St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-21
MILL CITY CHARTER
Runs the Gauntlet Of the SEN
ate on a Full Test
Vote.
an Important Point Scored
by the Flour City Party
in Power.
The Tawney Mortgage Taxa
ton Bill Provokes a Bat
tie Royal.
A Day Wherein Great Oratory
Is Loose and Little Work
Done.

The Alliance and Democratic sena-
tors are as closely united at present as
they ever have been during the present
session of the Legislature, not because
they are partisans or for any selfish
purpose, but on matters that assume
political phase. When the opponents of
the new Minneapolis charter attempted
to make it appear that it had been pre-
pared for partisan purposes, they made
bad mistake as they found yesterday
when they we've met with not only the
solid Democratic and Alliance vote, but
also with several opposition votes from
their own number Oh test vote on the
passage of the charter.
The combine" is as solid as it ever
was on questions of principle aud right,
and differences of opinion on measures,
have not. as they certainly should not,
break this close alliance of men holding
similar opinions on the leading issues of
the day in politics.
The majority of the Hennepln delega-
tion won a signal victory over the oppO-
nents of The new Minneapolis charter
Yesterday morning, when by vote of
q nays to IA yeas the minority report of
the committee on local legislation was
rejected. and the majority report rec
Ommending the passage of the charter
was then adopted, with only one or two
opposing votes. Considering the char
acter of the fight made against the char
ter by the Republican politicians of
Minneapolis. this is notable victory
for Senator March, Mcmillan. Bell and
Phillips, and was largely due TO the
III %l,
men.
The fight was conducted by Senator
March. who was ably assisted by Sen
ator Bell and Senator Mcmillan, the
latter devotng himself to tripping up
Senator John Day Smith. when the
latter made any rash statements. Upon
Senator March. however, fell the brunt
of the fight, and he bore up under the
load in a wonderful way. He INDUCED
in no abuse, not even men
tioning the numerous times the
Republicans of Minneapolis have gone
TO the Legislature and there undone
what the people had previously done at
elections, but confined himself tX-
cluSively to a statement of his case. He
had no bitter words for any one, and the
result demonstrated his wisdom To
DR.. Bell is due great credit for several
able and effective speeches which also
had their effect.
In the vote number Of the Repub-
lican senators who did not care to 20 on
record as opposing the passage of
local measure demanded and supported
by large majority of the representa-
tives of the district, absented them
selves or declined to vote, and three,
Senator Daugherty, of St. Louis; Sen
ator Sanborn, of Ramsey, and Senator
Stockton, Of Rice, voted with the Dem
Ocratlc and Alliance senators in favor
of the charter. Only one Alliance SEN
atOr. Mr. Sevatson, voted with the CD
pOnents of the charter.
The opening exercises had hardly
been completed yesterday morning
when Senator March was upon his
feet asking that the regular order be
suspended and the consideration of the
Minneapolis charter be resumed. 1t
was then agreed that petitions and resO-
1utions should be gone through with.
and then the charter should be taken up
ana the reports disposed of. The usual
petitions were presented, and then Just
before the Introduction of bills the rules
were suspended and the Minneapolis
charter was placed before the senate.
Discussing the Charter.
When it was settled that the regular
order should be suspended and the Min
neapoliS charter taken up, Senator
Crandall took the floor and resumed the
speech interrupted by the adjournment
Thursday noon. He argued that the
charter was not local measure exactly,
and that, therefore, the senators from
outside districts could properly step in.
The decision of the house ought not to
influence the action of the senate. The
Steele county man followed pretty
closely in the wake Of John Day Smith,
and, OF course, naturally enough drifted
into politics.
Il have always noticed said Senator
Leavitt sarcasticalIy that when man has a
weak case he always tries 10 bolster it up by
speclous arguments We do believe in home
rule, both the Democrats and Alliance men.
aDd we believe that the delegation elected bv
the people of that city ought to be heard
The question comes home to US in lust this
Way-are the representatives of HenuenIu
county able TO represent their peuple? Ii
they are they have right 10 speak for their
people. As | understand it. the people of
minneapolis have considered ndYoted upon
this matter"
Senator March made a dispassionate
and clear statement of the situation.
claiming that tie formation of the char
ter had been progressive. Suggestions
made by outgoing Republican officials.
notably eX-COmptroller Calderwood and
the late county auditor. As to the ques-
ton whether or not the people had con-
hdence i'll the majority in the Hennepin
senators could be judged from the fact
that the majority given the four mem
berS favorable to the charter received
1867 majority, while that of the two op-
posed was less than 200.
Senator Lienau expressed the wish
that the Hennepin delegation had fol-
lowed the example of the Ramsey
county delegation. In the latter the
majOrity controls and the minority
makes no opposition. The Minneapolis
charter is a great deal like the new
charter of st. Paul recommended by the
Ramsey county delegation. 1t does
away with irresponsible boards and
places the business of the city on the
right basis, clothing the administration
with power as well as responsibility.
Senator John Day Smith declared
that the statement that the new charter
had been an issue in the late election
was false.
Senator March was on his feet in an
instant denying the assertion. saving
that while perhaps the Republicans had
not talked the necessity of d new char
ter at their meetings, il was different at
Democratic meetings.
Senator Mcmillan took execution TO
certain remarks of Senator Smith. and
SO did Senator Bell, who very cleverlv
tripDed up Senator Smith in his boasts
that sixteen Of the t0enty-siX aldermen
had protested against the passage of the
charter, as follows:
Il would like to ask If the wards from
which these aldermen who signed this peti-
Son come are not COW pastures that were