The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-02-21
Minnesota Legislature.
Monday, Feb. IL.

SENATE.-Not in session.
HoUsE.-The Hennepin delegation in the
house resembles the famous lot of Kilkenny
cats. They do not by any means dwellin
peace and harmony as they should, but are
continually quarrelng oversomething. There
is majority and an unterrifed minority on
nearly every measure affecting local
measures.
After the introduction of bills another fight
arose over the question of fares bstween the
Twin Cities Friday special committee
of FIVE was ordered, to consist OF members OF
the Ramsey'and Hennepin delegations.
Yesterday Mr. c. H. Davis moved to recon-
slider this vote, which was done. A long ar
gument then took place, during whichit was
proposed TO enlarge the committee to niue
by adding four from the country; to refer the
matter to the railroad com mittee; to put all
questions of railroad fares along with it; to
refer to the railroad commissioners.
Tuesday, Feb. IL.
SENATE-One of the most important
measures that has been placed before the leg
islature is the bill introduced in the senate
yesterday by Mr. Scheffer providing for the
calling of q constitutional convention. The
bill is very comprehensive, making provisions
for all the machinery of the convention
from the organization of the body down to
the appointment of the doorkeepers and
pages.
The star-eyed goddess of reform lowered
about the cham bersof both branches ofthe leg
islature yesterday, and seemed to fill the at
mOsphere with the fever of retrenchment
Her presence seemed to per meate the entire
building and every department was more or
less effected 1t was said that she
must have felt very much out of place in
view of the lavish distribution of places by
the two branches since the session began.
But at all events the reform movement was
vigorously pushed by bOthsenate and house,
H.. a. .Nr,aN
the number OF clerks that are now hanging
about the legislature, many of whom do
nothing except to draw a salary of So per
day.
Among the important bills put in was one
introduced by Mr.. Day providing that the
railroad and warehouse commissioners shall
bc elected as are the general state officers,
at the regular election, for n term of years
A bill introduced by Mr.. Schefer in amend
ment OF the law relating TO the restriction OF
real estate ownership in Minnesota declares
that it is uulaw III for any persons not Clti-
zens of the United States, or for any cOrpor-
alton more than twenty per cent. of which
is owned by foreigners. to buy la nd adapted
Tor grazing and agricultural purposes.
HoUsE-The Underwood bill making it q
mis-demeanor to refuse old soldiers preference
for places on public works, was passed, II
tO3T.
Hon Jared Benson OF Anoka gave econ
omy aDother wtirl yesterday by the intro
duction of u resolution to have the commit
Tee on legislative expenses examine into the
necessity Of the committee cerkships and Of
rcers not provided for by law with view
of reducing the number OF clerks already APP
pointed and OF cutting down the expenses of
the session. He said that he had had con-
terence with the governor and auditor OF the
state and they both expressed themselves
very strongly against employing On unneces-
sarv number of clerks and running up the
of bo LAT hpy-N1d
necessity.
The resolution was passed, 81 to 1, Mr..
Dunn, Of Mile Laos, voting in the negative.
Mr. Benson was shrewd enough to demand
the ayes and noes, so that none OF the mem
be1s dared to go on record as opposing the
measure.
Wednesday Feb. Is.
SESATE.-SeYeral more important bills
vent into the senate files yesterday. but aside
from the Introduction of bills very little was
done One OF the measures is q municipal
election law. introduced by Mr.. Scheffer, and
Is an almost exact copy OF what is known as
the sexton bill. recently printed in full by
the Pioussr Press. Mr.. HalvOrson intro
iured a bill Ia amendment of the timber
culture land. 1t provides that
any person who shall plant from one
TO ten acres of land with any kind of forest
tree except black locust shall receive from the
state So for each acre SO planted; but he must
plant at least 200 trees to the acre IN the
first instance; cultivate at least l, 500 during
the first and second years. and fOrthreey years
thereafter cultiviate and maintain at least
900 trees This law will not apply to rail-,
roads or to persons who plant trees under
che Under States timber law.
The bills prepared by the dairy commission
TO amend the dairy law and to prevent the
ndufteration of certain articles OF food anc
drink were sent to the presidents desk by Mr.
Truax. The dairy bill is quite extensive, re
tnC hn
particulars.
HoUsE-In making q plea for adjourn
Cnent on Tuesday. Mr. Jacobson remarked
that the whole house wanted to nave
good time just as much as the committees,
so the house went over to Saltwater yester
day and had their good time They al
enjoyed the trip, and, more important, there
is not one of them who does not know NOR
about prisons and prison labor, and WHIT
viii not be able to vote more lntelNgentl,
on the questions OF this nature to come be
fore the house because of this visit.
Mr. Morgan will introduce in the house to
day q bill to prevent trust monopoles ant
to rsr oruOte free competition III trade. It L
modelled after similar measure on the stat
ute hooks of New York State.
bill said to be tathered by Senate
Wbiteman Of Duluth. is soonto beintroduce'
an one house or the other of the state legisla
ture. confirming the claim OF the Duluth
Winnipeg railroad to 10000 acres Of swami
lands in the northern part OF the state, IN
St. Paul. Minneapolis & Manitoba railroa
and Kindred forces are preparing to detea
the bill.
Thursday Feb. IL.
SExATE.-The senate session was brief an
not prolific of sensational Developments
Only four or five bills were introduced, an
q couple of these were of local bearing
Among the measures OF general lmport9nc
rgss bill introduced by Mr.. Shields, While
brings the country grain elevators ant
svareiSouses more closely within the super
vision 0f the board of railroad and ware
house commissioners by providing that q
of these institutions that handl
grain for compensation shall tax
out a license at cost OF -
and shall not be perEB1tted to operate qnleS
they do take out such licenses. Mr.. Lend
nut in bin to fix the fees of clerks OF court
Tor searching the records for judgments q
abstracts. The fees charged by clerks 6
courts in different counties vary, and this ol
"a designed to establish uniform and reason
able fees The bill providing for the sale
the reform school lands received its final pa
sage after NJ Ives had tackled on Just OF
mare amendment"
H6ysE-When the calender gas reache
Mr.. Benson's bill for the society Esr the pr
yen+ion OF cruelty to animals was passe
Tvithout objection. The contest over the b
changing county seats, which was begun
the committee of the whole Tuesday, WI
taken up again by Mr.. Cressfeld, who wantt
che bill referred back to the committee of Il
whole for amendment. HIS thought Sha b
was very faulty, and vent into q long a
gument to prove his position, and pointir
out the faults.
Mr.. McKusick-It d very evident frol
hearing these two gentlemen that one van
to move a county seat, and the other do
an | think this bill ought to go back
the committee of the whole, as believe it
faulty. fit is passed the county seats
some of our counties will start off on wheel
Mr.. Hanke opposed the motion OF the ge
that the provisions Of his bill were design
to protect counties, particularly his ew
Mr.. Crossfeld lives in one eorpef OF his cou
fy, and his town does not want TO lose t
county seat. The vote vas taken; ana g
friendS of the bill managed to gather in
votes to % against the measure.
FridayF eb. Is.
SEgATE,-FiYa of the ten bills introduc