Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-03-10
MINNESOTA NEWS.
DOlNGS OF THE LEGISLATURES.
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 2S.

| SENATE-lne senate uld SOOu days WORK
yesterday in the passage of large number of
bills, and in the favorable recommendation of
good many more. The Peterson plan of con-
gressional appOrtiOnment was endorsed in com
mittee of the whole, after vigorous opposition.
The bill which sought to raise the salary of
| the state superintendent of public instruction
from So, 800 to $3, 600, was indefinitely post
poned on motion of Mr.. White
The senate passed the bill appropriating
81, ,O61 for expenses, incurred by Senator
Campbell, in preserving his seat against the
saults of P. v Kennedy.
| HoUsE-The entire day was devoted to the
discussion of the bill for the adjustment of the
| old railaoad bonds. Its consideration was not
| finished, and will be continued to-day until a
| final vote is reached
The indications are that the bond bill as it
came from the senate will pass
| Speeches against the scheme were made by
| Messrs. Wilson and Gould of Winona and Bur-
| ger; and in favor by Messrs. Smith and San
| born, of Ramsey, Searles of Hastings, Dunn of
| Blue Earth, Ammundson, etc. The main ques-
| ton was not put but test vote showed 60 in
favor to 80 against The indications are that the
bond bill as it came from the senate, will pass.
TUESDAY MARCH l.
SENATE-A vast number of bills, nearly all of
a local character, were rushed through.
The State prison contract was ratified by
vote of 25 to TO-
Mr.. Millers bill to appropriate $25, 200 to
be expended in having Minnesota properly rep
resented at the great New York international
exhibition of 1888, passed the senate yesterday
by handsome majority Of this amount $6,-
600 is to be devoted to the erection of a build
| ing on the exposition grounds and the balance
to cover the expense of collecting products of
the state to be exhibited at New York.
| Thomas Simpson, after bitter contest was
confirmed director of the State Normal Schools.
The congressional apportionment bill was fl
nally passed by vote of yeas ~ to l 6 nays.
Watonwan and Cottonwood counties were tax
en- out of the third and placed in the second
district
In the midst of reading bills in the evening
| the senate suddenly adjourned, the announce
ment having been made that the capitol was on
| fire.
| HoUsE-The bond bill was debated and
amended and finally passed by a vote of 65 to
| SO, many of the members making explanations
| of their votes.
| The bill appropriating the internal improve
ment lands for the settlement of the old bonds
was then put upon its passage, and passed by a
vote of rs to 25,
large number of unimportant bills were
passed during the day.
| In the evening the House, in committee of
the whole attacked long list of bills. The bill
| to create the Office of state mineralogist had
been recommended to pass, and Mr.. Cults bill
| relating to the text books was under consider
alton, when the cry burst forth, ''The senate
lS vi ult. IG IeSU VI SIOiN llldy Dt
| elsewhere.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH2.
SENATE-Met at the usual hour at the ruins
of the capitol under the east portico, and was
called to order by the president and ilnmedi-
ately adjourned tr the new st. Paul Market
| House At l O'Clock the Senate was called to
| order.
The amendments OF the House to the Rail
| road Bond Bill was discussed The bill finally
| naSSnI Inv q vote Of ',.S 4
| large amount of business was rushed
through during the day. A sub committee of
| the whole took charge of the local and special
| bills, and their report was accepted as
| the action of the committee of the whole, and
at once put upon their way for third reading
without delay. Mr.. F. E. Snow was sworn in
| as a special secretary, and assisted Gen. Jenni-
son in reading the bills and calling the roll.
| From fifty to a hundred house bills were
passed, not one failing to secure the necessary
number of votes to pass it. The senators gen
orally expressed themselves as highly pleased
with the arrangements made for their accom-
mediation.
Senator Adams resolution, authorizing the
committee on second State prison to sit aftcr the
adjournment of the legislature was defeated bv
a vote of yeas 13, nays IT, Mr.. Adams then
moved that all other joint committees be pro-
hibited from sitting after the adjournment and
a resolution to that effect was carried-yeas D.
| nays Z.
HoUsE:-The speaker called for order at the
Market House at 1890, and the chaplain made
most appropriate prayer, alluding to the ter
rlble disaster, and returning sincere thanks for
the divine mercy in sparing the lives of his
children who were exposed to such fearful dan
ger
Mr.. Sanborn introduced q bill at the request
| of the governor, authorizing the executive to
secure proper accommodations for the state
officers and the legislature The bill was passed
under suspended rules.
The house went into committee of the whole
with Mr.. Denny in the chair. About forty bills
were disposed of, and during the discussion Of
some OF them the greatest confusion occurred.
The bill devoting the ten sections of land in
Kandiyohi county to capitol fund, which was
lost on Tuesday, was reconsidered yesterday
afternoon, and will be passed Mr.. Wilson
! reSuTrected it.
tricts from the operations Of the State textbook
law was so amended as to include graded and
common schools, was passed in the house by
vote of 81 ayes to 25 nays, this virtually does
away with the law if it passes the senate
The bill creating two additional associate
Judges of the supreme court passed the house
by vote of 7S to 49,
A message from the governor relating to the
rebuilding of the capitol was received The
message announced that he had employed Mr.
Radcltfe, an architect, who estimated that the
reconstruction Of the old building could be
made for 500, 900. The governor says:
Hon. Loren Fletcher, Speaker of House of
| Representatives.:
The destruction by fire of our capitol last
night is calamity demanding at once wise and
prompt action. We have much reason to be
thankful that this great disaster resulted in no
loss of life, and that all our citizens escaped
without harm. The loss is of property only
Approaching the short time which the legisla-
ture would be in session, | have employed Mr.
A. M Radcliff, competent architect, to pre-
Gel
the building upon the original site. having in
mind the sewerage, water supply and vaults,
which are all in good condition and can be util-
lied in the erection of new buildings, together
with the brick walls, which are mostly in good
condition and can also be utilized in replacing
new buildings Mr.. Radcliff has submitted his
estimates, which 1 have the honor to
herewith transmit Should the legislature
determine that it would be for the best
interests of the state to rebuild on the
old site, would suggest that an appropriation
be made sufficient to cover these estimates
have thought under the circumstances that it
would be wise to expend the amount estimated
for rebuilding the capitol, rather than to cor
vene an extra session of the legislature, which
would cost the State as much or more money
than the whole expense Of rebuilding as pro
posed. have also to inform the legislature
that the mayor and city authorities of St. Paul
have generously rendered the use of the mar
ket house building, free Of charge, until such
tlme as Tile contemplated new capitol building
shall be ready for occupancy.
After the recent destruction of the hospital
for the insane, at ST. Peter and the unusual
heavy demands upon the State treasury it is
unnecessary for me to say that the State is
at this time, in no condition to expend such
sum of money for capitol buildings as
this commonwealth will require to meet the
growing demands of the future Very respect
fully, j. s. PnLsBuRY Governor
MR.. RADCLIFF's ESTIMATE.
After a careful examination of the stone and
brick walls of the capitol building, l have to
submit the following estimates for the recon-
struction of the building in good and substan-
tial manner, ready for occupancy:
For clearing away debris. .......... 81. 500
Repairing stone and brick walls ..... 5000
Brick partitions in basement and first
and second stories. $500
Gut stone. ....................... 2,4OO
Iron and tin work. .................... 1900
1900 yards plastering .... 1900
800 windows and doors. . 5000
Four flights of stairs. irs....... 1000
1000 # dimension lumberatS15
per N. M....:...............,....... 1850
doO,OOO IT. flooring for basement. $500
Carpenter work, hardware, finishing