Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-07
THE LEGISLATURE.
Observation-Disclosures

Lengthy Debate on the Supplementary
school Textbook Bill--It is Recommend
ed to Pass by the Close Vote of 1G to 49,
The Seed Wheat Bill Through Both
Houses--A Dull Day in the House, but
Many Bills Introduced.
Senate.
For the first time during the session, the
Senate yesterday, the last day of the first
half OF the constitutional limit, held two SEES
slons. A good portion of the morning ses-
sion and all the afternoon was devoted to a
discussion of the supplementary text book
bill, resulting finally in its being recon-
mended to pass by the small majority of
three. The fact that many Senators were
absent on visit to the reform school, sever
al OF whom have not yet defined their posi-
ton, still surrounds the bill with sufficient
uncertainty to keep up the interest in it until
finally disposed of.
Ihe first of the grasshopper relief bills, that
OF Representative McCrea, after having the
provision directed to be put upon it provid-
IN for claim upon the counties of the
State, stricken off, was passed. The follow
ing is the
Routine Report.
ST. PAUL, Feb. 6, 1S78.-A petition was nre-
sented from Amanda M. Hannah, of South Adj
ans, Mich. praying for the payment of certain
railroad bonds. held by her.
Inc usual batch OF petitions for the repeal or
amendment of the text book law were nresen-
ted. po
senator MORRISON presented petition for
amending the herd law. -.
BILLS INTRODUCED
by Senator McClure-To amend the statutes
relating to evidence and argument: also amend
ing the statutes relating to the order Of argu-
ment IN trials of Indictment
ny Senator Armstrong-To legalize the articles
OF incorporation of the Farmers Association of
freeborn county. RULES suspended and bill
passed.
By Senator Understanding the statutes
relatlng to attorneys and counsellors.
by Senator MCDonald-To provide forthe CON
solldation Of the counties Of Stearns and Ben
ton to be known as the county of Stearns.
by Senator Nelson-Fixing the time for hold
ing the district court in Douglas county.
by Senator Mealey-For incorporating the
village of Cokato.
neapolis gas light company to issue 1926, OOO
of bonds
by Senator DISQUALIFICATION ACCOMPANIED
oy Dill making owners of horses and cattle in
any town In Dakota county liable for damages.
| CHRISTOPHER RELIEF.
| The bill of Representative McCrea for relief
OF grasshopper sufferers being reported back
1rsm the Judiciary committee with the amend
ment ordered by the Senate giving the State q
claim upon the counties for the amount of the
| loan made, without recommendation, Senator
Nelson spoke against it, claiming that charity
having been voted other sections of the State
rayaged by grasshoppers, it was unjust and in.
time. fo'o' ''' VIE
Senator Edgerton sustained the policy of the
proposed amendment as a matter of Justice tc
tne people OF other sections of the State
vote was then taken and the amendment
lost yeas 8, nays 26. The yea vote was Sen.
ators Armstrong, Deuel., Donnelly, Doran
Edgerton, Finseth, Gilillan, G. d.. Gilfllaa
): B., and McNelly.
TEXT BooKs-DoNNELLY' SPEECH.
The Senate then resolved itself into commit.
the OF the whole to consider the text book bill
and amendments by Senator Hall, and Senator
Don nelly proceeded to speak to it. He said
this school book legislation had been pending
| in the Legislature for four years. The school
book ring had defeated two bills prepared tc
accomplish the same object, but last year tho
so-called Merrill law had passed by large ma.
|
It's own justification embalmed for posterity
1t grew out of great necessity. There
had been formed at the East a mammoth
book publishing ring. This combination en-
tered into bonds with each other to force the
people to pay high prices for the books re
quired for the use Of the schools. For years
the people stood powerless in the hands of thi
ring. At last the State broke through THU
powerful ring by the legislation of last winter
and 1t was broken to pieces. The ring thus bro
ken has taken millions Of dollars from the peck
cts of the people of Minnesota alone. Now tn,
ring was coalescing again to break down tn,
Minnesota law, and if successful, the OLE
abuses, with high prices ETC.. would be restored
MIR. Donnelly then read from the law the con
| tract made with Mr.. Merrill. on the part of tn,
State. Under it Mr.. Merrill had gone on ant
furnished the books provided for. He hae
thus secured his equities against the State
Minnesota, he regretted to say stood disgracet
railroad bonds and he did not believe it pre-
| pared to repeal that action.
Mr. Donnelly, continuing, claimed that ther,
vas no demand from the people, living unde
the operation of the law for its repeal or 70
any action that would in the least cripple its
execution. The contrary was the fact, and
notwithstanding the bitter opposition the Law
encountered, the head centre of which was i,
this very building, the books had been intro
duced into every county in the State the peo
pie in many counties being forced by the oppo
/ sltlon to go outside the law and secure tn
books direct from Mr.. Merrill instead o
through the commission as provided in the law
But what is the last move of the old boo]
ring? Having canvassed both houses of tn
Legislature, and found large majority for th
A retention of the bill, they now come forwar,
and propose to furnish books, not lower, but a
as favorable terms as those named in the Merrill
law. He could conceive of mighty mean leeis
ton, if anything could be made by it, but no
IN a case like this where there wa
nothing to be made, but simply tn
ruin of the man who had stepped il
and saved to the State hundreds of thousand
OF dollars. With this ring it was anything t
get the Merrill law out of the way That &C
complshed, the small forfeit it had been pro
posed to put up could be forfeited. the old com
blnation reformed and the prices put up. b
which not only the forfeit but upwards of
hundred Thousand dollors profit, would be re
turned to them in one years time. He ap
pealed to the Senators to look these facts squar
IN the face and act for the interests of thei
constituents, and not listen to the special plea
OF the agents of the old ring now sSsarming il
the hotels and public places of the city. Civ
the law fair trial. If it had imperfection
correct them, and if after a trial it was foun,
unWlse then repeal it.
SENATOR wHEAT's REMARKS.
Senator Wheat explained his opposition t
Tue measure. The bill requires county treas
urers to retain money in their possession, raises
for specific purpose, and appropriate the sam
20 another purpose. Money raised for speci
nc purpose cannot be illegally diverted to anothe
purpose. It was claimed that this objection
was not in the pending amendmen by provid
ing for raising the money by direct taxation
was not this he asked, aviolation Of the consti
! tuition, which provides that private money can
not be taken for the benefit of another privat
individual. Their points he argued at som
length, claiming that they presented objection
to the law worthy the serious consideration o
the Legislature.
Continuing, Senator Wheat said he considers