St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-29
SIZING THE SOLONS.

Yesterday, for the first time during the ses-
sion, visited both houses of the legislature
Having seen the first territorial legislature
which was convened, under proclamation
issued by Gov. Ramsey, in the old Central
house, which occupied the ground now COW
cred by the rear part Of the Mannheimcr
block, i was anxious to compare it with the
body of lawmakers now in session OF course
l Observed wide difference, not only in the
numbers, but also in the general appearance
of the members.
The first legislature contained % members,
Q in the upper house and IS in the lower.
Some of these men came here by boats. some
by Red River carts, some by dog trains,
while few came on foot. Each one repre-
scented may acres, but few constituents yet
they were earnest. hard working men, and
represented the very cream of society as it
then existed. David Omsted was president
of the council and Joseph ". Furper was
speaker of the house. The honor belongs TO
him OF having been speaker of the first and
of the last territorial legislatures believe
that d. B. LOOMS, of saltwater, is the only
surviving member of the first council.
OF the first house, NJ. S. Wilkinson, Syl-
vanus Trask, Mahlon Black, b. w Brunson
Dr.. j. j. Dewey and W. r. Marshall are still
in the land of the living. w. P. Murray came
to the front in the lower branch of the third
legislature, reelected to the fourth to the
council of the fifth ana sixth, of which last
he was the presiding officer. He declined
reelection for the seventh. but put in his
appearance in the lower house.
In looking over the present legislature one
is. impressed with the thought that body of
gether in any state. Generally, in looking
over SO many faces. we are apt to find the
features OF the monkey, indicating weak
brain power, but no such faces were visible
yesterday. There is not a face in either
house that does not beam with intelligence,
and there is an individuality about each
member which convinces the onlooker that
ne is abundantiy able TO do his own think
| ing. and TO vote according to his own coll
| vIctions. The fact is apparent that both
| houses are made up of intelligent members.
| The three parties look alike, and neither one
| can lay claim to superiority ovor the other
either i'll ability or IN general appearance.
| The horny handed granger cannot be recog
| nized as such by his gare or by his manners
| He seems to be as polite. as we'll dressed and
| ,as much at ease as the gentleman from the
| city. The members of both houses seem to
| be attentive to the business before them and
| this is a striking contrast with the national
| house of representatives, where every mem
! Der seems bent on private business, to the
neglect of public business which he is paid
! to look after.
| Some one has said that the last legislature
! was the most corrupt one that ever assembled
| in the state. I am not prepared to dispute it,
! for know nothing about the facts. The
! present Legislature is one that bears the marks
/ of honesty and integrity. Many may have
| views of their own which may seem ultra and
! unWise, yet I believe each one is honest in
! is convictions. and that the wish of every
member is to advance the best interests of
! the people of the safe There are quite a
! number of able men i'll both branches, and it
| is safe to say that the average is far beyond
any legislature that has ever assembled IN
| Minnesota II. W. JOHNSON.