St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-10
o' 4
A Hot Discussion.

''The senator from Hennepin," said Sena-
tor Leavitt, appeals to the fairness OF this
side of the house when his party is trying to
steal legislatures all over this country when
the people have decided against them. IL is
amusing 10 hear the gentleman taking ex-
ception to the farmers not being given con-
troll OF certain committees. These commit
tees were prepared by the Democrats ana AL
lance men i'll conference, and until some
farmer objects, think they will stand as
they are | offer the following amendment
TO the resolution offered by the senator from
Hennepin."
This amendment provided that all the COM
mittees except the judiciary, railroads, grain
and warehouse, apportionment states prison
and public works, be composed of five mem
bers each.
Senator Sanborn took the floor and in
dorsed the work of the Republicans. He
said that the Republicans were not entitled
TO majority in view of the result at the late
election. Speaking of the results of the late
election, he said it had no right to majority
on the committees. Then he cast the fol-
lowing bombshell into the Republican camp:
When the Republican party placed upon
the people and insisted upon keeping it,
burden they could lily afford to have have
no hesitation in saying that it has been eight
years since voted with my party on national
issues. The defeats it has sustained are
right. If there is not vigor and strength of
set it right let it be defeated. That was the
fault of the old Democratic party before the
war. 1t took twenty years to setit upon
national platform
After casting this torpedo shell into the
Republican camp Senator Sanborn proceeded
with his argument demanding a proper
share of the committee places for his party.
The senator from Ramsey paid high trib-
ute to Senator Donnelly. But the mistakes
of the Republican party in national politics
tOn attractive for The AOnphtV free
trader and Democrat from Ramsey, and he
turned to it again.
II certainly believe the course of the Re-
publicans on the tariff and the corporations"
said Gen. Sanborn. has been wrong and op-
pressiye, and my opposition has earned me
the title of chronic kicker, but l long ago
made uD my mind never to go into caucus
OF any other party than my own, for the sim
pie reason that thought l could do more
there than anywhere else. For the Demo-
for on national issues believe 1t is nearer
right than the Republicans. But this is no
reason why, this party should have seven
members of the railroad committee. Give it
to the farmers and see what they will do
with it,
Senator Donnelly gained the floor, and.
after complimenting Gen. Sanborn paid his
respects to Senator John Day Smith iii the
following caustic language:
"His resolution is the most colossal piece
of impudeuce ever offered in q legislative
body. The Republicans are given no less
than nineteen out of thi-ty-seven chairman
ships among them ali the most important.
The Republican senators are fishing Tor gud-
geOns. They are feeling around to see II they
can find a soft place in order to break our
ranks. Gentlemen of the. majority. stand
firm. Were the other side in the majority we
would not get smell
Senator Smith, OF Hennepin. declared in
answer to Senator Leavitt tnat he was not
squirming and would not He was followed
by Senator Crandall, of Steele. who tried to
demonstrate from the reading OF few OF the
committees of the last senate, that the Re-
publicans had given the Democrats their full
share of places OH leading committees.
Senator Mayo, of Olmsted, said the people
of Minnesota had become dissatisfied with
the actions of the Republican party. "Speak-
ing OF the Judiciary committee, we shall go
outside and get our law if you don't want to
help us. We have the power, and We pro-
pose to use it, No. gentlemen, taste the
crow. We have been eating 1t for twenty
five years. Try it,.
RetOrts Courteous.
Senator Tawney wanted to know what the
farmers of the state had demanded of the
Republican party that they had not received.
''The Republican party pie dyed itself four
years ago to squeeze the water out of the rail-
road stocks, which it has not done,' re-
piled Senator Donnelly with warmth, recit-
ing its pledges made at the convention of
1886.
Senator Dean took the floor next, and de-
clared that. although he had been elected
without Democrasic opposition, like his col
league, Gen. Sanborn, he had not surren-
dered his political convictions He was in
complete harmony with the Republican
party The Mckinley bill, if given fair
trial. would make every man in Minnesota
prosperous and happy. After paying himself
several large measures of praise for his in
tegrity, honor and disinterestedness, he
yielded to Senator DOnneliy.
In answer to Senator Deans remark that
the Democratic party had started the land
grants to railroads, and that Donnelly him
self twenty-five years ago favored the Hast
ings x Dakota grant, the Sage answered him
SO completely that he subsidized.
1T is true," said Mr.. DOnnelly, that under
the lead of that great statesman, stephen A.
Douglass, the Democratic party inaugurated
the system of making land grants to railroads
because they thought that railroads could not
be built without them. The Democrats
granted six sections, and when the Republl-
cans came in they added four; so that it Is
not political question. If the gentleman
will look at my record in congress in those
days he will md that was then in favor of
a law compelling these roads to sell their
lands at $3.50 per acre. Had this been done
the railroads would now have little land, and
The state many more inhabitants"
Senator. Tawney tried to move that the
rules of the United States senate were quite
differently made up from the way in whi ch
the Democrats and Alliance propose to do it.
The reappOrtionment committee was bad
because the Republicans were not given the
majority. He spoke of having another ger
rymandered state, apparently forgetting how
the Republicans sliced up Minnesota ten
years ago.
finnr1Qrt rniftQn told Of tho U W
the Democrats were treated by the Republi-
can reapportionment committee two years
ago. THE Democrats were all boxed up TO-
gether," he said.
said Senator Leavitt, ''comes with poor grace
from party that has made Its bed with the
Quays, the Dudleys, with their 'blocks-of-
five :"
Speaking of the claims as to fairness of the
Republicans Senator Leavitt declared that it
was the first time that minority had ever
attempted to dictate who of the opposition
should go on the committees.
ave have learned by long and bitter ex-
perience," said he, that whenever the Re-
publicans have been in power q Democrat
has seldom been heard of"
"How about Ohio?" asked Senator Tawney.
"The Democrats simply followed Repub-
lican precedent answered the Meeker sena-
tor. Il do not believe in the Ohio apportion-
ment. but the people know that it is not safe
to trust such a matter to the Republicans.
All we ask is q fair and just apportionment
and that we propose 10 have"
senator McHale, of Scott, thought that the
discussion had taken too wide a range. He
was glad to know that the name of the sena-
tor from Dakota was known in Rome; that
the senator from Ramsey (Dean) had re-
ceived Democratic votes, although not of the
kind in his county. He thought it colossal
cheek for the minority to attempt to name
the members of the majority for the commit
tees. I'VE have the right to name our men,
bers of the committees, and we concede the
Republicans the same right but if the min
ority does not name its members we
shall. because we have the undoubted
right" Speaking of the judiciary committee
Senator McHale declared that the position
of the Democrats and Alliance was that they
must have control of that committee, as
otherwise reports might be shelved, stifed,
smothered and strangled in committee.
1t was proper to increase the number on this
committee to fifteen members, thus giving
every lawyer on the floor place on the
judiciary committee. The only question is:
''Shall the minority selecrthei own mem
bers of the committees and ours too.''
''This is wrong; 1t is unjust and discourte-
Gus, and must protest against it,"
Senator Lienau wanted to take a recess un-
til 3 o. clock but the Republicans under Sem
ator John Day Smith, wanted to adjourn un-
til Tuesday. Senator Donnelly urged the