes 10 the
hands of one officer.
Mr.. TROW made another sensation
speech about the mode of legislating by the
present body of men.
The yeas and nays were called on the
amendment of Mr.. Morrison, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Aaker, Acker, Armstrong,
Austin, Baldwin, Bixler, Brooks, Burnham,
Butler, Caskie, Chadderdon, Clearey, Dayton,
Donohue, Greene of Steele, Hayes, Hulett.
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