The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1865-01-27
RECESS.


Convention to hear the address of Prot. VIM.
F. Phelps Principal of the Normal School at
Winona on the condition and prospects of that
Institution.
~--- ..--- JOINT CONVENTION.
At12 o'clock the House reassembled. and was
called to order. The Sennte appeared and oc.
cupied the seats prepared for them. The Joln'
Convention was then called to order.
PROF. PHELPS ADDRESS.
Prof. Phelps then appeared arm in arm with
Gov Miller and Sec. Blakely was lntroduc.
ed and delivered his address, which wac
listened to by the convention. and large mum
Der of spectators in the lobby.
THURSDAY. January 19, 1865
PETITION
Mr.. SWIFT presented petition from the
citizens OF Nicollet county, praying for the
passage of the School Law introduced by him
Yesterday.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND READ FIRST TIME
Bv Mr.. PORTER-A bill for an amendment
to the Constitution authorizing any person or
company TO charge toll for improvements he
or they may make in the navigation of the Riv.
ers OF Minnesota.
By Mr.. McKUSICK-A bill for an act relat-
ing to fees of Surveyor General of Logs and
Lumber in the 1st District
By Mr.. PILLsBURY-Ab bill for an act to re.
peal chap. 13 of General Laws of 1862, relating
to security for costs, and collection of costs and
disbursements. Referred to Committee on Ju-
dietary.
PORTRAITS OF THE GOVERNORS
Mr. RICE offered resolution providing for
committee of three to act with similar conf
mittee on the part of the House, to take into
consideration the propriety of securing por-
traits Of all the Governors of Minnesota. both
State and Territorial. Passed, and Messrs.
Rice, Wilson and Smith appointed said CON-
mittee.
INSANE ASYLUM.
Mr.. NUTT1NG. from the Committee on
State Charitable Institutions, reported back the
bill for establishing an Insane Asylum at Roch-
passage as amended. The report and accom-
panying amendments were adopted, and the
bill read the second time and referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
BILL PASSED.
On motion of Mr. DANIELS, the bill for the
act legalizing the action OF the town OfQuincy,
in Olmsted County, in levying taxes to pay
soldiers bounties, &c, was read the third time
and passed. ..s
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. TEW-H. F. No. 81, bill for an act
to authorize the City Council of the city of
Hastings to issue bonds to pay bounties to
volunteers. Read a second and third times.
By Mr.. PATTEN-H. f. No. So, bill for an
act to locate State Road from Cordoya to LIE
Sucur- NclcIICu W SOulIulttec Ou ItOaus.
By Mr.. STOWELL-H F. No. SO, bill to
legalize tax levy for the issue of bonds by the
supervisors of the town of Saint Francis, Anoka
county, Read o second and third times
By Mr.. PECKHAN-H. F. No 81, bill for
an act to amend an act to provide for the es-
tablishment and regulation of the University
of Minnesota. Ordered printed.
By. Mr.. ALDRICH, II. +. No. So. a bill for
an act to provide for making out Reference
Ledger, and keeping up the same; defining
the duties of Registers of Deeds in relation
thereto. and specifying the amount of fees
they shall receive for recording deeds, mort
cages and other papars and keeping up Index
and Reference Ledgers and the repeal of all
acts and parts of acts conflicting with this act.
Referred TO Committee on Judiciary.
PASSED.
II. +. No. 81, q bill for an act to authorize
the City Council OF the city of Hastings to
issue bonds to pay bounties to volunteers
II. +. No. SO, q bill for an act to legalize the
tax levy by the Supervisors OF the town of st.
Francis, Anoka county.
Il. +. No. II, q bill for an act to attach the
county of Monongalia 10 the county of Stearns
for judicial purposes.
II. F. No. II, a bill for an act to organize q
Board of Education for the city Of Wabashaw.
III. +. No. 29, q bill for au act entitled an act
to amend sec. 9, chap. 10, session laws 1860,
relating to County Commissioners, approved
March 3, 1863
TOLLS FOR GRINDING GRAIN.
House File No. g. to regulate tolls for grind.
ing grain, was taken up.
Mr.. DAVIS offered an amendment, fixing
the tolls at One-eighth tor water power mills.
and at one-sixth for steam mills. He gave bis
reasons for such change, which were acceded
to by the House. aud the amendment was
passed
Mr.. COLVILLE opposed the bill. He said
there was no more reason why grist mills
should have their prices for work fixed than
any other trade or business. He moved to
strike out all after the enacting clause
Mr.. STOWELL favored restricting them in
prices. Such a provision, he thought was q
necessary one in most cases, as there were
grievous complaints in his region, at least, of
the unreasonable charges for grinding.
Mr.. GIBBS moved to refer the bill to the
Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. CORNELL said there was no use in that
The Judiciary Committee had reported it as
correct, except in the principles involved. He
thought no rate should be fixed for tolls on
grain. These things regulate themselves in
time. In manufacturing centres, where busi-
ness Is plenty, the rates are low. In sparsely
settled districts, where the return on capital
invested in mills and machinery is very small,
and the millers need some inducement to To-
cate mills which are really indispensable to
the settlers, they will, of course, charge higher
prices until competition. becomes strong. In
Minneapolis the rate of tol. is one-twelfth. By
the passage of this bill, the miller there would
feel warranted in charging one-eighth Still,
If there was much desire to pass it, he would
not be tenacious in opposing it.
Mr.. GUITEAU favored the bill heartily, and
thought it right in both principle and policy.
Such regulation of prices of the necessaries of
life was needed to prevent the impositions so
common on the poor. They are common in
all States, while in some and particularly in
European cities. even the price of bread is
fixed by law. This bill will not be oppressive
or restrictive on trade. Wherever there is
business, capital will be attracted BY 1t. He
referred to the present price of wheat and -four
in this market, as compared to their relative
price in Eastern markets, to show that millers |
here make unusual profits, and thus increase
the price of bread to the poor consumers.
MrPOEHLER said that such bill will answer |
when our State is thickly settled, and contains |
as many mills in proportion to our population |
as the States referred. Now, our milling facili.
ties are not sufficient, and should be encour. |
aged by no restriction on their terms for J
grinding. '-'' A''
Mr.. HEWSON was In favor of the restric. |
fiOQ. In his District ho Y,ror