The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-03-24
Comm unication.


Editor Free hen:
Since the appearance of "Inquiring
Citizens" letter in your issue of the
18th, there seems to be no other
course for me to pursue in justice to
myself and all parties concerned,
than to speak by way of explanation.
l do not wish to be understood as
embracing an opportunity to expose
the acts Of myself and others, but ]
speak because the circumstances will
not permit me to be silent. You will
indulge me in the privilege of being
personal so that there need be no
misunderstanding. The history OF
the bill fixing the Sheriff s fee for
boarding prisoners in Blue Earth
county, is in detail, as follows:
In accordance with the urgent re.
quest of very many people of both
parties for reduction in the rate of
'oard, / prepared local bill for Blue
Earth county, fixing the rate at IS
:ents per day, being S2.45 per week
.ieiore this bill was introduced, the
memorial Of the county commission.
rs asking that the rate be fixed at
~ 81 per week WAS received. The
ate in the bill already prepared and
he rate mentioned in the memorial
being SO nearly the same, l decided
10 Introduce the bill already prepared.
Alter the introduction of this bill
met Senator Buck in the hall.
asked him to support the bill in the
senate. This he declined to do and
declared his intention to kill it. Civ
ing as his reason for so doing, that
he did not believe in making an ex.
ample of the Sheriff of Blue Earth
county; adjoining counties were not
cutting their Sheriff s fees. ! told
the Senator that 1 thought Blue
Earth county ought to be able to
know best for herself without con-
sulting outside counties. The Sena.
Tor then argued that the law should
be a general one, and that he would
support bill for a general law. In
Difference to his greater age, and in
the interests Of harmony, drew Il
bill in accordance with his desire,
providing for general law, and sub.
stituted it in the place Of the local
one for Blue Earth county. This
met with considerable opposition in
the House, but finally passed the
House fixing the rate at SO per week
When the bill reached the Senate it
met with still harder usage, and was
indefinitely postponed. l was not
present in the Senate when the bill
was considered there, and cannot
give Mr.. Bucks attitude toward the
bill. Be that as it may, the bill failed.
| presumed then that no one would
be opposed to a local bill, seeing that
no general law could be had. I then
drew another bill for Blue Earth
county, fixing the rate at $3.50 per
week. Upon consultation with the
other members from Blue Earth
county in the House, I found them
all favorable to the bill except Mr..
Burger, who declared his intention to
XIII IL Ill LILO IlOuoOs 11O gave 90 iio
reason for so doing, that the whole
thing, the request from the people
and the memorial of the commission
ers, was a piece Of spite work toward
the present Sheriff, Mr.. Schweitzer,
claiming that $3.50 left no margin
for profit. Every person who has
knowledge Of the ways of legislative
bodies, knows that there Is no trouble
to enact local measures where all are
agreed. But if the local members
are divided, it is next to impossible
to enact a local measure. Senators
and Representatives say, "If you
cannot agree among yourselves we
will not NEEDLE with your quarrel"
Knowing this fact and fearing that
other members might think it were
possible that Mr.. Burger had made
with some truth In 1t, it
was thought best to FIX the rate at
So per week so that the bill for itself
would answer his objection. believing
that 80 would be deemed a profitable
rate by every one. or a majority at
loaat