St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-18
Republicans Trembling at the
Idea Of Legislative Inves-
tigation.
The Board Of Corrections and
Charities an Incubus That
Needs Attention.

CuoSliS VIC JUHI LAY OuIlIiI plOOOoe
| and the action of Lieut.. Gov. Ives in re-
| fuSing to allow a motion striking out
| the offensive matter to be considered.
"Certainly," continued this senator,
| ''the Republicans had right to enter a
| protest, but they had no right to abuse
| the privilege as they did, and we had
| the right to strike oul the offensive por-
| ions. The Republican papers of the
| two cities will find that they have been
| a trife fast in declaring that the Demo-
| cratic and Alliance senators are unable
| to agree upon counter protest, as they
will learn early next week"
As matter Of fact, there is no dis
agreement among the majority in the
state senate on the protest Introduced
by Senator John Day Smith, Of Henne
pin. They are a unit in denOuncing
the ruling of the president of the SELL
ate, and the only point OH which they
differ is as to the wording of the coun
ter protest. Some favor very radical
and sweeping document, while others
incline towards moderate and digmfied
one. such as the constitution of the state
would warrant. OF course, under Pres
ident Ives remarkable ruling, the ma
iority party, if it chose, or if any two
tered on the senate journal any kind of
document they pleased. 1t could be
filled with personal ISLANDERS and abuse.
and even three-fOurthS of the senate
would be poWerleSS to. refuse it adj
mission.
Such result would be the legitimate
outcome of the presidents own ruling
on the John Day Smith protest.
But the senators of tue Democratic
and Alliance parties do not propose to
place themselves OH the same level with
the Minneapolis senator and his few
allies Oil the Republican side. Their
protest, when it appears, will be a
manly, honorable and dignified docu-
ment, showing eoncluSively the error of
the lieutenant governor, and the falslty
and righteousness of John Day Smiths
attack.
The Republican organs Of the Twin
Cities that have devoted so much space
during the last three days to gloating
over the failure of the Democratic and
Alliance senators to Introduce their
protest will early next week have occa-
sion to devote a like amount of space to
denouncing the contents Of document
now being prepared by several of the
most prominent and able gentlemen in
the senate.
The contested election case of O'Brien
VS.. Searles. from Washington county,
will be taken mp tomorrow by, the eiec
tons committee of the senate and at
once pushed to conclusion. There is
hardly any doubt of the unSeating of
Mr.. SeaHes, as his opponent, Hon. j.
S. O'Brien, has clear majority on the
face of the returns. The answer made
by the Republicans to this is as absurd
as it is dishonest. They say that the
returns were altered after the election,
which is the next thing to an impoSsi-
bility, as they were deposited in the
vaults at the court house in Saltwater
immediately after the election and long
before Mr.. O'Bren mad decided to ask
for a recount. In fact the latter did not
make up his mind to ask for recount
until gross errors had been discovered
in the footings on other officers in the
different towns of the county. When
the recount was had, showing him some
fifty votes ahead, of course he COM
menced the contest.
''All ask in this matter is what is
right" said Mr.. O'Bren, iii discussing
the matter with several friends at the
Merchants yesterday. If the senators
decide that | received the greater num-
Der of the votes cast. of course | expect
them to say so and give me the seat. l
brought this contest when it looked as
though the Republicans were going to
control the senate, and have never con-
sidered it in a partisan light, and do
not see why it should be so considered.
Surely there can be no objection hon
estly urged against giving the seat TO
the man receiving the most votes. lex
pect to win because believe shall be
able to prove that | was voted for by
more men than my opponent"
The Republican bosses of this state
are greatly alarmed at the action of the
house and senate i'll appointing commit
tees to investigate the great increase in
the taxes levied for the support of the
state government in the last five years,
and also for an investigation of the Still
water prison. These committees, if
their work is done thoroughly and
honestly, may produce revulsion
throughout the state that will render
Republican success impossible for some
time to come. But these are not the
only committees that the bosses will |
have to watch. There are two more yet
to be appointed whose investigations
may make trouble. They are:
FirSt-A committee to investigate the |
transactions of the department presided over !
by the dairy commissioner, incidentally max
ing inquiry as to its expenditures during the |
past two years.
Second-A committee to investigate the |
manner in which the state board of eorrec-
ton and charities fondles and caresses the |
unfortunate of the state.
These four committees, if they are |
made up of fearless. honest and active |
men, can give to the people of the state
bundle of facts that will produce such |
a feeling of indignation that hundred
or more useless and expensive officers
will be swept away, ami the state saved
vast amount annually. From small
beginnings the state board of eorrec-
tons and charities has developed into
giant octopus. Its members take
trips across the continent to at
tend sentimental and useless conven-
ton, while the state pays whatever
they may choose TO charge in the way
of expenses. a year or two since such
convention was held in San francisco,
and two or more of the board journeyed
in palace cars over one route and re-
turned by another, the state paying the
bills, which are audited in the following
peculiar manner: $3.50 te 4
Suppose A and B are both members
of the board of correction and chart
ties. A goes to San Francisco on a
junket, and on his return makes out a
statement of his expenses. He hands
this TO B, who so K's' it, and it is paid.
E next decides on pleasure trip, on
his return making out another expense
account, which is kindly marked cor
rect' by A.
An Investigation into the affairs and
management of the state board of cor
rection and charities is urgently de-
manded in the interests ola good and
economical administration of the state
government.
After abusing almost every prominent
man in the Minnesota Farmers Alliance
for year at least, doc" Fish has
finally decided to throw over the man