St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-21

| forfeited. Other legislatures ruthleSSly,
and false to their trust, granted away
| thousands of acres of land, and then
| these corporations turned around and
oppressed the people. They have grown
| rich on the very life blood of the COM
| mOnwealth. 1t was a sorry argument
| to bring here and say, because this was
| done in the past, they must set the seal
| OF their approval to this additional
wrong. Of all the wildcat legislation.
| of all the railroad swindles that | have
heard, this bill, which gives land
| grant to railroad beginning at Du-
luth and, so far as we know, ending
nowhere, beats them all. This land
grant is open to abuse. 1t is liable to
be taken advantage of by designing
men. There had been no map filed by
the corporation to show where the rail-
road should be built. 1t showed that
these men, first, last and all the time,
were after the land grant.
Senator Daniels urged the passage of
the bill. The building or railroads must
be encouraged. When the state was a
baby in the arms of its mother, the
state voted 100000 in the interest of
railroads.
Senator Pope argued the legality of
the grant, and was followed by Senator
Kellar, who strongly opposed the bill.
"Let u.s." he pleaded, "bury this eleven
year-old baby so that it will never res
urrect." [Laughter.] Il
Senator Edwards said the southern
members of the state should return the
magnanimity which northern members
had shown in granting lands for the
construction of railroads promulgated
by them. He instanced the Southern
Minnesota line.
Senator Brownie deny getting any
benefit.
Senator Edwards-But did not the
Southern Minnesota line receive a land
grant?
Senator Brownies; they got one
half of the country and tried to get a
mortgage on the other. Laughter.]
Senator Goodrich delivered trench
ant argument in support of the bill.
What was this railroad company asking
for? 1t was asking for swamp land.
Land that was now absolutely value
less. Give this land for the sake of hav-
ing this road built-ay! l say give the
land to anybody who will build rail
road to develop this part of the country.
What earthly benefit is the land to any
body now? Excepting along the Mis-
sisslppi river, where there are some little
habitatiOns, the land is complete will
derness-a great desert of Sahara. You
cannot sell the land. 1t will bring no
revenue to the state. and never will un-
til you get railroad built through it. 1
say it is matter of economy for the
The attorneys for the Manitoba have
formed big lobby to defeat this bill.
They were the people making the fight
here; not the people of the state. They
think they will get the land forfeited if
an extension of time is not given to the
Duluth & Winnipeg people. 1t is
said this is terrible steal. 1t Is rob-
bing the treasury, Robbing the treas
ury! Pshaw! You cannot sell an acre
of land until the railroad is built. How,
then, are we robbing the treasury? 1t
is nonsense to talk so.
It.was now $40 o'clock, but notwith-.
standing the weary look pervading the
cOuntenance of each legislator, Senator
Ives was not deferred from rising to
give the chamber the legalview Of this
question. He had examined the law,
and though at first he favored the
claims of this railroad, he had been
forced to the conclusion that the Duluth
d Winnipeg people were not entitled to
the land; that there never was grant
of land to the Duluth Il Winnipeg Rail-
road company, and that under this bill
they were attempting to do something
in violation of the constitution of Min.
nesota. Senator Ives held the floor up
to 6:10 o'clock, when he gave way TO
Senator Durant, who was DESTROYS of
delivering second speech. The road
would open out tract of country now
of no essential value. The opposition
to the bill was based on selfish motives,
and the monetary strength of great
corporation would be used to defeat the
hill-not because the people demanded
it, but because their own selfish ends
would be gained thereby.
Senator Ward-Did understand the
senator to say that senators Oh this
floor were actuated against the bill by
motives prompted by outsiders?
Senator Durant-I say the motive of
the opposition has not been prompted
by the senators on this floor.
Senator Ward-Then you had better
make a motion to send US down to st.
Peter asylum.
Senator Durant-I say the active op-
position did not spring from the senate.
Senator Pope once more essayed to
speak, and was greeted with: Eyes,
talk against time; whoop her up," from
Senator Keller. Unheeding the inter-
ruption, the senator from Blue Earth
said the st. Paul, Minneapolis & Mani
toba Railroad company were alone be-
hind the opposition to this bill. There
opposition was patent; they did not
want competing line.
Senator Smlth-Will you allow me to
make motion?
Senator Pope-What is it?
Senator Smith-A motion to adjourn.
Senator Keller-DOn't you adjourn,
gentlemen. Let us finish this up. Do
your business like men.
Senator Ward-I hope there will be
no adjournment. | am satisfied the
disposition is to tire the senate out and
force an adjournment.
The attempt to get an adjournment
was'not pressed, and Senator Pope pro-
ceeded in a lengthy disQuisition on
land grants to railroads of the state.
Shortly he was interrup ed by motion
for adjournment, moved by Senator
Smith, which resulted:
NAYS,