The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-02-22
sIATE LAWMAKERS.
Rro65edilusof t. Legislature
u
xt Bisnatok.
sENArE.

sENATE
szs This has been q day Of excitement and sur
spfises IN the legislature. Shortly after the
seenate assembled Mr.. Winship introduced I
@1eeolutiong calling for an Investigation OF
senargeg that telegraph correspondents was
sneiayed or suppressed BIZ the Western Union
scompany or its employees. The resolution
Nj. Bell offered q resolution calling for j
special ccmmittee to investigate charges OF
bribery and cofruption in connection with
me lottery bill, which Was adopted.
HOUSE.
No sooner had this matter been disposed
~ b the clerk Of the house appeared with q
!nessage stating that Senate bill No. 167, the
lottery measure, had been indefinitely post
p0ned. majority of the member were
completely surprised. though q few on the
inside knew that this course had boon
decided on. The senate proceeded with the
third reading Of the Walsh revenue bill,
which liz expected to pass.
lottery bill had come to its second
reading in the house. The resolution to re-
sturn 4 TO the senate with the information
that the house had voted to indefinitely
postpone further consideration, was pre-
sented BY Mr.. WaIsh. There was an effort
~ fnbie the resolution, but this failed and
tIlesvote to indefinitely postpone was unani-
nous. The senate received the message, but
LOOK no action.
N
IL was q tame dny in the legislature, but
the SENATE Investigating committee has been
running full time. The committee sits with
selosed doors. Senator Robinson, the big
hmberman Of North OAK lis chairman
and ex-Judge Francis 10 attorney for the
anlted before he was appointed on the CON-
mittee. and that he will get to the bottom OF
the facts IN every branch Of the proposed in.
vestigation.
HOUSE.
The House transacted no business.
SENATE.
The senate investi eating COMMITTEES held
two sessions, everybody being sworn to sc.
creey, even the witnesses. Rev. Simmons
q, Fargo Ssfns the first witness, hut he
knowledge. He was, however, satisfied from
sthe nature of the business that doodle
must have been used. Banker Lyons of
Fargo was also before the committees, and
corrected some of his testimony. Mr.. Ham
lin, special correspondent OF the Pioneer Press,
was summoned before the committee. but de-
cltned to appear on the ground that the reso-
luton under which the committee was acting
was notlbroad enough to compel him.
"%|Es~Ef&"
IN the house the investigating committee
on the lottery bill asked to be discharged for
the reason that it had no power to compel
fused to discharge the COMMITTEES, and vested
Sit with the power TO send for persons and
papers. There will be two committees on
the same subject. and they ought to be able
to gst.the bottom facts 10
NAT #"
Attorney General Goodwin was roasted by
0 unanimous senate. Chairman Robinson,
ofthe senate investigating committee, re-.
Questcd the attorney general to draft q re-
solution that the senate might adopt giving
1ts committee plenary power in the matter
AZ Was found that the resolution under which
the COMMITTEES was setting was not sufficient.
The House passed the railroad committees
bill. fixing maximum rates for the t%ranspor-
tation ofnative coal. The rates are IS cents
per ton for each additional so miles. Will
iam's bill Rbolishing trustees of public insti-
buttons was reported favorably.
SENATE.
Ex-senator George E. Spencer, attorney
fortheL ouisiana lottery company was called
upon to testify before the senate inVestiga-
ting committee. He was subjected to a rigid
examination by Judge Francis. Mr.. Spencer
told all about his business as the represent
ative of the lottery company: He denied
that he had bribed or attempted to bride
anybody in the interests Of the bill.
Cole has o bill for q constitutional amend
men prohibiting lotteries and option deal
ing. George p. Wilson and other represent
atives of the Minneapolis elevator companies
are opposing house bill No SO. which regu-
iates warehouses. House bill No. 10, declar-
ing MI grist mills public, passed the senate
today. Millers are only allowed to exact d
-tolf ut ono-sixth. r&s g - 3
A petition signed by ! 200. persons was
read prayingfor q memorialto congress ask
Ing the gov eminent to aid in providing o
system Of irriga lion in North Dakota. The,
bill requiring county commissioners to give
bonds was killed in the house. n
sENATE =
The senate Investigation committee did not
sit. Chairman Robinson returned home.
Alex Mckenzie started for st Paul. There ia
n movement to call q high license convention
and q paper is circulating for that purpose
1T may not be made public.
Senator La Moure introduced q gross earn,
ings bill. Practically it continues the system
ssof railroad taxation which is nov in vogue.
The constitution proyidesthat the legislature
mn enact q gross earnings Low or q cent per
centum Of gross earnings of railroad COM
apanies. to be paid in lieu OF all
other state. county, township and school
taxes on property exclusively used in and
sAb0ut the prosecution Of the business of such
companies as common carriers. The senate
had an Interesting discussion of the text
book question in connection with the school
hill
The report Of the railroad commissioners
.fosthehouse on the merits oflignite coal COLI
aiets of an analysis of various kinds of fuel.
C~orrsapondence and practical tests were sui
SM1tted giving much information in regard to
stAs practical and economical use of Ignite
t0a