St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-05

do that they never had grant and
| that the act of 1878 is unconstitutional,
/ can vote no other way than to forfeit
these lands to the school fund of this
state" s.
Representative Flynn-Was not the
| ago in favor of the extension of the
time of the grant of the MankatO &
st. Cloud railroad?
Representative Searle- Il believe that
the transfer grant involved in that road
was as unconstitutional as this is, and |
believe that that cOmpany'S lands are
in default and forfeitable to the state.
Col. Graves followed Mr.. Searle i'll an
earnest appeal for the business inter-
estS of the North.
This is plain proposition. This
| legislature is not called upon to give a
land grant now. l know that the tenn
| per of the people is against further land
grants. The people and the legislature
of 1878 very freely gave this grant to
| develop that northern country"
Col. Graves then: reviewed the his
| tory of the grants:
"For the last eight years the people of
| my country have made strenuous efforts
to build this Duluth & Winnipeg road,
bat have failed owing to the inhosplta-
BILE country and the question of these
LldhluS Id NOIh. lHlS
country cannot be developed in the
ordinary way, and cannot. be opened
except by the iron and steel roads. The
state has there nearly 100000 acres
| of swamp lands-you have two sections
| of school lands to every township.
and these lands have but nominal
value to-day. Should railroad be
| built through this country you can add
a value to these school sections OF over
two and a. half million dollars more
| than they have to-day. AS. a measure
| to put more dollars into the treasury OF
| this state, this is a common sense propO-
sition. If you develop this country it
will become great home market for
your agricultural products. The oppo-
sition to this land grant being
made comes from a great rail-
| road company which does not de-
sire competitor. But this IS not
| good time for mOnOpOlies. The peo-
| pie of this state are in favor of cOmpe-
| tition. am sorry to say that l have
heard of residents of these two cities
! urge their members to vote for this bill
! because it does not run into st. Paul or
Minneapolis. | heard an eloquent gen.
| tieman argue for this bill before the
pvblic lands committee. and news
| paper of this city announced the next
morning that Gen. Blank appeared for
! the people. We want no such joking.
1t would make ahorse laugh"
Representative Crossfeld Il have
only considered this question as one of
| public policy. and not of legality. The
latter can only be decided by the courts.
| The act and title of 1878 are good, and
| good by the decisions of the state of
Minnesota, which are good enough for
me. The public lands committee found
that the Duluth & Winnipeg had been
| as diligent as any corporation could be
under the circumstances.
| Representative Morgan-If there be
no grant vested in the Duluth and Win
nipeg under the act of 1878. all the acts
of forfeiture we might pass would be
null and void. AS matter of public
| policy l think the compensation of
| leaving these bonds with this road far
| greater than the forfeiture of them.
Representative Stebbins Is it
might, and just for us of Southern
| Minnesota to deny those privileges to
Northern Minnesota that we once pos
| Sessed?
Representative Estes-We cannot go
| over the entire question tonight. L
move that the committee now rise.
Representative Flynn-Let us settle
the question now.
Representative Hay-I cannot refrain
insthis manner from complimenting the
gentleman from. Stearns for the mag
nificent legal argument he has made.
He has left me with the impression that
this matter should be relegated to the
courts.
The motion of Representative Estes
to rise was lost.
Representative F. C. Stevens-If this
road is built it will bring S15, 100000 for
eign capital into the state.
Chairman-It is moved that this bill
be indefinitely postponed.
The motion was carried, but just at
this juncture Representative Estes
tried to get the eye of Chairman East
man. Failing to do so. he called out:
"Mr. Chairman, am l not to be al
lowed my right to speak? If this COM
mittee wishes to gag this bill through
this way, all right
Representative Hay-I hope the gen
tlemaE will be allowed to speak.
Chair-The gentleman from Waton-
wan has the floor.
Mr.. Estes was angry and did not rise
from his seat.
Representative Lane--I move that
the gentleman from. Watonwan be
allowed TO say all that he wants to.
Representative EStes-When men,
bers of this house financially interested
in this road force this measure through
in this way | am willing to go to the
state OH the manner of the passage of
this bill.
Mr.. Estes then retired into the soup
and said no more.
Representative Hanke-This is not
the time to take this vote. We must
have more information OH this subject.
| move that we report progress OH this
bill.
Representative Estcs-I beg the par
don of the chair anu of the committee
for my haStineSS. | second the motion.
The motion to indefinitely postpone
was then carried, but not unanimously,
and One-third OF the house was absent.
Mr.. Flynn at once moved that III. f.
571, which is the enabling act of the
Duluth Il Winnipeg. be recommended
10 pass. Representative EllingsOn and
Representative Hanke seriously OPP
posed such haste.
Representative Searle-The dominant
party i'm this state will be held RESPONSE
bic for the action upon these measures,
and hope that this legislature will
vote with its eyes open.
Representative Hay-I hope that the
friends of this bill will not force this
matter and will permit the discussion
of this bill to go over until tomorrow.
If they force action now it may seriously
endanger the final passage of this bill.
Representative Hanke = If these
gentlemen try to force this issue upon
US tonight, they may find themselves
short of votes when the final test comes
Judge Fleming took the chair, read
the report of the committee, declared
Mr.. Hanke's call for the ayes and nays
lost, announced the report as adopted,
and it was all over.