Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-21

Senate-Debating Bond Resolution
the House--A Bill to Abolish the Omc
Of Railroad Commissioner-Also to Dill
franchise Voters In st. Paul and Mime
apOlis.
| THE SENATE
Senator Wilson, of Goodhue county, did
good thing yesterday in introducing bi
abolishing the office of railroad commissions
with the time of the present incumbent, an
deyolving the duties of the Office upon the al
torney general, with salary of $700; were tn
salary to be put at $500 it would improve tn
BILL But either way it will not suit Gen
! (Our Jim) Baker. The same senator also in
troduced and got through, under SUSPENSION
of the rules, the bill to simplify the working
of the school text law; the same bill tina
passed the senate unanimously at the last ses
sion, but failed in the house by not being
reached. Senator McCrea's bridge wood
chuck, also passed-for bridge over the Boil
de Sioux, in Wilkin county--the only one in
cluded In the arrangement of last winter whicl
failed to become a law, being destroyed after
passing the senate il, the capitol fire.
Most of the time of the two sessions
was taken up by Senator D. Buck, in an argu.
ment against the validity and constitutionality
of the proposed settlement of the old railroad
bonds, the main parts of which will be found
in the loutine report. The argument was lis
tened to attentively by the senator's and quite
number of lawyers and citizens of the city,
and upon conclusion it was universally ac-
knowledged as the most logical and able pre-
sentation of the anti-settlement side of the
question yet made in all the discussion had
Routine Report.
The senate met at 1880 a. M, and was Or
ganized for business in the usual manner.
A communication was read and filed from
the Presbyterian synod of Minnesota, recently
in session at Hastings, thanking Governor
Pillsbury for calling the extra session, and
favoring the settlement of the bonds.
Also q similar communication from the M.
E.. conference recently in session in Fargo.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT,
Senator Crooks introduced bill appropri-
ating sum of money not exceeding $1,000
annually for the period of i've years, for de-
fraying the expenses of the Minnesota men,
bers of the Mississippi River Improvement
commission.
NEW BILLS.
By Senator Howard-To regulate elections
in the Independent school district of Duluth.
By Senator Wilson-To amend the general
statutes of 1S77 and 1878, relating to school
text books.
Rvs fo. IT, ol
statutes abolishing the office of railroad com
missioner and attaching the duties to the
office of attorney general.
By Senator Wheat-To appropriate $4,000
for the erection of the east wing and extension
of the laundry OF the second hospital for the
insane.
THE OLD BONDS.
In general orders the bill for adjusting the
old railroad bonds was crushed.
Senator Pillsbury moved that when the
committee rise it report the bill back with a
recommendation that it do pass
Senator Daniel Buck, of Mankato, then
proceeded to address the Senate at length, in
opposition to the bill. The bill was, in his
opinion, illegal, unconstitutional and void.
His first objection was to the second section
Ct the act. [This section is the one which di-
rectS in detail how the new bonds are to be
lssued.] He argued that the original bonds
should never have been issued, because the
provisions under which they were issued re-
quired fifty miles OF the road to be completed
and this was not done. He claimed that the
liability of the state had never yet been ju-
dicially determined. The power delegated by
the people to make contract with the bond
holders had been exercised and the power has
been exhausted. The legislature cannot step
in and change the contract. The people made
that contract and no other power can step in
and change its terms. That had been tried
by the city council of Red Wing, and the su.
preme court, when the question came before
it, decided the terms of the original contract
made by vote of the people, could not be
changed by the city council.
The vital point, said Mr.. Buck. is this The
state did not make this contract. The people
made it, and the people and the bondholders
are the only parties known in the contract
and until The people authorize the Legislature
to make new contract with the bondholders
the legislature has no legal right to act, and
if it does act Its act will be demonstrations
and void.
Continuing to another point, Mr.. Buck sale
| it was meyer intended these bonds should
be paid. The people voted for them will
| that understanding. The constitutions
amendment itself set forth that the peopl
| but provided for liquidation of the bonds, b,
| interest, etc., from the railroad companie
| aided. But admitting that the bonds upoi
their face are legal obligation, what then
| Why, taxation under the law, as laid down b,
| the supreme court.
| 1t is proposed to issue new bonds in ful
| payment of old bonds. This done, and tn
old bonds are wiped out, and a new debt il
| created, and the constitution says debt 0
more than $250,000 cannot be created. Tn
constitution also declares that no new deb
shall be created that shall run for longe
| time than ten years, and the law creatiD,
must also be passed by two-thirds of tn
| legislature, and the method Of payment b,
| taxation must be provided for.
At this point in Mr.. Bucks remarks th
committee rose and the senate took a re
cess to 2:30 p. IN.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The senate reassembled at 2:90 p. M, and u
once went into committee OF the whole, Sen
ator Campbell in the chair.
Senator D. Buck resumed. his argument
against the bond bill. lie said he did no
&free with the sentiments incorporated in tn
Democratic platform, but he honored th
party for coming up like men and facing tn,
| issue, and not dodge it, in the sneaking man
| ner that the Republicans had done. He thel
| referred to the part the churches were taking
| in this matter and gave them some advice t.
attend to their own business, and concluded b,
advising senator's not to look upon these rail
! road bonds, for In the end they will bite like
serpent and sting like an adder.
Senator Kinds offered an amendment tC
strike out all allusiOn to the Issuance OF new
bonds, and to insert clause devoting the 500,
600 acres of internal Improvement lands to thu
| full payment and satisfaction of the old bonds
and supported his amendment In a speech O.
| some length. He said the constitution pro
| hibited the issuance of new bonds, or the set
ting aside the internal improvement lands fo
| the payment of the old bonds, without frs
submitting the question to vote OF the peo
pie. 1t was a disputed claim, and in its settle
ment the people should have voice. Hi
amendment was intended to wipe out the debt