The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-01-23

The ''Protest'' will be published in
full next week. This week we give the
following compend from the Pioneer
Press:
After quoting section 16. article 4, of the
constitution, which provides for protests
on the part of members OF the legislature
against acts OF that body, the paper argues
at some length that decision of the presi-
dent OF the senate constitutes an act of the
senate. Referring to the proceedings OF
Jan. IA it declares that the presiding officer
declares he had the power to deny any SEN
ator the right to appeal from his decision as
president, and the right to deny the whole
senate the right to vote upon and override
such decision. Then follows a long argu-
ment with quotations from speakers OF the
British house OfcOmmOns to prove that the
only functions OF the presiding officer is
simply to be 1.-The servant and mouthpiece
OF the body" and that it is doubtful
whether he can even interfere to preserve
order. Copious references to works on par
liamentary law are made TO prove the right
of appeal.
Following came a quotation from the
rules Of the senate defining the powers and
duties of the president. Then a protest
against an alleged ruling of the president
that the senate has no power to control the
that might be presented. There was great
deal Of fine invective in this connection. A
rule is quoted from Cushing's Manual that
says that any part Of protest may be
stricken rom the record if it is in any re-
spect improper to remain upon the journal.
1t is argued that protests could be even
libelous in their nature and without pro-
vision for correcting them there would be
no remedy.
COMING TO THE POINT.
In the protest OF certain Republican members
referred to- statements are made MS recitas of
fact that are ridiculously false For instance, it
is alleged that there is no precedent in the histo
ry Of the state for the action of the majority of
the present senate in taking from the lieutenant
governor the right to appoint the standing COM
the present political conditions were precisely
reversed; the lieutenant governor Hon. William
Holcome. was q Democrat, while the majority
in the senate was Republican. Without any om-
junction the Republican majority, on the 14th
of December, 1889 introduced q resolution
naming q list of the standing committees every
chairman being Republican, and forced it through
the Democrats the selection OF any part of the
committees or pay the slightest regard to their
feelings. while III the present senate the majority
ask the minority to name their share OF the
committees and gave them the chairmanships of
number OF committees; and when the minori-
ty, sulking like angry children. and indg-
nant that smaller number was not
greater than q greater number refused
to name their part Of the committees, the
majority filed out the list, in nearly every case,
from list which had been prepared by the mi
other falsehoods embraced in this remarkable
document AS that the Alliance senators have
been treated unjustly by the Democrats. when
the fact Is they have received the chafrmanships
OF one-hah OF the committees. including such
important committees ~ finance. railroads,
grain and warehouse public larela. aericuiture
retrenchment and reform, towns and counties,