Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-27
nd had brought money into he tressurv

and had brought money into the treasury
through listing lands fer taxation.
Mr.. Benson protested against this way of
doing business. He had offered an amendment
to the bill, and though he had risen several
times to explain that amendment he had not
been recognized by the chair. He thought it
was discourteous to him, to say the least. He
thought it was the duty of the State auditor to
attend to the taxation of railroad lands; that it
was the duty of the attorney general to con-
duct prosecutions when they were necessary,
and that it was the duty of the secretary of
state to compile the statistics. He regarded
these officers as the proper ones to attend to
the duties of the Office
Mr.. Comstock offered the bill substantially
on the same line as last week, and endeavored
to make it party question, which imputation
was energetically denied by Mr.. W. M. Camp
bell. ~tf4
Mr.. Fairbank favored the passage of the bill
| and cited some figures as to the Winona & St..
Peter railroad to sustain his position.
| Mr.. Riley said his constituents were in favor
| of the abolition of the Office, and he would
| favor it. 1t was a useless Office, and in these
hard times we ought to save as much as posi-
| BILE.
Mr.. Bohan opposed the bill. He saw many
good reasons why the Office should not be
abolished. Heidi not consider the bill in the
interest of true retrenchment. -s
Mr.. j. N. Stacy moved that when the COM
mittee rise they recommend that the bill be in
| definitely postponed. Mr.. McCracken and Mr..
| W. nj. Campbell moved to amend by recon.
Llending it for passage.
division was called, and 81 votes found to
| be in the affirmative. ,-.-
Mr.. Jones moved that the committee rise
Carried.
The report of the committee was then
adopted by the House; yeas 80, nays A.
| SENATE February 81 1879.
Senator G. +. Buck called up the bill appro
priating 81 800 to aid the Anti Drive Well as
ISOLATION, and made a speech explaining the
| that it be put on the calendar for q third read.
ing. He said when the bill was discussed in
committee of the whole, some days ago, he was
prevented from expressing his views by neces
sary absence, and he now desired to do So anC
secure its passage il possible. He stated thai
there were $4,000 of these drive-wells in the
State, and that the holders of the pretended
patent would, if not resisted in the most eff
fcaciOus manner by superior legal talent, carry
away from the State from quarter to half q
million dollars.
Senator Pillsbury said he had been compelled
to pay nearly fifty dollars for the privilege Of
| using his drive well, and was very much pro
Voked at the methods used to fitch that amount
| from him.
Senator Mealey was willing to be taxed tt
fight the case. though he had no drive-wen.
Senator Thacher asked Mr.. Pillsbury if he haC
| 20 pay you IN addition to the cost OF the WELL
Senator Pillsbury said he had received notic'
to come and settle for his drive-well. He in
structed his clerk to pay the bill through mis-
take, and the bill was $4750, instead of $40, a
he had supposed, and the receipt was drawn il
such manner as to prevent him from sueins
the sharpers. He was willing to be taxed $50
to fight the cases.
Senator Fl. B. Wilson wanted the owners o.
drive-wells to put their hands in their pockets
and defend themselves as Others had to do wher
they get into trouble.
Senator Thacher was sorry for people wht
owned drive-wells, but he was opposed to the
State fighting the battles of private individu
ais. If this bill was passed, others would fol
low, and it would be difficult to find place tt
stop such appropriations.
The bill was discussed by several other Sena
tors, when the motion to indefinitely postpon,
the bill was lost, and the bill was placed OF
calendar.
| BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Senator Pillsbury, from the COMMITTEES
on finance-To appropriate money for the gen
eral expenses of the State government for thu
year 1873. -.
Also to appropriate money for the general ex
penses of the State government for the yea
1880.