St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-24
ITS FINAL SESSION.
The Senate Has Its Transgressions
Prayed For.
"Fnrgive nnr transgressions."


"Forgive our transgressions."
1t was in this strain that Chaplain
Lathrop pleaded to the Almighty in his
final prayer before the senate yester-
day. The plea was well-timed, for,
perhaps, never before in the history of
Minnesota did body of Legislators need
their transgressions more forgiven.
Senators felt this, and under their
breath fervently exclaimed:
"Amen."
No legislative work was transacted
by either end of the legislature. The
senate, when it was not voting upon
motions to increase the emoluments of
clerks and pages, was devoted to pass
ing complimentary resolutions and
making jokes.
Senator and Congressman Hall
thought the occasion fitting to show
that, in retaining his seat in the senate
when he was elected to congress last
November, he was acting within the
limits of the law. AS far back as Feb.
20, the Renville statesman sought
the opinion of Attorney General Clapp
on the question, and he replied in the
following terms:
Your inquiry, whether you will be entitled
to act as state senator after the 4th of March
next, in view of the fact that you were in
November last elected as a representative in
congress, has been duly considered. A
similar question was long since addressed to
my predecessor. Hon. Gordon Z. Cole, by
Gov. Ramsey, elciting the opinion that no
1ncompatibillty exists between the offices of
senator of the United States and governor of
Minnesota (opinion attorney general l03).
The reasoning of my predecessor in the case
cited applies, il seems to me. with still great
er force to the offices OF representative in con-
gress and state senator ! am unable to find,
and believe there does not exist cOnSti-
tutonal p rohibiton against your retention
of the seat and performance of the duties of
a state senator after the 4th of March. Aside
from the foregoing conditions, there can be
no question but that section 3, article Of
the constitution contemplates your case,
and that the senate may determine whether
or not you viii be entitled TO a seat after the
date above named.
Mr.. Hall desired that this letter
should be placed in the journal, and the
senate so agreed.
A regrettable act, and one which
slightly marred the harmony of the ses-
sion, was the forwarding of a leather
medal to Senator HiXsOn by students of
the university. The medal purported,
at all events, to come from the univer-
sity, and was in recognition of the eff
forts of the gentleman from Grant to
separate the agricultural college from
the university. Mr.. HiXSon asked that
this should be made part of the records
of the senate. The insult would not
thwart him in continuing to fight the
battles of the farmers as much in the
future as he had in the past.
Mr.. Compton protested against such
an insult being offered a member of that
cQamber, bnt hoped the matter would
not be recorded in the journal.
Mr.. Clough intimated that it was
merely legislative joke.
Mr. COmpton-TheSe students are a
set of young fellows too old for the birch
and too young for brains.
Mr.. Pope-It ought to be a part of the
records of the senate.
Mr.. Hoard urged that it was better
not to take further notice of the matter,
while at the same time he was of
opinion that the gratuitOuS insult Of
fered Mr.. HiXsOn deserved condemna-
ton.
1t was mutually decided that the mat
ter should be ignored, and the rift in
the otherwise blue horizon was speedily
lifted by the motion:
''That it is the sense of this senate
that Hon. A. Z. Rice, its presiding Off
Ger, is entitled to the thanks of this
senate for the fair and impartial man-
ner in which he presided over Its de-
liberations."
The proposition was acceded to unani-
mOusly by a rising vote.
Next came the election of president
pro tenn, and Senators Ives,S Durant
and Pope were placed in nomination.
Mr.. Ives received TWENTY-FIVE votes. Mr.
Durant seven and Mr.. Pope four. The
two latter are Democrats. Mr.. Ives
made suitable acknowledgment for the
honor conferred on him. Gradually the
hour of adjournment drew nigh. Mean
while MeSsrs. Day, Durant and Buck
man were appointed committee to
wait upon Gov. Merriam, stating that
the senate was ready to adjourn and
asking if he had any further communi-
cation to make. The committee was
not long absent, and Mr.. Day declared
that his eXcellency had no further use
for the legislature.
81 move the senate now adjourn sine
die" shouted Gen. Pope.
mo, no." quietly intimated Lieut..
Gov. Rice; ''there are number of bills
unsigned.
1t was agreed that a quorum should
remain until all the bills were signed,
the main body OF the legislators filing
out OF the chamber. AT 1872 O'Clock
all the secretarial work had been
cleared up. and then. in words loud and
clear, Senator Frank Day was heard to
say:
q move the senate now adjourn sine
die" - - '--'
"Second the motion,'' piped the sen.
ator from st. Louis; and with chorus
of ''ayes" from the remaining legisIa,
tors, the senate of 1889 passed into his.
tory.