Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-14
PROTESTING.
Senator Powers Will File a Document to
the Senate this Morning.

Senator Powers will File Document to
the Senate this Morning.
Senator G. s. Powers, member of the joint
committee on railroad bonds, will present in
the Senate this. morning an elaborate protest
against the bills for the settlement of the
are:
First--That the bond question was not an
issue when the present Legislature was elected.
Second-That there will be another legisla-
ture chosen before the bonds mature and the
people can then vote their wishes.
Third-The use of the internal improve
ment lands to pay the bonds would be uncon-
stitutiOnal.
Fourth-It is doubtful whether the supreme
court would be, as proposed, proper legal
tribunal and the new bonds, if issued, would
be without proper legal basis.
Fifth-The holders of the bonds have the
same legal rights they have always had and
the contract can neither be impaired or
strengthened until the bonds mature.
SiXth-The bill reported proposes to settle
with holder of portion Of the bonds at
fifty cents on the dollar, but he has already re-
ceived as a Gift from the State thousands of
dollars of finished roadbed. If his were set
tied all would have to be treated on the same
basis.
Seyenth-It is doubtful whether the legisla-
ture passing the act submitting section 10 of
article to the people was legal body.
Eighth-Before adopting section 10, sections
5, and Z of article 9 should have been ex-
plunged.
Ninth-The vote providing for the issue of
the bonds was in violation of section l, article
Tenth-The mandamus requiring the COVER
nor to sign the bonds was an act of usurpa-
ton, condemned before bond was placed on
the market.
Eleventh-If any value was received for the
bond it was given again, without consider
alton, to the bondholders.
Twelfth-All proceedings connected with
the issue of the bonds were tainted with fraud
especially the so-called vote of the people all-
| thorizing the issue.
Thirteenth-This proposed settlement will
| be regarded as fragrant reputation, though
simply an acknowledgement of debt through
| an extra judicial tribunal, opening the door
| for demand of full payment from other bond
| holders who do not agree to accept half pay
ment.
| Fourteenth-Blls for labor and material fur
nished the receivers of the bonds by our citi.
zens were not paid and there is partial agree
ment of reciprocity between legislator who
| represent men who hold the bonds and legis
lators who represent the men who have claims
which would involve our paying twice where
no value has been received. Most of the bonds
were used as q basis for banks whose bills, sold
to the people of the State
at par, were never redeemed Some
of the bondholders now own, having received il
without consideration, the very property fol
which the bonds were given.
| Fifteenth-Honor, pride, ETC., compel us te
provide in due time for payment of every
honest claim in law or equity against the
State. The people may consent to suffer
for faults of the past, but as this was not {
test question at the last election, and there
must be another session of the legislature be
fore maturity of these bonds, the people an(
press should have time to discuss the matter
| Meantime let the bondholders make some spe
cific proposition.
Sixteenth ask that this protest be entered
upon the record and printed, and may 60 be
fore the committee to whom the bills have
been referred.