The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-16
NUMBER II
WHAT A ROAST.
The Members of the House While on a Big
Drank Attempt to Hold Mid
night Session.

Inc conduct OF the house of repre-
sentatives yesterday ought not to be al
lowed to pass out of mind without some
measure of comment. From the time
of its converting to the termination of
it's midnight session, except for a brief
interval, that conduct was either a
travesty on legislation or an insult to
the intelligence and dignity of the
State.
That a body capable of so demeaning
itself should have been selected by the
people to do the serious work of reform:
to improve the methods and morals of
legislation, and to remedy public griev-
ances, is equivalent to an Indictment of
our entire representative system. No
one who enjoyed the privilege of
witnessing the midnight session, fol-
lowing the attendance of the represent
atives at the Metropolitan opera house,
will ever forget the impotent and
| maudlin exhibition.
The proceedings of the majority, in
the pursuit Of some vague and underlined
purpose, the nature Of which the mem
bers OF that majority do not themselves
understand, has been spoken of by
rude critic as a legislative ghost dance.
Last night at least, certain of the at
| tributes of savagery which are essential
to the conduct Of a messiah dance were
plainly visible; and were the partici-
pants North American Indians, rather
than civilized Caucasians, they could
have shown no less aptitude for the
work which these men had ostensibly
assembled to do. .'
We suppose the feeble and misguided
efforts of this body in the direction of
responsible legislation will meet the
cordial approval Of those who chose
them as public representatives, and
that the legislature Of two years hence
will be even less worthy of respect than
the present, and will pursue the vagar-
les of agrarian demogogism even more
furiously. A movement productive of
such a majority as that which prevails
at present in both houses cannot surely
be so short-lived that its control must
end with one Legislative session. Pal
pably its mission could not consistently
end without sending some sockless sim
pleton or other to the United States
senate! -
This is not an occasion for partisan
congratulation. It is really one which
every .selfrespecting citizen should
mourn, at the same time consoling
himself with the reflection that this
body Of irresponsible puppets cannot
survive under the constitution for a
much longer period.-St. Paul Dis
patch.
Silly Legislation.
Some of the members of the Mime
| sofa legislature ought to go to night
school. For crudities, absurdities, and
pure unadulterated idiocy inlegislation
this legislature has produced some
specimens that are entitled, if not to
| the gold medal, at least to honorable
| mention.'
How absurd, for instance, is the bill
introduced in the house requiring the
manufacturer of patent and proprietary
medicines to have printed upon the
wrapper the formula, for the use of the
public, under severe penalty.
The author of this measure does not
seem to be aware that the formula of a
patent or proprietary medicine is under
the seal Of the patent office of the
United States and that the patentee is
protected by the government for the
term OF II years from the date of his
application for a patent. If the legis-
lature should be foolish enough to pass
the proposed law it would no more be
! enforced than would legislative man
date to the earth to revolve backwards.
No man can be compelled by any state
board to print the patented secret of
his preparation.
The legislature has. been disgraced.
by the Introduction of several bills of
this character, disclosing the ignorance
of their makers. This State wants
legislatures in which intelligence and
experience shall predominant. Days
of precious time have been thrown
away by the exploitation of ignorance,
inexperience and twaddle. If the peo-
pie of Minnesota want to get something
OF value in the way of legislation for
the large sum expended, they will have
to be more judicious in their selection
OF men to represent them.-llieneapo
us Jouamdl.
Il heard a queer story about that
mountain over yonder from our native
driver to-day"
what was that?''
"A young lady and gentleman went
out for a walk on that hill: they went