St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-09
House Members Do Not Place
Much Stock on the Davis
Interest Bill,
Substitute the Hompe Rail-
road Bill For That Intro
duced by Mr.. Searle,
Recommend the Passage Of
the Bell Railroad Land
Grant Forfeiture
And Decide in Favor Of an
Eight-Hour Day on Pub
lie Work.

oI very lively description. The preliminary
skirmish was over the Davis interest bill. and
otherwise known as Senate File No. l. Two
reports were presented by the committee on
banking. One report, recommending the in
definite postp0nement of the bill, was signed
by Messrs. Capser, bearing. Walsh, NJ, and
Lloyd; and the other report sent the bill
back without recommendation and was
signed by Messrs. Lyman, Holler, Gilmore
and Carleton. Mr.. Capser opeded the dis
cusslon with the remark that not one
member OF the committee favored the
passage of the bill. Mr.. Greer pleaded
that the bill should be placed on
general ordess and made special order for
Friday. This proposition was tavorably
commented upon by Mr. Feig, cut Mr.. Searle
did not look upon it with kindly feeling. He
wanted the bill referred to Messrs. Greer,
felg and Lynn for the purpose of making
such amendments as were found desirable.
Mr. Capser strenuousiy opposed any such
reference. insisting upon vote being taken
right away upon the indefinite postponement
of the bill. He also rounded up the Alliance
members by declaring that 1.-The chairman of
the Alliance state committee appeared before
our committee and opposed the Davis bill.
MI Searle agreed to Withdraw his motion,
ana therefore Mr.. Greer was given the night
to put to vote motion to suspend the
rules and have the bill under special order
for Friday The vote was disastrous to those
who favor the bill. A two-thirds vote is re-
call revealed SO voting i'll favor, with 20
against.
The bill accordingly takes its place at the
foot of general orders, which already con-
tains over 800 bills Unless the rules are sus-
pended and the bill specially acted upon, it
is likely to never be heard of again.
Mr.. Reeves bill regulating the rate of in
terest was also summarily treated by the
committee on banking. This bill makes the
legal rate of interest ana 8 per cent in the
oh - ta.Ar
rate. 1t was recommended to be indefinitely
postponed, but the house agreed 10 have it
go upon the calendar.
A Fight Ahead.
minority report from the committee on
agriculture. adverse TO the bill separating
the agricultural college from the university.
was submitted, signed by Messrs. Greer,
The majority report favori:g separation.
and, therefore, indorsing the bill, is signed
by Messrs. Doyle, Harwick, Tripp Sheets,
Campion, Moore, Wright Sinclair and Peter
son.
motion to lay the minority report on the
table was voted down.
Endorsed ChanDlin.
The committee on rules submitted report
which Endorses the ruling of the speaker in
regard 10 the vote on reconsidering bills. 1t
provides that, in order TO reconsider any bill
that has passed the house by an Affirmative
vote, a majority of all members must vote for
such consideration. The report was adopted.
Efonpe Bill Goes.
As was generally expected when the house
went into committee of the whole-Mr. Greer
in the chair-the senate substitute railroad
bill was quietly shelved, and the Hompe bill
substituted in Its place. the vote winch Sc
cured this substitution stood, yeas "a, nays
81. Mr.. Searle cordially supported the
action by which the HomDe bill was thus
substituted for the bill which he so skillfuliy
brought and kept before the honse, despite
the opposition of the Alliance members
There is practically no difference between
the Hompe and the Searle bills, and the
former having passed the senate. 1t is only
proper the substitution should take place.
There is now no doubt that the legislature
will enact railroad law, and a law which Is
favorable to the people, as well as dealing
fairly with the railroads.
The Alliance members do not look upon
the Hompe bill favorable. Mr.. Mcguire
stated thai il did not come up TO the demands
of the farmers. The bill is at the head of
general orders, and will probably come up
for discussion to-day.
Very Pretty Fight.
The fight OF the day was upon the bill in
troduced by Mr.. Bell FORGETTING the grants of
railroads failing to comply with the law. This
bill aims at the forfeiture OF two grantS-the
Duluth, st Cloud, Mankato, Austin d South
ern railroad and the Duluth IL Winnipeg
roads. Mr.. Bell was willing to exclude the
latter road from the provisions OF Ine OIL,
but an amendment providing Tor this was
voted down. The bill was keenly fought by
Speaker Champlin, Mr.. Knudson ana others.
a very effective speech against the bill was
delivered by Mr.. Diepolder, of Nicollet. He
enlarged upon the untsirness of revoking the
land grant of the Duluth & Mankato road at
this time. The road had until the end of
1892 in which to complete its line, and II it
failed TO fulfill its contract under which the
lands had been granted let the Legislature
two years hence deal with ii. He enlarged
upon the desirabiiity of having this line
built. 1t would be a great thing for the
farmers, as it would give them an independ-
ent line to Duluth, which would be better
able to compete against the Minneapolis
wheat rings, resulting in the agriculturists
getting better prices for their grain.
Two motions to indefinitely postpone were
voted upon The first one was with the
amendment added to the bill. excluding the
Duluth & Winnipeg road from its provisions.
This was lost by a vote of 43 yeas to As nays.
The amendment was subsequently, got rid OF,
and then the motion to indefinitely post
pone the bill was carried-yeas 81, nays 40
When the committee reported, this decision
was reversed. The vote was upon the in
dhrsement of the committee's report to in
6afnita1.- nncfpoua tho hill