Morris tribune., 1891-01-28
STATE LEGISLATION.
RECORD OF WORK DONE RY MIN"
NESoTA SOLONS.

| . aA sT7Tz -.
| A Comprehensive Summary of the Pro-
ceedings for the Week Giving List of
Important Bills Introduced, Referred,
and Passed.
Tuesday, Jan. go.
Senate: Mr.. Aliens resolution for the
appointment. of special standing COM
mittee ON logs and lumber was adopted.
Mr.. Donnelly then presented his
protest to the Republican protest
of last week. The document was a
scathing attack upon President Ives, and
was replete with quotations from au-
thorities to prove that the chair had no
powers whatever not delegated by the
body over which he presided. The Re-
publican protest was charactered as
ndiculously false. John Day Smith gave
notice of protest and Senator Sanborn
was called to the chair. A lively dis
cussion followed, and AIr. Sanborn ruled
that the words ariiiculously false We're
unparhamentary. Then the point came
up that the document was not a protest,
and Senator Sanborn decided that it was
well taken. Asked if an appeal from the
decision would be entertained Mr.. San
born said it would not.
Senator Donnelly at this point sent up
resolution providing that the docu-
ment, which had been denied the dig
nifty of protest, should be placed upon
the minutes. This was carried after con-
siderable parliamentary sparring.
In the house Speaker Champlin
appointed Messrs. Bell, Mcclure and
Sheets committee to investigate the
binding twine business.
Mr.. Lomen, of Ramsey, called up the
resolution offered by Mr.. Currier Mon
day to memorialize congress to favor a
constitutional amendment making
United States senators elected by a
direct vote of the people. llr. Lomen
opposed the resolction as did also Mr..
Greer, of Wabasha, and Mr.. Linneman.
Messrs. Feig, McAllister, French, Knud-
son and Stivers were of an opposite
opinion. When the yeas and nays were
called for only eleven were found voting
against it.
Wednesday, Jan. II.
Senate: The protest introduced by
Donnelly was the occasion of another
debate. Mr.. Dean took exception to the
statement therein that the power of ap-
pointing committees had been taken
from Lieutenant Governor Holcombe in
1859. He claimed Mr.. Holcombe had
voluntarily resigned that right. Mr..
Donnelly said he had resigned the right
under threats. John Day Smith said
the vote on the question had been tie
vote and that as Mr.. Holcombe cast the
deciding vote it was sufficient evidence
that he had not been coerced.
A few bills were introduced, includ-
ing one providing for board of pardons.
Senator Marsh, of Hennepin, put in a
resolution calling for committee to in
vestigate the subject of artificial water
ways in connection with the natural
navigable waters of the state This was
adopted, as was resolution calling for
a standing committee On the state pub
lie schools.
House: Dunn-Price election con-
test did not come up as expected. The
pay of Capt Burger, the flag raiser, was
increased from 50 to So per day. Bill
introduced by Mr.. Lewis, incorporating
the Village of Alexandria, passed by
Mr. Smout, to extend the limits of the
Village of Wells passed; by Mr. Wag-
oner, to authorize the issue of bonds for
water works for Village of Stevens,
passed. Other bills of local nature were
introduced and referred.
but not being ready the house adjourned
till 10 a. m.
Thursday, Jan. ~.
Senate: Mr. Leavitt introduced a resolu-
ton discharging the file clerks for in
competency. but Mr.. Donnelly squelched
the proceeding by giving notice of de-
bate. Senators Sanborn and Leavitt
were added to the committee on taxes
and tax laws, and then the introduction
of bills was taken up. Under this head
Senator Mayo introduced very elab-
crate joint resolution, calling for COM
mittee to investigate the cost, income,
value of property, capital stock, and in
fact nearly every detail of cost, equip
ment and management of the railroads
of the state. The measure provides
that from the information so obtained
the committee shall prepare bill for an
act for the better regulation of railroads
and conduct OF the transportation inter
ests of the state, (which bill shall be
appertaining thereto, is trust property,
That the directors and officers of the
such laws and liable to the pains and
penalties which they prescribe for mis-
management, malfeasance or neglect of
their duties; and that, as such trustees,
said officers are subject to the surYeil-
lance and sontrol of the state. The
measure further provides for the crea-
tion of the Office of state railroad exam
iner, whole duties shall be analogous to
those of the state bank examiner, and
who shall make thorough examination
of the business operations of the railroad
companies at least once exery three
months, and publish detailed statements
of the same for the information of the
public"
At II o'clock the senate went into
executive session. Following guberna-
torial nominations had been confirmed:
Trustee of Soldiers Home-W. p.
Dunnington.
Railroad and Warehouse Commits
sioner-Col. w, M, Ligget.
State Oil Inspector Samuel III. Mich
OILS. = q,
Inspectors of Steam Vessels and Boil
ers-E. J. Miller, of Mower county; g.
A. Bisson, of Sibley; e. Y. Bloomfield,
of Kandiyohi; r. G, Clark, of Ramsey:
and w. D. Tomlin, of st. Louis.
Members of State Board of Equaliza-
tion-Second district, William Lindeke,
of st. Paul; Fourth district, Daniel Bas-
sett, of Minneapolis; Eleventh district,
J. e. Cooley, Of Duluth: Sixth district,
William Thomas, of Mankato.
The remaining nominees for the board
OF equalization were rejected.
The chief lone of contention in the
house was the resolution by Mr.. Currier
to memorialize congress for a constitu--
tional amendment making United States
senators elective. 1t was debated at
considerable length and passed by vote
of 81 to 40, but afterward motion to
reconsider prevailed and it was also
voted to consider the matter in commit
tee of the whsle. sse
Two resolutions providing for extract
ing information relative to railroad COM
panies, similar in import to the one in
Produced In the senate, were handed in
but went over on notice of debate.
In accordance to resolution offered
during the early part of the morning ses-
sion the house adjourned until 10 O'Clock
q. m. for the purpose of giving the
committees time to consider bills now