The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-01

tionment was concurred in, the house
making its committee fourteen instead
of ten, as the resolution provided.
In the senate resolution was offered
to expunge from the records the sena-
torial investigating committees report,
and to discharge the committee. The
resolution went over under notice of de-
bate. After some routine business the
senate went into executive session to
consider the governors appointments.
All were confirmed without debate.
THE FINANCES.
The adjourned conference of the mem
bers of the senate finance committee
and the house committee on WAYS and
means and Gov Merriam was held yes
terday afternoon in the governors
rooms. State Treasurer Bobleter and
State Auditor Braden were all present.
The conference was called to discuss the
subject of appropriations, and lasted
over an hour. 1t was the opinion of
Gov. Merriam that it would be we'll for
the committees of both houses. to whom
appropriations are referred, to hold
them until all are received and then re-
port on them all at one time instead of
returning them singly to the house. In
this opinion all the members of the
committees appeared to concur. The
result was that an agreement was reach
ed that the chairmen of the respective
committees should introduce in the
house and senate to-day resolutions re-
questing that all appropriation bills be
presented to the legislature within the
next tW entv days. This action has been
taken, and it is believed there are APP
preparations wanted which will aggre-
gate sum larger than the revenue of
the State will admit, and this would ne
cessltate the use of the executive veto.
BY securing the introduction of all these
measures at once, the total amount ask
ed to be appropriated can be learned,
and if it is necessary to scale down the
sums desired, as it seems likely will be
the case, that duty can be performed in
a more intelligent manner, and without
sighting those interests which are de-
serving of large appropriations. In this
way every Appropriation bill can be scaled
on Its merits, and the governor will be
relieved of the unpleasant and difficult
position in which he would be placed
were the bills passed singly, and pre-
sented to him for executive approval.
During the conference the bill appropri-
ating funds for supplying farmers with
seed grain in districts where the wheat
was destroyed by frost was discussed,
and 1t was estimated that 500, 900 would
be required for that purpose. All the
governors suggestions were received
with general approval, and an effort will
be made by the members of both COM
mittees to meet his wishes in the mat
ter.
OTHER MATTERS.
f. Ii. Dearth, of the LeSueur News,
has his eve fixed on one of the two po-
sitions, either that of secretary of the
railroad and warehouse commission, or
that of the deputy insurance commits
sioner, and his friends claim that his
chances of getting one or the other are
of the best.
Frank Searle's bill, introduced yester-
day, for the compilation of the history
of the organization and services of the
Minnesota volunteers in the late war,
puts the work into the hands of four of
the colonies OF Minnesota regiments, ex-
Governors William r. Marshall, L. F.
Hubbard. Hon. John B. Sanborn and
Gen. J. HI. Bishop. This matter was
quite fully discussed at the reunions of
the regiments held in st. Paul last fall.
Hhara ia i'm tho noSSnSSiOn nf tho conro-
tarles of each of the regiments great
mass of information of various kinds,
and now that the State has taken hold
of the matter, and will furnish the funds,
1t may all be collected and put into prop
er shape.
The judiciary committee of the house
held short meeting last night and dis
cussed some bills of minor importance.
The meeting had been called to consid-
er the house bill repeating the insolvency
laws, but that subject was deferred ON
account of a number of business men
desiring to be heard on the question. A
day will be set apart for the considera-
ton of this bill, and the committee will
give ample notice to the business neil
so that they may have an opportunity of
presenting their views.
ST. PAUL, Jan. 26.-There were large
number of bills introduced in the house
among which was one providing for To-
cal option. The question may be voted
on in any county upon petition of one
fifth the voters. A bill was passed pro-
hibiting clerks of court from practicing
law in their own counties. The amend
ment to the constitution making an
agreement of hree-fourths of jury a
verdict, was made special order for
Thursday next. Several unimportant
measures were considered and at 12
o'clock adjourned until o'clock Tues
day. /
In the senate Senator Buchanan intro
duced resolution providing that all ap-
preparation bills be introduced within
the next twenty days. He explained
that conference of the committees with |
Governor Merriam was held and this !
was the result of their deliberations. The |
finances being in a precarious condition |
it was thought best to have all appropri- |
ations considered at once. The resolution |
was adopted. After transacting routine |
business the senate adjourned to Tues. |
day, at 10 p. m.
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.
The petitions for prohibition come in
steadily, and it is a very insignificant
member that has not received from his
constituents mass of manuscript asking
for the submission of an amendment for
constitutional prohibition. The Pioneer
Press says: Two of the most prominent
members from the southern portion of
the State were discussing the matter in
the cloak room Yesterday morning. Both
of them were Republicans, and both
were opposed to prohibition, giving
their reasons as practical men, that pro-
hibition did not prohibit, as shown in
the States of Kansas and Iowa. One of
them said that he found the high license
law worked we'll, and he was in favor of
trying it for another two years at least.
The other gentleman was afraid that the
legislature would have to submit such an
amendment to the people. If it is done
it will not be because the members of
the legislature are in favor of it, but be-
cause they fear the result will be disas-
trous to the Republican, party, which
has already made its high license record.
Mr.. Maland's bill for local option may
not pass, but if it does it will, no doubt,
be subject to amendment, such as ex-
empting cities from it's provisions. The
lesson taught in Dakota towns of 5000
or more people where prohibition was
forced upon them by country votes is
worth something to the legislators. 1t
is probable that prohibition legislation
will be an interesting feature of this ses-
sion.