Morris tribune., 1881-02-17
MINNESOTA NEWS.
DOINGS OF THE LEGISLATURES.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY z.


SENATE.-Mr Wheat, chairman Of the COM
mittee that visited the hospitals for the insane
at st. Peter and Rochester, submitted report,
which was highly complimentary to these insti-
tutions. The committee cord ally endorse the
proposition to supply the hospital at ST. Peter
with water drawn from a neighborinS lake,
which is 1S1 feet higher than the basement of
the building In regard to the Rochester asy-
lum the committee recommend an appropria-
ton for building purposes of $1OS, 600 for
the years 1881 and 1892, in order that the in
stitution may be put i'll shape to take care of
the insane people who are now locked up in
miserable local iais.
An attempt to pass the Omaha railroad bill
was defeated by vote of 13 to Ii.
Several bills granting swamp lands to rail-
roads, were passed
HoUsE-The bill establishing state militia
passed by vote of 80 to 25.
The memorial to congress relating to the de-
posting of sawdust in the Mississippi river was
called up by Mr.. Smith, who asked suspension
of the rules to allow it to be put upon its pas
sage. The memorial was then passed. 90 vot-
ing in the affirmative and % in the negative
Arosolutior offered by Mr.. Collins, authoriz-
ing the committee appointed to examine the
charges made against the managers of the
st. Cloud Normal school, to make the investiga-
ton after the adjournment of the Legislature
was, after some objection, adopted ltwas held
| that as over fifty witnesses would have to be
examined, the committee could not be spared
! from the house long enough to complete the
work thoroughly
! TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5.
SENATE-A bill was introduced which chan
ges the salary of the secretary of state to $3,
| 900 year. $500 of which is attached to the
position of superintendent of public printing,
all fees attached to the Office to be turned into
| the treasury
Among the appropriation bills introduced,
were those for the enlargement of the hospital
! of the insane at Rochester, and 70 rebuild and
furnish the burnt wing at the ST. Peter hospital.
The aggregate appropriation for the Institution
at Rochester is SSS, 500, and for the one at
St Peter, Sl62, 600 Bills were introduced
| appropriating 81 900 for the enlargement of
the grounds of the normal school at St Cloud
| designating the counties that shall send their
insane patients to the hospital at Rochester.
| The Omaha railroad bills were finally passed.
Senator Wilson, from the committee on edl-
cation, introduced bill which materially sim
! pltties the machinery Of the textbook law, the
principal point of which is that hereafter the
! county superintendents will order the books
! and agents will be appointed in each county tC
sell the books at the State superintendents cost
list prices. Dealers buying the books at cost
prices will sell them at 10 per cent. advance.
This will relieve district clerks, treasurers and
directors entirely, and the county auditors OF
nearly all their labor in this matter
HoUsE:-The bill increasing judges salaries
from 50, 800 TO $4, 600 was amended, placing
the amount at So, 500, and was passed by
! vote of ~ to ii.
The house bill reducing the rate of interes
to be paid by savings banks on deposits from {
per cent. to t per cent was passed by vote OF
| 20 to 20.
A bill was introduced by which the rate o.
taxation is fixed at one mill for 1881 and $50
a reduction Of Il mill from the previous rate.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9.
SENATE-Senstor Peterson presented con
| current resolution asking for committee t
investigate charges against the Winona & st
Peter Railroad company, which is reported t.
be guilty of discrimination against certain towns
and Individuals
! The Judiciary committee reported in favor o
! the indefinite postp0nement Of the bill giving
fees TO witnesses in justices courts, and to ex
! empt institutions of learning from taxation.
These house bills were passed, and now onl,
await the governors approval to become laws
| To repeal the section of law relating to fees "
! county officers of Winona county: to authorize
the city OF Winona to issue bonds to the amour
| of $12, 900 to fund its floating debt.
Nj. Pillsbury, from the senate finance com
mittee. presented the general appropriation
bill for 1881 and 1882.
HoUsE-On motion Of Mr. Sabin, Mr.. Nc
Cracken was appointed to fill the vacancy on tn
committee to investigate the charges of briber,
| IN awarding the state prison contracts, make b,
the resignation of Mr.. Gould.
A resolution, introduced by Mr.. Searles, wal
adopted. 1t requests the finance committee t.
ascertain what legislation, if any, is required t.
enable the state to do its duty toward the suf
fering people of the frontier.
Mrs. Sarah ". Clark petitioned the legisla
| ture, through Mr. Daniels to qualify her Il
vote, or to relieve her of taxation. She statet
that she was paying heavy sums to aid govern
ment, but had 40 voice in their disbursement
Mr.. Dunn, the champion of the Temperance
cause, sent up huge roll Of petitions, bount
with red and blue ribbons, as the avant coureu
from every county in the state and bore tn
names of 81, ,22S persons.