St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-04
MINUS TWO STINGS.
The Mayo Railroad Resolution
Easily Passed by the
Senate.
Amendments Tackled Upon 1t
Which Tone 1t Down
Some.
The Usual Rush Of Bills Con-
tain Some Quite Imp0r-
tant Ones.
President Lowry Tells Street
Car Secrets to a Com
mittee.

do, and considerable at that. if they ac-
complish what the senate requested of
them yesterday. The Mayo resolutions
were made special order for II O'Clock
yesterday, and from that time on until
nearly $50 o'clock in the afternoon
there was perpetual flow of eloquence.
reasoning, ETC., that would have done
credit to a minority in either house of
the national congress if obstruction and
filibustering had been the object.
But the resolutions passed in spite OF
all opposition, and if the railroad COM
miSSiUners make the investigation di-
rected. great good cannot fail to come
out of this action. Several amendments
were made, the principal one changing
the work of investigation to the railroad
commissioners instead of the judiciary
committee. This change was agreed to,
for the simple reason that the judiciary
committee will not have the time to do
the work outlined by the venerable
Rochester physician.
Several good speeches were made III
the course of this fight, and at times the
situation became decidedly interesting.
Senator Donnelly roasted the RepuD-
lcan party for its sacrifice of the peo-
pies interests in the last few years and
its subServiency to corporation lnfiu-
ences, warning the Republican senators
that if their party hoped to get back
the confidence of the people the leaders
must heed the lessons of the late elec-
ton. Senators Tawney, Crandall, Ste
vens and:Dean replied, trying TO defend
the party, but after several pointed pas
sageS with the witty and versatile Sage,
they yielded and allowed the resolutions
to go through.
Routine Work.
The senate commenced its daily work
in the stereotyped style, with prayer by
the chaplain and roll call. and in ten
minutes bills of all kinds and natures
were flowing iuto the hopperin steady
stream. The most important of these
was introduced by Senator La Due, fix
ing the age Of consent at sixteen years.
In committee meeting, held later in
the day, it was agreed to report the bill
favorably with the age reduced to four
teen years. AT present it is ten years.
, The bills brought III follow:
BY j. d. Smith. Senate File No. 167-Fur-
nishing Minnesota Reports TO district, mu-
nicipal and probate judges.
By Mr.. Hompe, Senate File No. 16S-Ap-
propriating S3, 900 for repairs to the capitol.
By Mr.L La Due, Senate File No.169-Amend-
ing the Penal Code, making the age of con-
sent sixteen years. judiciary.
By Mr.. McHale, Senate File No. 170-De-
ining crime of rape in penal code. Judi
ciary.
By Mr.. McHale, Senate File No. III
Amending penal code Judiciary; -,
By Mr.. McHale, Senate File No. 172-On
same subject Judiciary.
By Mr. Brown. Senate File No.173-Amend
ing penal code on slander. Judiciary
By Mr.. Lienau, Senate File No. 14-Re-
pealing chapter 36, of special laws OF 1880,
finn low Ornfp piccin in Dan Snn-
cial legislation.
BY Mr.. stockton, Senate File No 175-Re-
pealing law requiring publication of tax
sales. judiciary.
Senator Donnelly here sent up com
munication from the Lake City ALI
ance, petltioning the senate and house
to use all possible means to induce the
congressman from Minnesota to vote
for the free coinage bill. After de-
nouncing the present high salaries of
county officers. the petitioners demand
that the Feig bill reducing the salaries
of county officials. The reading of this
petition was followed by a short address
by Senator John Day Smith, who gave
notice that hereafter he would object
to having the private correspondence Of
a senator read in the senate chamber.
This was followed by reports from
numerous committees, the reading of
house bills, and SO OH down to the SEN
ate calendar. Senator John Day Smiths
bill, laid over Monday, making election
day, Memorial day and WashingtOn's
birthday legal holidays, was passed.
The senate then went into committee
of the whole, Senator Davis in the
chair. Senator Hompe'S bill relating to
the foreclosure OF chattel mortgages,
Davis bill amending the probate code
and Sanborn's bar admission measure
were considered and recommended to
pass.
The Railroad Rooster.
The hour of II o'clock having arrived,
the special order, the Mayo resolution
providing for obtaining information rel
ative to the management of railroads
with view of legislation for the better
regulation OF the same, was taken up.
AS finally passed, these resolutions are:
Whereas, 1t is thought that railway COM
panies are public corporations. the roads
being commou highways. and the rolling
stock, depots warehouses, stations and other
property under their control such as the en-
tire community is vitality interested in the
management of, and i'll all of which the peo
pie have vested rights by virtue OF grants of
grants of land, bonuses of money and endow
ments of franchises and privileges conferred
upon the companies by the state. counties,
towns and villages III aid of these enter
prses,
And, Whereas 1t is charged that the fran
chses are, in several respects and to sig |
nificent degree inalienable from and such as
can only be exercised by the sovereign state
itself, or by those whom it may constitute its |
agents or representatives TO act conform |
ably with its instructions. And,
Whereas, 1t is stated that the state is re-
sponsibIe for the conduct of its agents and |
representatives, it becomes the imperative |
duty of its governmental authorities 10 super
intend the conduct of these and, when nee
essary, to employ the power of the state to |
constrain their discharge of the duties per
tanning to the positions they respectively oc- |
cupy conformably with the laws enacted for |
their government, and in the manner most |
conducive to the public good; not neglect |
ing, however to observe proper regard for |
the personal rights ana interests OF such |
agents and representatives, and other per- |
sons interested with them In the ownership |
of property, and to refrain from infringe |
ments upon equities properly pertaining TO |
them in their private, individual or associate |
capacities, and lawfully beyond the control |
and Jurisdiction of the state; and
Whereas, The railroad companies have |
also rights of ownership in the property |
which they control and of equity in the |
franchises and privileges they exercise of |
which the state may not lawfully dispossess |
them, or upon their use and enjoyment of |
which it may not rightfully trespass; yet, in |
asmuch as there is a belief prevailing among |
the people that they are now assuming |
greater share of ownership in the roads aud |
are exercising the franchises and privileges |
of sovereignty TO degree beyond what their |
charters justly entitle them to, and that the |
state is consequently suffering wrong at their |
hands, and the interests OF her citizens are |
being sacrificed through these usurpations of |
unwarranted power the exercise OF which |
by the companies is inconsistent With the |