The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-29
STATE LEGISLATURES.

The Minnesota state Legislature
will convene in st. Paul OH Tuesday
and the people of this commonwealth
are looking forward to this session
with expectancy and anxiety. There
are several questions of Importance
to the people To lie disposed OF. and
some of these will not admit of dodg.
ing nor dillatoriness on the part of
representative
ON the second Tuesday after con.
vening each branch of the Lrgisla
ture will vote separately upon choice
for United States Senator In repre-
sent Minnesota in the National Con.
greSs for term of six years. On tie
following day, joint session of the
two branches will be held and com.
bined vote had - the same end. This
is one of the important matters that
will be disposed of in the early part
of the session, hut the outcome has
been pretty definitely foreshadowed
The question of submitting 10 pop
ular vote the proposition Ia amend
the constitution to prohibit'the manu-.
facture and sale of Spirituous liquors,
including ale and beer. is one that
makes the average legislator tremble
with awe. But ii canEot I've lodged
Men who have been elected represen.
tatiyeS must expect To take the bitter
with the sweet. and il this little de.
CnctiOn prove distasteful they mus,
grin and bear it. At this time il
would Ice presumptouS I" attempt
prOgnosticatiun ON what disposition
the Legislature will make OF the mat
ter. hut it is not saying too much To
remark that some .one's toes will he
tread upon in any event.
Then there i that complex question
of transportation which, If exact
justice be accorded all parties. will
need great deal ri research AMI care.
full study. 1t is II matter that is of
pre-eninent importance Ia all classes
of people, rs well rs 10 the great rail
ways which will be more ar less af.
fected.
Tie farming community will de-
mand some sort Jf Legislation to reg.
ulate the grading of wheat on what
they consider more equitable basis
than present rules afford.
These are the more important mat
tiers that will co:nP "a. for settlement.
Just what will l." done t0provide the
deficiency of some ga, 000 which has
been expended in completing the
State Capitol builling, is rather vague
at this time. but the taxpayers can
rest assured that they will have this
amount TO pay in the end. The extra
session of the Legislature passed re-
solution making IL misdemranor for
the Governor To "Xpend any sum of
money in its construction exceeding
the amount appr"priatr'l-Sls5,00 900.
1t WIS ascertained that this amount
was insufficient 10 complete the work
in such shape as il should he when
the matter was being discussed, but
n few retreHchmem fellows. as it were.
thought to gain little notoriety for
themselves, even though If it he at
the cost of erecting Il State house
which could not Ice made fire-prOof
and creditable for any such money.
In order 70 finish the structure as it
should be, the citizens of st. Paul
guaranteed the amount necessary.
and the Governor has completed the
work. The legislature will be under
no legal obligation TO reimburse the
citizens OF the Capitol city for the
very magnanimOus part they have
enacted in this matter. but 10 many,
it will appear ungratefnl if it does
not do so. If the Capitol of such u
State as Minnesota can he constructed
in a tirst.class manner for half u mil.
lion dollars, there ought TO he no
grumbling on the part of the people.
Look about our bordering sister
States. and see the money that has
been used in the construction of their
State houses, and the economy dis
played by our chief executive will he
more easily observed.
The General assembly So soon to
convene will be watched closely, and
the best judgment of the members
will he called into action il their en-.
actments are expected to stand the
test of public 8" and personal
criticism.