Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-01
Routine Report.
Senate met at 10 o'clock.
BILLS INTRODUCED.

Passed under suspended rules.
By Senator Schaller-Limiting insurance
risks on property.
By Senator Wiison-To authorize Goodhue,
Dodge, Mower and Fillmore counties to issue
bonds to aid in the construction of railroads.
Passed under suspended rules.
By Senator D. Buck-To amend the statutes
of 1878 relating to offenses against chastity,
morality and decency.
By Senator Cement-To amend the charter
of the Minnesota Central railroad. Passed.
By Senator Hinds-To amend the statutes of
1878 relating to Congressional districts.
By Senator Castle-To appropriate $3.50 to
reimburse VIM. NJ. Campbell for money ex-
pended in defending his right as Senator
against the contest of V. P. Kennedy.
By Senator Peterson-To divide the State
into five Congressional districts.
By same--To apportion the State into Con-
gressiOnal districts.
Rules suspended, the bill ordered printed,
read a second time and placed next to the head
of general orders for to-day.
SUPERVISING RAILROADS.
By Senator Powers-To establish board of
railroad supervisors and to prescribe their
duties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Minnesota.
Section /. WHEREAS,it is desirable to estab-
lish just and reasonable tariff of passenger
fare and freights among the various railroads
of this State, which shall avoid as far as pos
sble crude and unfriendly legislation on the
one hand, and arbitrary and excessive fare and
freights, as well as unjust determinations and
rebates on the other.
WHEREAS, it seems impossible TO establish
uniform or general rate or schedule of
charges that will apply to all roads, with
out reference to length of line, cost of con-
struction or expense of operating the same;
therefore,
Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of
Minnesota.
Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty of the governor
and the judges of the supreme court,
or a majority of them, within thirty
days of the passage of this act
to appoint four railroad supervisors, who shall
not be stockholders or officers of any railroad
corporation owned or operated in this State,
whose duty it shall be to act in connection
with the railroad commissioner, and they shall
have power, and it is hereby made their duty
to meet in the city of st. Paul as soon as prac-
ticable after said appointment and ascertain
and determine what are just and reasonable
rates for the transportation of freights and
passengers by any and all the railroads in this
State, having due reference to length
of the various lines, the cost of construction
and the expense of operating the same, so as
to protect the said roads in their proper and
legitimate rights, and at the same time prevent
extOrtionate charges and invidious discrlmina-
tons and rebates in favor of or against any
persons or places on said roads, or any of their
branches.
Sec. 8. And it is made the duty of the said
board, and they are hereby authorized and en-
powered to so modify and change all or any of
the said rates from time to time as to them, or a
majority of them shall seem reasonable and
proper, and in all lawful ways and by all law
tul means to compel either or any of said rail-
road corporations to conform in their charges
for transportation of freight and passengers to
the rates so ascertained by said board to be
reasonable and just.
Sec. 4. The said supervisors for the purpose
OF carrying out the provisions of this act
shall meet as often as may be necessary, not to
exceed in the aggregate 60 days in any one year,
in such place or places as they may deem most
suitable, and shall have power to summon
persons or papers, and to administer oaths,
and shall receive for their services the sum of
$40 per day, each, and actual travelling ex-
penses, and no more.
Sec. -. They shall elect chairman and
secretary from among their number, and shall
publish from time to time, through the rail-
road commissioner, report or abstract of
their proceedings, in such manner as will best
subserve the interests of the public.
ScC -. All uCbS anu pdIlS vi dCUS luCOu-
sistent with this act are hereby repealed.
Sec. -. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its passage.
Referred to special committee composed of
Senators Powers, D. Buck and Castle.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
To appropriate money to reimburse Y. P.
Kennedy for money expended in contesting the
election of Senator Campbell.
To regulate the operation of telegraph lines,
yeas 81, nays 5.
Amending the statutes relating to corpora
tions. Relates to reading societies, etc.
Amending tine statutes relating TO cart
ways.
To authorize the construction of railway
across the bay of Duluth.
Relating to the commitment of patients to
and discharge from the Minnesota hospital
for the insane.
Proposing an amendment to the constitution
relating to the sale of State swamp lands and
providing for the disposal of the proceeds
thereof, yeas 16, nays IS.
charged upon the railroads OF this State, (Sen-
ator Rice's billy, yeas 13, nays IA.
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
To authorize the town of Logan, Grant
county, to issue bonds
To provide the time for holding terms of
court in the county of Renville.
To incorporate the village of Bird Island.
To introduce moral and social science in the
public schools of this State
+ To prescribe the bounds of Senatorial and
Representative districts and to apportion anew
the Senators and Representatives among the
several districts. Ayes 25, nays 10.
Senator Wheat said the majority of the del
egation from Fillmore county approved the
bill as it now stands.
Senator Powers sent up the following re-
monstrance:
In the name and in behalf of the tens of
thousands of DISTINGUISHED people of this
State, we demonstrate against H. F No. 544,
which was enacted in the Republican caucus,
and passed through the Senate son the wing"
Reproducing the State, the said bill being
gross and palpable violation of section 2, -arti-
Gle T. of the constitution, which provides that
"the representation in both houses shall be
apportioned equally throughout the different
sections of the State in proportion to the pop
ulaton thereof" The act referred to does not
claim to apportion the representation nor was
IL