St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-08
TURNING ON The LIGHT
Veil Of Secrecy to be Raised
From the Washburn Sem
atorial Investigation.
500 Road to be Overhauled
AS to Alleged Issuance Of
Bogus Stock.
Proposed Law to Purge Elec-
tiOnS Of Intimidation and
Corruption.
Representative HemStead'S
Novel Bill to Prevent
Blindness.

The evidence taken by the investiga-
tlOn committee of the legislature two
years ago is at last to be published.
Immediately after the opening exercises
OF the senate yesterday morning, Sen
ator John Day Smith called up the reso-
luton offered by Senator Donnelly on
Thursday, which at that time went
over OH notice of debate by the Hen
nepin senator. Mr.. Smith wanted the
evidence published for the sake of end
ing the chickering's thai had come to be
regular part of the programme in the
senate. Mr.. Donnslly agreed with him.
and the resolution was taken up. 1t
runs as follows:
whereas, The state Of Minnesota. in the
year 1889, paid for the taking of certain testi-
mony by committees of the house and sem
ate, in relation TO the use of money in con-
nection with the election of a United States
senator from this state: and, whereas the
said testimony was never publicly read in
either branch or printed by order OF the
Rouse or senate; and, whereas, the original
reports of said testimony are the property of
the state of Minnesota; therefore,
Resolved, That the secretary of the senate
is hereby directed TO procure and hold. SUBJ
ject TO the order of the senate the original
reports Of said testimony; and should the
present holders of such reports refuse to de-
liy r the same up he shall report the facts to
the senate for such action as the senate may
see lit to take
On rising to speak on the resolution,
Senator Smith announced that he had
received telegram from Senator Wash
burn, which he proceeded to read as fol-
lows:
WASHINGTON, Feb. g. 1S0l.-Hon. John Day
Smith, Minneapolis, Mimi: All statements
that | used money or any corrupt means
whatever to secure my election to the senate
are unquslifedly and basely false. / hope
you will insist on immediate publication of
testimony taken by the investigation commit
tee. Answer w. ID. WAsHBURN.
"Now, all [ desire to say" said Sena
tor Smith, "is that the senator from Da-
kota has said that Senator Washburn
purchased his election. There is no
need of pickering; let us go to the root
of the matter, ana L hope that all
friends of Gen. Washburn ON this floor
will vote to adopt this resolution. Give
the people all the information there is,
and let them judge of the matter"
Senator D0nnelly took the floor, and
in the blandeSt possible manner compli-
mented Senator Smith for his stand in
favor of the resolution. He had no de-
sire to persecute any one, This evi-
dence belonged to the people, and it
ought to be printed. so that they could
see what the committee had done. The
corrupt character of that legislature
was we'll known all over the country.
After a short discussion the resolution
was adopted, Senators Craig and Phillips
voting no on the ground that it was
threshing over old straw and Wo1ld re-
suit in eXDenSe to the state
Too Much Talk.
Senator Hompe does not believe In
long -winded speeches, and after the
passage of the Donnelly resolution sent
up resolution limiting the time of de-
bate to five minutes, except in case of
the mover of q resolution, when ten
minutes are to be allowed. This reso-
luton called for the strict enforcement
of rule 16, which prohibits senators
speaking more than twice ON the same
question. Upon notice Of debate by
Senator John Day Smith the resolution
went over.
Whose Authority
Senator Crandall introduced a resolu-
tion inquiring the reasons for the action
of the prison managers in spending $685.
600 upon twine plant. 1t was init
mated that large additional sum was
to be expended, and he desired to
know the reasons for such an eXpend-
iture of the peoples money.
Senator Donnelly at once opposed the
adoption of the resolution. The far
mers wanted the manufacture of bind
ing twine established at the prison, and
two years ago S75, 900 had been voted for
that purpose, and if the laws did not
show that to be the case it was only
another instance of the fact that some
bills had been materially changed be-
tween the legislature and the executive.
If the twine could be manufactured at
Saltwater the farmers would be greatly
benefited.
Senator Crandall replied. critieising
the statement of the Sage to the effect
that two bills had been prepared after
careful consideration designed to cure
all evils in the twine business. As.one
of the members of the senate he did
not propose to swallow all things a
secret caucus might prepare. He de-
manded light on this subject and no
one could do this to greater advantage
than the prison board.
Senator Craig offered an amendment
to the Crandall resolution, substituting
the senate investigating committee for
the prison board in the resolution. The
previous question was moved by Sem
ator Leavitt, but was lost and the in.
termnlable discussion was resumed,
Senator Keller taking the floor and try
ing to pound more information in the
twine business. He roasted the prison
board and declared that the whole ''out-
fit" should be cleaned out. 1t had never
done anything except make few pals
and they would all leak.
Senator CrandalPs motion was finally
committed to the prison committee by
the decisive vote of % to 19.
The ssSOo,' Road.
The Crandall resolution being dis
posed of to the satisfaction of the sage
he at once gained the floor and called
up the resolution offered by him on
Thursday, calling upon the railroad
commissioners to furnish the senate the
facts in regard to the alleged over issue
of stock by the 800" road. This resO-
luton, which went over under notice of
debate by John Day Smith, is as fol-
lows:
Resolved. The board OF railroad commits
sioners is hereby requested to inform the
senate what amount of stock or other evil
dences of Indebtedness has been Issued or
created by the socalled "Soo'' railroad com
pany since the first day of January, 1887. and
how much money was paid or invested in
the company for said stock, and who re-
ceived the said stock or evidences OF indebt-
edness, and whether the issue of any such
stock was a violation of the laws of the
state, and if so what steps were taken for the
prosecution and punishment Of the parties
so offending.
In giving his reasons for asking for
this Information, Senator Donnelly read
the following letter.
MIssEAPo1s, June 13, 1Sss.-E. 8. Warner.
Secretary Board of Railway Commissioners.
st. Paul. MINI. Dear Sir: The Minneapolis