Morris tribune., 1891-03-25
STATE LEGISLATION.
RECORD or WORK DONE Hy MIN
NESOTA. SOLONS.
A Comprehensive Summary of the Pro.
ceetlings for the Week Giving a List of
Important Bills introduced, Referred,
and Passed.
Tuesday. March II.

Tuesday. March II.
The session of the senate and house was
principally taken up by addresses by
Moses T. Handy, promoter general, and
Hon. Ben Butterworth, secretary of the
Worlds Columbian exposition. The
two houses met il joint session in the
house chamber and an hour was spent
in listening to the distinguished visitors.
When the house was called TO order
again the Minneapolis charter was read
third time and passed.
The house took up the usual order of
business and consumed some time with
the reports of standing committees.
Twenty bills were introduced, the most
important being one creating board OF
the board Of county commissioners, the
Judge of probate and one teacher, for
the purpose of prescribing school text
books for use in their respective coun-
ties. The house then adjourned.
After the joint session the senate re-
sumed business at lilo.
Of the dozen bills introduced, those
from Senator Lommen organizing the
counties of Red Lake and Sherman
from parts of the county of Polk were
perhaps the most important.
Senator Seyatson handed in a bill pro-
viding for the establishment of courts
of Cancellation.
A bill from Senator Probstfeld makes
it a misdemeanor for employers to re-
quire surrender of any lawful rights
or privileges of citizenship from en-
ployes.
The balance of the morning was spent
in consideration of local bills.
A report from the special committee
on the claims of Platt B. Walker and ID.
B. Strait for services rendered in secur-
ing the refunding of the direct tax from
the general government, reported rec
ommending the payment OF $4,000 to
Mr.. Walker and nothing to Mr.. Strait,
it not being apparent to the committee
that the latter gentleman rendered any
service in the matter.
The calendar was next taken up, and
there was no trouble in passing the bills
listed thereon, with the exception of ex-
Senator Searies' bill appropriating $780,
900 for a mon ument to the First Mime
sofa at Gettysburg The bill passed,
however, Senators Crandall, Erickson,
Crate, Hompe, Leavitt, Lommen, Mel
and Probstfeld voting in the negative.
Wednesday, March IL.
The most important bill introduced
at the opening of the senate was
that creating a board Of agriculture. 1t
is the work of the Farmsrs' alliance, and
was introduced by Senator Borchert.
The commission is to have supervision
of the agricultural and forestry interests
of the state, and is to provide general
rules for the guidance and management
tr1ff xx-hn
primary object is the promotion OF agr1-
culture. 1t is to be composed Ct the
governor, master of the state grange,
and the presidents of the State AgricTd-
tural society, the State Horticulture
soSSety;~the State Forestry association,
the State Dairy Ia tan s association and tfe
State Farmers alliance.
Senator John Day Smith introduc9
st the request of State Encampment, e.
A. B., bill increasing the annual app
for the burial of ex-soldiers
from 81 600 to s., 900. This is done in
view of the increased number OF deaths
among veterans and the inadequacy OF
the present allowance.
The Joint resolution authorizing the
receipt of the refunded direct tax from
the United States government was re-
ported back and passed under suspen-
sion of the rules on motion of Senator
Tawney, its author.
In committee of the whole consid-
erable number of bills were recon-
mended to pass without discussion. On
Representative Stockton's anti-Pinker-
ton" bill there was caused little talk,
though not much opposition, and it was
finally referred for amendment. On
Mr.. Longs bill, prohibiting the attend
ance of children from criminal trials,
there was some discussion, and it was
finally amended SO as to make the age
under which Judges may exclude II
years instead of IL.
Speaker Charnpi1n took his place un-
der the canopy and called the house to
order at 1902. His appearance and
voice indicate that he Is still weak and
unfit for prolonged labor as presiding
officer.
The bill to provide statues for the ma
tional capitol of Gen. Sibley and Secre-
tary Window was amended and recon-
mended to pass by Mr.. Reeve. The
from the provisions of the bill. The
amount is cut to $4,000.
Thursday, March 10.
In the senate Thursday Senator
Crandall sent up resolution-the Sec
ond one of the session-authorizing the
judiciary committee to redivide the ju-
dicial districts of the state in such a
manner as to consolidate several of
them and thereby reduce the expenses of
salaries. The resolution Fas adopted.
Several petitions protesting against
the extension of the Minneapolis saloon
70, Nv a fO1.
John Day Smith. E. r. Smith offered
bill prohibiting the shooting Of quail
except in December. Mr.. March of
fered two bills, one extending the time
for paying taxes from June to October,
and the other abating taxes on resident
property of ministers.
Senator Probst6eld offered a measure
seeking to reorganize the agricultural
college of Minnesota, by merging with
its endowments the department. OF mill
tary tactics and mechanical arts now
established at the university. The bill
establishes board of thirteen members,
to be appointed by the governor, te be
known as the agricultural college board
and to have control of the entire affairs
of the agricultural college.
Ira st.s.lse spent the morning in the
consideration of unimportant petitions
and of still less important local bills
The minority of the railroad committe,
reported Mr.. Curriers' substitute for hi
railroad bill. which was placed in gen
era1 orders.
| Then, in behalf of the majority of th,
railroad committee, its chairman, Mr.
Stivers, presented the Searle substitute
which was also placed on general orders
The Searle substitute differs from Mr.
Curriers' bill in this important feature
The law relating to distance tariff re
mains as at present, while the Blu
Earth statesman's billet insists upon tn
long and short haul clause, the shor
haul not to exceed the proportionat
| cost of the long haul.
Both bills made special order TO
| Tuesday.
The house then adjourned TO enable
i the rnembers-or such as desired-tt
i visit Saltwater and inspect the prison
4 and the binding twine plant.
Friday, March 20.
Senate: Minneapolis charter unde
consideration, question being whether tn
charter should be submitted to the peo
pie for ratification. When the vote wa