The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-27

BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. SECOMBE: A bill regulating
elections for changes in county lines, and
location of county seats. This bill created
considerable discussion between Messrs.
Greene, of Steele, Sweet, Cleveland, Stew
art, and Others. 1t was indefinitely post
poned.
By Mr.. BIXLER: A bill relative to
free schools in the city of West st. Paul;
also, bill amending the charter of West
St. Paul.
CLAIM FOR SEALS.
A bill making an appropriation of 81 GOT
to Mr.. j. H. Felcb, for seals furnished
the State, was passed under suspension of
the rules.
STATE ROADS.
Mr.. PFAENDER offered a resolution
which was adopted, prohibiting the intro
duction of any more bills on the subject of
State roads.
THE ETERNAL CODE QUESTION.
Mr.. FOX introduced resolution provi-
ding for the appointment of Aaron Good
rich and James Smith, as a commission to
act in conjunction with the Judiciary Com
mittee, in preparing code of practice for
the Courts of this State.
Messrs. FOX and DONOHUE advoca-
ted the resolution, insisting that the change
of code should be immediate; and that the
common law practice should be substituted
for the present code.
Messrs. GREENE, of Steele, CLEVE-
LAND, and MITCHELL, while admitting
that change was desirable in the code, con-
tended that it should not be too hastily
made. Mr.. Greene suggested commission
to report at the next session, and Mr.. Cleve-
land, in brief and pointed argument, fa-
vored the present mode of practice, with
such changes as experience had demonstra-
ted to be necessary.
The House took recess until % P. NJ
AFTERNOON SESSION,
The select committee on the Usury law
| reported a bill, which was taken up for
consideration. The first section fixes the
legal rate of interest at seven per cent, but
permits special contracts at a rate not ex-
ceeding ten per cent. In cases where a
greater rate Of interest has been received,
than allowed by the law, the debtor can
recover his full costs and two-fold the
amount of the interest so received, pro-
vided that suit for the recovery be com,
menced within one year from the time the
said interest shall have been paid. In all
suits so arising, both debtor and creditor
are allowed to testify. On all bonds, mort
cages, notes and other evidences of debt the
rate is fixed at seven per cent.
Mr., SANBORN moved ito amend the
first section, by striking out the clause per-
uniting special contracts at rate not ex-
ceeding 10 per cent. per annum.
The amendment was supported by Messrs.
Sanborn and Greene, and opposed by Messrs.
Hulett and Hunt 1t was defeated
Another amendment offered by Mr.. San.
born, provided that the amount of interest
specified shall be the measure of damages
after the maturity of the note, was defeated.
Other amendments were offered, including
one permitting IL per cent. to be charged
on special contracts, but were voted down,
and the bill passed, ayes 40, nays IL, as
reported by the committee.
VETO Observation-Disclosures LAUNDERING.
Two veto messages were received from
the Governor: at the hands of his Private
Secretary, S. P. Jennison, ESQ. The first
veto was that of memorial in relation to
the Sioux reservation. The Governor says:
Matters of mere style and questions of
grammar are indeed not usually of the
greatest Importance, but the form of express
sion in this memorial seems to have escaped
the customary attention of the Legislature,
who could not otherwise have said That
said tract of land is of no value to said In:
dian tribes for any purpose, than for pilfer-
ing from the civilized inhabitants. AS the
memorial is addressed to the President of
the United States, 1 have no doubt the
members of the Legislature would wish to
to reconsider their action, lest the SUBJ
ject of the request might be prejudiced in
the mind of the President by the language
in which it is urged"
The other veto was based upon inaccura-
cies in bill for an alteration in the line of
a State road from Chatfeld, Fillmore coun-
ty, to Austin, Mower county. This bill
provided that the road should. by pursuing
north easterly direction, run from Chat
field through the counties of Olmsted and
Mower to Austin. The Governor concludes
this message with gentle hint. He says
am reluctant, by returning this BILL to
cause the Legislature to consume time so
late in the session, which should be given
to far more important matters, but my de.
sire is, that whatever enactments are to 90
upon the statute book, shall be. as far as
possible, clear and unmistakeable."
The House reconsidered the vote by
which the memorial and bill were passed
and referred the memorial to the Committee
on Federal Relations, and the bill to the
Committee on Roads and bridges.
SENATE BILLS
A number of Senate bills were read and
referred.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
The township organization bill, coming
up for third reading, pending which vari-