St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-26
Doines of the Day.

Doings of the Day.
The senate met at its usual hour and
transacted a large amount of business of
routine nature. A few bills were introduced.
most of which were of a local nature, and
not all of them by any means within the
constitutional inhibition as to comforting
further corporate powers and privileges upon
villages.
The most important bill introduced was
the one by Senator J. B. Gilfllan, chairman
of the Judiciary committee, which was a sub
stitute for the house bill proposing an
amendment to section of article IA of the
constitution, the substitute authorizing the
legislature to create commission to revise
the constitution instead of calling consti-
tutonal convention.
Senator Billson sent up a remonstrance
from the board OF trade of the village of Du-
nth, protesting against the diversion of the
swamp land grant of the Duluth & Winnipeg
Railroad company to the st. Paul, Brainerd
d Northwestern Railway company. The
protest was referred to Senators Billson and
Buckmau. When it is understood that one
senator pulls one way and the other senator
pulls the other way upon this grant the quiet
humor displayed By the chair in referring
the remonstrance will be appreciated, and
all viii agree that it was d fair and impartial
reference.
THAT SWAMP LAND GRANT.
At the afternoon session senators confined
themselves strictly to business, and trans
acted it with more than usual dispatch. The
r.
was the one transferring the swamp land
grant Of the Duluth 81 Winnipeg Railway
company to the st. Paul, Brainerd IL North
western Railway company in case of for
fixture. When this bill came up, Senator
Wheat took the floor and made an excellent
plea against the bill, considered from his
view Of the proper thing the state should do
with its swamp lands. The tenor of his
argument was that when the lands were for
feited by the Duluth & Winnipeg company
they became again vested in the state, and
could not be granted to another
company by reason of the con-
stitutional inhibition and the bestowal of
them upon the state charitable, penal and
educational institutions. The senator claimed
that the grant was worth $40, 900, 900 (Which
Is an ovcrestimate, it probably being worth
from 81, 900, 600 to 50, 900, OOO), and submit
ted that
SUCH VAST INTERESTS
should not be voted upon without mature
consideration and all attainable information.
lie called upon the several members Of the
judiciary committee, to which the bill had
been referred, for information as to the legal
status Of the lands and the legality of the
proposed transfer. Senators Peck, J. B.
G!ifilan, Castle and Wilson expressed opin-
ions favoring the senator's view that when
the lands were forfeited they again became
the property Of the state and could not again
bc granted on account of the constitution.
Senator Buchanan took the floor and really
sstuuished the senate by the eioqueucc with
which he protrayed the struggles Of the people
IN the northern portion of the state to de-
vrlpp their section without the aid Of United
States land grants and swamp land grants,
aud argued that the bill had been carefully
drawn so as not to prejudice the rights and
Interests OF the Duluth II Winnipeg company
lnless there was forfeiture.
The bill was voted upon aud passed, thirty
voting in its favor and fifteen against.
ID was informally understood that the
constitutional difficulties to he encountered
in the transfer, and that five Of the learned
lawyers composing the committee were Of
the opinion that the land grant could be, and
five were OF the opiuiuu the land grant could
not be transferred, while the eleventh and
deciding member was excused from voting.
This subject Of swamp land grants to rail-
roads aud other internal improvements is
attracting a good deal of attention now, and
will attract good deal more in the future
The friends of the bin did not ask the law
yrrs who favored the transfer for their opin-
ions, So your reporter cannot speak for them /;
but II the question had been directed
e. the reporters table the reply would have
been that "tquity" would require that aid
should be granted 10 railroad projects 10 de-
vclop the Northern portion Of the state, the
Southern portion having already been de-
yclopcd largely 10y the aid OF such grants, and
that claw would require the state 20 apply
the lands 20 the purpose for which they were
devoted 10y congress, viz, internal improve
ments; aud further, that the state being The
owner of The estate institutions" could not
grant lands to itself, upon the principle that
tue grantee" cannot be the .'grantor' in
any land transaction and hence the cousti-
tulional Inhibition was void.
The bin relating 10 the powers and duties
OF the Mississippi and Rum River Boom COM
Vauv passed the senate. aud may be OF interest
L. some of our readers. IL requires the boom
corporation 90 turn out LOGS destined for
points below the falls OF 81. Anthony
promptly, aud allows 80 cents per 1000 for
''sortinc," but ia case OF delay in SO sending
them forward The corporation is entitled to
no fees
NEWSPAPER LIHELs.
The bin relating 10 actions for libel pro-
vijcs as follows:
Section !. SD action % recover damages for
uHicatiou 'f a libel 80 any newspaper. printed pr
published in this State. shall be commenced
aEaiust the editor, printer or publisher
or such paper unless the aiutid shall %
l'sst ten DAYS bclor, the commencement there
oi Servo open taC defendant iu thc manner hy
law provided Tor che service 0f a summons in
civil action ia the district raa-ts &. write, de-
maEd for thc rct-actior % the Article com
planned %, Stating wherein the same is false or
Ehggus.
Sec. =. Itap,u The trisi o. anv such setion
60 shall appear that such publication U.ls made
a. good faith and without actsal malice on tbe
part or The defendant. and thar within ten
dlgs after the service upon him OF the said de-
U'gud. DE has fairly and in good .sith plAtished
zrctraciion % the alleged libel in the same
newspaper. and with equal publicity as the ar.
tic.e complained of was published. then the
plaintiff >ba re cover i'm such action oaiv such
sical damages SIS De has sustained hy reason II
the publication Of such Heel together wiki he
costs and disbursements q such action.
~ THE HOUSE.
Tue opiitiou % work in the house wiIl be
appreciated by the initiated when it is stated
that business was commenced yesterday
morning with Ia bills on general order.
and but 10 on jac calendar.