Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-28
THE LEGISLATURE.
BIG WORKING DAY IN BOTH ENDS
OF THE CAPITOL.
SENATE.

OF THE CAPITOL.
SENATE.
February 26.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND PASSED UNDER sUs-
| PENDED RULES.
By Senator McCrea-To amend the charter
of Crookston.
By same-Authorize the city of Crookston
| to issue bonds.
By same-Authorizin the city of Crookston
| to levy assessments for certain purposes.
| By same-To legalize certain taxes levied by
| the city of Crookston.
| By Senator d. Buck Memorial to Congress
| for pension for John NJ. Broom.
By Senator Rice---Amending the law relat-
| ing to the catching of fish in Kandiyohi
county.
By Judiciary Committee Omnibus bill for
changes of names.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate went into executive session and
confirmed the following appointments made
by the governor:
As trustee for Minnesota hospital for the in
sane-A. L. Sackett, of Nicollet county.
AS trustee of the deaf and dumb and the
blind asylum-George B. Whipple, of Rice
county.
As Normal school directors-John H. Ray,
of Blue Earth county; VIM. B. Mitchell, of
Stearns county.
AS trustees of the Soldiers orphan asylum
H. G.. Hicks, of Hennepin county; Ara Bar
ton, of Rice county; J. E. West, of Stearns
county; O. B. Gould, of Winona county; r. B.
Barber, of Mobiles county; Henry A. Carter, of
Ramsey county; E. L. Baker, of Goodhue
county.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
m - l.
be used as school for idiots and imbeciles.
To appropriate monev to ". P. Kennedy for
expenses in the contested eIecUlen case. Lost.
Ayes, 16; nays, 10. 10
Proposing an amendment to the constitution
relating to the elective franchise.
Relating to actions for the recovery of real
property.
Authorizing new trial for Geo. Lauten-
schlaeger, and Frank and Sophia Rapp.
Amending the statutes relating to witness
fees in criminal cases.
Omnibus bill for change of names.
Relating to the liability of fire insurance
companies.
Amending the statutes relating to cart
ways.
To legalize certain certificates executed
under chapter So, statutes of 1878.
Amending the law relating to corporations.
Amending the general statutes relating to
civil actions.
Relating to the compensation of judges of
district and common pleas court of Ramsey
county.
GOING FOR MARSHALL.
Prescribing the duties of railroad commits
sioner.
Senator D. Buck said he did not want to
place so much power in the hands of one man.
Under the provisions of the bill a railroad
commissioner might fix any rates he pleased
fhrYc noorvyn rofn %1>N
public.
Senator Crooks said the bill was perncous
one. We are endeavoring to build railroads
on the frontier, and such legislation would
destroy the credit of railroad companies nego-
tiating loans in the East to continue the con-
struction of their lines.
Senator Kinds declared there was a neces-
sity for such bill. Complaints come to the
legislature that determinations are made by
railroad corporations. The railroad commits
sioner had no duties of public character to
perform. There is no law requiring him to
fix rates. When the office was created he had
duties to perform, and the purpose of the bill
was to give him something to do, and then if
he did not suit the people could put some one
in his place who would do his duty.
Senator Crooks characterized the office as
sinecure which ought to be abolished. 1t was
OF no possible benefit to the people of the
State. 1t is merely an office making a place
for man; an office with no duties. But the
bill placed too much power in the hands
of one man and he was opposed to it.
Senator Wilson thought something ought
to be done. At his home the railroad charged
81 more freight per ton on coal than was paid
at st. Paul, and the people had rights as well
as railroad companies. He wanted railroad
He said Commissioner Adams, of Massachu-
sets, had exclusive authority on the rate
question, and the Massachusetts, railroads are
the best regulated roads in the country.
Senator Kinds conceded it was dangerous to
place such great powers in the hands of one
man, but would rather the power should rest
in the hands of an officer under oath than in
the hands of a railroad president.
Senator Powers thought under the bill
the railroad commissioner would grow rich
while the people grew poorer. He could not
trust the average politician with the power
conferred in the bill
The bill was lost. Ayes, 6, nays, %.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
The Senate refused to concur in the House
amendment 10 the bill defining the number of
hours constituting days labor, and Senator's
Castle and Morrison were appointed as con-
ference committee on the part of the Senate.
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Senator D. Buck in the chair. G. F. Bucks
bill regulating the operation of telegraph
lines; D. Bucks bill relating to freight rates
on railroads, for railway across the bay of
Duluth, and a number of other bills were rec
commended to pass. The memorial to Con-
gress designed to prevent the obstruction of
navigation on the Mississippi river was debat-
ed by Senator's Crooks and c. D. Gilfllan, who
favored the bill, and by Senator J. B. Gillian,
who opposed it, and in spite of the testimony
of the old steamboat captains and pilots as to
the damaging effects of the combined sand and
sawdust upon navigation, an amendment per-
uniting sawdust to be thrown into the river
was tackled on, after which the memorial was
recommended to pass. The bill providing for
letting the printing of the city of st. Paul to
the lowest bidder had an airing.
Senator G. D. Gilfillan moved an amendment
providing for the use of minion and nonpariel
type, and stating that the printing bill for the
city of st. Paul was double that of the city of
Minneapolis, but he was not informed as to
the amount of printing done at Minneapolis.
Senator Crooks offered an amendment
authorizing the city council to make such
arrangements as they should determine to be
for the best interests of the city.
Senator G. D. Gilfillan---I hope that amend
ment will not prevail. 1t will defeat the
object of the bill.
Senator Crooks amendment was adopted,
after which the bill was recommended to be
i,,1o init o1u