St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-19
A SAVAGE ASSAULT
Begun Upon the Manitoba
Railroad by the Lower
House.
Diment Resolutions Adopted
and a Special Committee
Appointed.
MIR. Stevens Vainly Tries to
Ward Off the Proposed
Raid.
HIS Pacific Substitute Buried
With Other Relies Of the
Session.

the harassments of the lobby, anxious
about spring plOwing, and weary of
itself, the house has reached the fighting
mood, and goes perpetually about with
a chip on its shoulder. In this mood it
assembled yesterday afternoon, and
with q savage leer at all corporations,
pounced down upon the st. Paul, Min
neapolis & Manitoba by indorsing the
Diment resolutions of Saturday, and
authorized the speaker to appoint
SPECIAL committee of seven to investi-
gate the alleged abuses. Immediately
after assembling. at 2 o'clock p. M,
Mr.. DimeDt called up his resolutions of
Saturday relating to the st. Paul, Min
neapOliS d Manitoba railroad. Mr.. Ben
son opposed the resolutions as unfair to
to the company. He could not under
stand the spirit that would prompt the
introduction of such resolutions. What
was the occasion for them? Mr.. Diment
replied with spirit. The resolution
came as a request for an investigation
into grievOus wrong to the people of
this state. 1t was not resolution to
investigate the gentleman from Anoka,
although he had once been an officer of
the road. f. G. Stevens said that the
general statutes of the state conferred
ample power upon the legislature of the
state to carry on such an investigation,
The last annual report of the Manitoba
railroad showed he said that some $780,
600 had been misapprOpriated from the
congressional land grant fund of that
road which said fund the company was
bound to hold in solemn trust. It was
the duty of the legislature to find out
If this was true, and if true to hold the
10 60. hi l,rl
heard that the Manitoba had engaged
in heavy operations which had
not proved profitable, and that this mis-
appropriation might have gone to make
up loss there. Mr.. Hay thought the res
olutions should go to the regular rail-
road committee. He regarded special
Investigations as a fraud and humbug.
Mr.. Diment replied that the railroad
committee was already Overburdened
with work, and intimated that it might
smother the resolution.
/. MIR. Lane, desired the resolution to go
to the special committee.
1.-THE gentleman from Anoka {Ben-
SOM has cried out for reform ever since
he came here. Why if he wants reform
doesn't he attack these gigantic corpora
tiOnS and not poor oil inspector who
is crippled already?"
Mr.. SevatsOn urged the appointment
of a special committee. as did also Ii.
F. Stevens. Charges of serious nature
had been made, said Mr.. Stevens. The
preambles of the resolutions made
charges, which, if true. would necessi-
tate the house to call upon the attorney
general to proceed against the company
accused at once. AS it was, an inVeSti-
CATION was necessary, and to get at it in
fair and dignified manner, he intro
duced the following substitute resOlu-
ton:
Whereas. 1t is alleged that certain
railroad corporations of this state have
issued stocks and bonds in excess of the
amounts reasonably required for the
acquisition, construction and equipment
of their respective line of railway, and
that such excess has been distributed
among their projectors or stockholders
without adequate consideration; and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that the pro-
ceeds of lands have not been faithfully
applied by said corporations to the dis
charge of the trust deeds covering the
same according to the terms of said
trust. or according to the terms of the
sinking fund provisions contained
therein, but on the contrary thereof
have been wrongfully and fraudulently
applied to the carrying on of other en-
terprises;
'heSOlV6u, i lndb a COInmlGIGo or seven
members of this house be appointed
with full power and authority to ex-
anime into the facts concerning such
alleged excessive issue of stocks and
bonds of the railway companies of this
state, and the alleged diversion of land
grant lands, and with full power and
authority to administer all necessary
oaths to the directors. officers or stock
holders of each of such corporations,
and to compel the production OF all
books, papers and documents necessary
for conducting said examination ac-
cording to the statute in such case
made and provided, and with all con-
venient speed to report to this house
such examinations, with such findings
and recommendations in that behalf as
they shall deem proper"
Mr.. Lane opposed the substitute. 1t
was only sugar-coating the truth, and
under it nothing could be done. No
one was trying to cripple the Manitoba
road, but II the charges were anywhere
near true special committee ought to
be appointed. Mr.. Crossfeld opposed
sending any resolutions on this subject
to the regular railroad committee. Mr..
Hay still urged that the resolution be
sent no where but to the railroad COM
mittee. Mr.. Stevens amended his sub
stitute. Mr.. Hay moved that the whole
matter go to the railroad committee.
This motion was lost by the following
vote:
YEAS.
AID NyD1Y