The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-10

bill was designed to relieve the Judge of the
fifth judicial district of portion of the
labor be is now compelled to perform. IT
Mr.. SECOMBE moved to amend the bill
as it came from the Senate, by transferring
Dakota and Goodhue counties from the fifth
to the first district, and AHoka from the first
to the fourth district, and leaving the other
districts as at present constituted. Mr.. SIS
amendment was adopted in lieu of that
proposed by the Senate, yeas 4S, nays 9.
MINNEAPOLIS AND CEDAR VALLEY RAILROAD.
The Speaker laid before the House a
recommendation from Messrs. Med onald
and Graham, contractors on the Minneapo-
lis and Cedar Valley Railroad, relative to
the financial condition and operations of that
road. They protested against any transfer
of its franchises, lands, and rights to Selah
Chamberlain, unless the creditors of the
road were protected. Messrs. Mcdonald
& Graham state they took a contract on
this road for twenty-five miles of the heaviest
grading, agreeing to receive their pay in
Minnesota Railroad bonds at par, or in cash
at five per cent. less. The work performed
by them has cost $780, 39. for which they
have received ninety six Minnesota State
bonds, and but $4,000 in cash, but they
have obtained judgment against the COM
pany in the District Court of Ramsey
county for the remainder. The communica-
ton, which is very lengthy, denounces
Messrs. Chamberlain and Pringle, and the
late Directors of the road.
Mr.. HULETT moved that the commune
cation be referred to committee of three.
This motion caused lengthy debate, as
to the policy of the State Interfering be-
tween the railroad companies and their
creditors, which was participated in by
Messrs. Sanborn, Hulett, Hays, Baldwin,
Trow, Stock, Sweet, Morrison, Stevens,
Mitchell and others.
Mr.. SANBORN denied the power of the
Legislature to interfere in any manner. The
State was also heavy creditor of this
company, and there were many others who
had claims against it. If the Legislature
interviewed in favor of the contractors, it
should interfere for the engineers of the
company, one Of whom he (Mr. Sanborn,)
had recently obtained judgment for, in the
sum of $4,000.
Other members demanded an investiga-
ton for the purpose of bringing out all the
facts as to who were the creditors of the
company, and who held State Railroad
bonds.
Mr.. SWEET demanded an investigation
because the characters Of prominent Demo-
Gratis were maligned in the communication,
and the Republicans had promised last fall
that everything should be smoked out"
and as yet, they had failed to attempt any
thing of the kind.
Motions were made to amend Mr.. HUI
lett's resolution, some of which were adopt.
ed, and to lay it on the table, indefinitely
postpone it. &c.
The resolution as it passed, and as it was
afterwards amended, provides for the ap.
pointment of Special Committee of five,
who shall have power to investigate and
report upon all claims against any of the
Land Grant Railroad Companies, or the
managers and directors thereof; and that
the Committee shall have power to send for
persons and papers, and compel the attend
ance of witnesses.
The vote on the passage of Mr.. Hulett's
resolution was as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Armstrong, Austin, Beatty,
Bixler, Brooks, Caskie, Clearey, Donohue,
Fox, Green, of Olmsted, Hays, Hulett. Hunt,
Kinkead, Knox, Leavens, Letford, Mann, Nc
Donough, Meighan, Mitchell, Mitsch, Morrison,
Pfaender, Purdie, Rehfeld, Sawyer, Sheafer,
SecOmbe, Sherwood, Shrewsbury, Stearns,
Stevens, Stock, Sweet, Tollman, Trow, Van
Worries, Orange Walker. Watson, White, Wiki
ms, and Mr.. Speaker-43.
NAYS-Messrs. Abraham, Acker, Anderson,
Arnold. Baldwin, Burnham COe, Dayton, Gar.
rard, Green, of Steele, johnson. Odds, REM,
Roy, SanbOrn, Shultis, Skillman, Stewart ,Tey
lor-19.
The Speaker appointed as this Commit
tee. Messrs. Hulett, Hays, Stock, Secombe +,
and Sweet.
The House then took recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
PERSONAL LIBERTY BILL
Mr.. ACKER moved that the bill for the
protection of the liberty of persons arrested
as fugitive slaves, be made the specialorder
for Tuesday next.
Mr.. SWEET objected on the ground
that the time of the House was too vaua-
BILE to devote to the consideration of ills of
that character at this period OF the session.
Mr.. ACKER merely wished to have o
time fixed for its discussion, so that the op-
ponents of the bill could know when it
would come up. His motion making the
bill the special order for Tuesday next, was
carried.
The House then resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole on the House file of
bills. Final action upon the bills considered
hereafter.
SEN ATE