The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-02

Senator Donnelly is fast becoming a
very "Baconian cypher' so far as the
affairs of the present legislature are
concerned, and it is probably true that
he exercises less influence over the
course of legislation in the senate than
any other senator not even excepting
the windy and erratic rosebud states
man Of Stearns county. Last week he
attempted to reek vengeance upon the
newspapers by repeating the law allow
ing them three days in which to retract
IN case OF the publication of ibelous
matter on misinformation or under mis-
apprehension of the facts. His motive
in intro iucing the bill was purely a
personal one, seeking to crafty Il spite
against certain newspapers which have
failed to approve of his huctuating ca
reer. In this, however, as in every
thing else, he was unsuccessful, his bill
being defeated by d vote of 20 to y.
The twelve senators, who voted in the
affirmative, did 50 simply to lessen the
force Of the blow and diminish the
humiliation of the defeat. Senator
TaWney's substitute bill for one intro
duced by Mr.. Donnelly, proposing the
taxation Of all mortgages whether held
by residents or non-residents of the
State, WAS also Indefinitely postponed.
The most Important event of the
week was the report Of the special
house committee appointed to investi-
gate the management Of the State
penitentiary and the relations existing
between the authorities and the con-
tractors who have employed the con-
Wet labor. The report, as intimated
before in the UNION, does not reflect
any credit upon Seymour, Sabin & Co..
and the different manufacturing con-
Germs controlled by them and deriving
benefits from the State. The report
discloses what it calls d conspiracy en-
tered into by one George Thompson, a
person who is the osJensi13le editor OF
the St. Paul Dispatch. the chief execu-
tive of the State. G. NJ. Seymour, T. H.
Lemon and others, for the purpose of
securing the removal Of J. J. Randall
as warden Of the State penitentiary.
and the appointment Of Albert Garvin
as his successor, with the understand
ing that he was to be the plant tool OF the
prison ring. The report, 5000 copies of
which have been ordered printed. COW
ers "A pages Of type-written matter and
makes most interesting reading. The
committee, Of which J. 4. keyes. Of
" mona, was chairman, concludes with
the following recommendations.
First-We believe that whatever in
the abstract may be the advantages or
disadvantages Of the contract system
under other conditions las to which we
express no opinionl it is not and will
not be to the States advantage to
longer retain it under present circum-
stances. and therefore recommend that
the law be so changed that no new con-
tract be entered into after the present
one shall terminate. but that the pris--
oners be employed at State accounts.
Second-E'rom considerations of a like
nature and from the evidence before us
we are convinced that. with the views
they entertain, the present board of
cannot make a success of the
prison under the State account system.
as the management seems to lack some,
essential elements needed in such an
undertaking, and therefore we. with
some reluctance and yet with a. belief
in it's necessity, recommend that the
board of managers be abolished and
some other board OF control be substi-
tuted in it's place.
Third-Wes recommend that whoever
the Legislature may place in control of
the prison at once proceed to fully
carry out what this committee have
an expert to begin, and carry
as far as the circumstances will permit,
in aseertaining what property belongs
to the state of Minnesota IN and about
the prison. and have d full and COM
plete inventory made Of the same, and
each piece plainly and permanently
marked SO az to be easily identified
Asa basis for this, we have had a COM
plete inventory and appraisal made by
an expert of the property now inside
the prison walls.