St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-11
SENATORS AT WORK.
at the Close Of a Lengthy
Session They Decide
Against Junkets.
Minnesota Solons Will Not
Confer With Sister States
on Interest.
Senator McHale's Age Of Con-
sent Bill Causes a Long
Discussion.
The Mcmillan Franchise Meas
ure Gains Several New
Supporters.

The senate was in session from 10
O'clock yesterday until nearly half past
6oclock in the evening, and, as a con-
sequence, did considerable work. Ques-
tions of party politics were not raised,
and at least four straight hours were
Spent in considering and discussing the
measures on general orders. Senator
Donnelly's joint resolution, providing
for conference between the several
states in the Mississippi valley on the
interest question, was first shelved in
committee of the whole and afterwards
by practically the same vote defeated
when brought up for final passage.
Senator McHale's bill, raising the age
of consent from ten to sixteen years,
took up considerable time at the after
noon session, and was re-referred to the
judiciary committee for the purpose OF
allowing certain amendments and sug-
gestions offered by Senators Tawney,
Mayo and Bell to be engrafted upon it.
A large number of ladies were present
from Minneapolis and st. Paul during
the discussion, and did considerable
buttonhOling In the interests OF theNbill.
The objections urged to it in the form
presented were so reasonable that the
second reference was made with little
opposition. The amendments to be
made will graduate the degrees of pun
ishment according to the age Of the fe-
male from nine years up.
A lively discussion took place over
Senator Keller's proposition TO visit the
ref0rmatory at st. Cloud to-day, which
ended diSastrOusly for those senators
who desired to investigate the conflict
between the citizens and the refOrma-
tory over the stone cutting carried on at
that institution. Senators Donnelly,
Peterson, S. d., and others took strong
ground against ''junkets" in general,
and. despite Senator Keller's appeals in
this case, voted not 10 adjourn to Thurs
day morning, as requested or ordered
by motion offered by Senator San
born.
The Routine.
The usual food of petitions were intro
duced after the opening exercises yesterday
morning, among them being protests against
the extension of the patrol limits in Mime
Rpolis, the dressing of stone at the st. Cloud
TeformatOry, and appeals in favor of the
raising of the age of consent. These were
disposed of by reference to the proper com
mitlees. and the introduction of bills com
menced. Those introduced follow:
By Mr.. Peterson, S. D., S. +. No. 236-To
raise the waters of Sleepy Eye lake. Special
By Mr.. Mott, s. F. No. 237-Appropriating
800 to construct a bridge in Lyon county.
Roads and bridges.
care of permanent fund of cemetery associa-
tions
BY MIR. Keller, S. F. No. 239-Appropriatlng
$1,000 to build bridge across Sauk river in
Stearns county.
BY Mr.. Hompe, S. F. No. 24O-Regulating
the sale of railroad tickets and protecting
purchasers Railroads.
BY Mr.. Crandall, S. F.~No. 241-Regulalng
the killing of game.
BY Mr. Guderian, s. F. No. 242-Appropri-
Ating $4,000 to build bridge across Rum
river. Roads and bridges.
The senate then went into committee of
the whole, Senator Stevens in the chair. The
first bill reported was the Mcmillan franchise
bill. Owing to a desire of Mr.. Stevens TO
discuss this measure, Gen. Sanborn was
called to the chair, and after the bill was
read the Ramsey county senator took the
floor and commenced his speech. He had
been called upon by the GLOBE for an eX-
pIanation of his amendment excepting st.
Paul from the operations of the bill, and he
desired to explain why he had offered the
amendment saturday. Cities in the past
have been too lavish in voting away fran
chses. In early days these franchises in St.
Paul were comparatively worthless and had
only been Kept i'll operation by appeals 10
local patriotism. He desired to Withdraw his
amendment excepting st. Paul, and instead
offered two amendments, making the bill
more explicit as to vested rights of corpora
tons now in existence
81 cannot agree with that Journal" he
said, that there can be no possible objection
TO this bill 1t is apparent that this measure
might prevent the very thing 1t is aimed to
secure. A few months ago the CITY of St.
Paul was excited over city railway tranSpOr-
tation, claiming that it was not sufficient.
M
ized by publie-spirited citizens, and had all
these companies entered into competition
the public might not have obtained as good
facilities as they have. Therefore, believing
that the measure is calculated to do great
good, gladly give it my support. l make
this explanation because of the newspaper
editorial have mentioned"
Senator March, of Hennepin, spoke in
favor of the bill, making an effective and
telling appeal in its favor, citing the influ-
ences by which valuable franchises were
usually obtained in large cities, i'll which he
thought there was greater need for some
such legislation than in the cities of less pop
nlation. He was followed by Senator Bell,
of the same county, who cited the sale Of the
street car franchise on st. Charles street,
New Orleans, for ten years for the sum of
$3.50. 900, the company at the end of that time
relinquishing everything save the cars and
horses.
Senator Keller wanted his district the
FoTty-ftth, excepted, and spoke against the
the bill good one. but he asked that Winona
be excepted. Mr.. Donnelly thought it a
stepin the rigth direction and thought no
city should be excepted. The committee
finally decided to postpone action, reporting
progress.
The Interest Question.
Senator Donnelly joint resolution prov1d-
ing for conference Of Mississippi valley,
states on the interest question next came up
and, as amended by the Sage, provides for
only friendly conference with the various
state legislatures on this question In this
form Senator Dean withdrew all objections:
but other senators, seemingly more tor the
sake of stabbing Mr.. Donnelly, took up the
cudgel for the opposition ana finally defeated
the entire resolution. After speeches by sew
eral of the senators, Mr.. Crandall offered q
substitute authorizing the secretary of the
senate to prepare a courteous declination to
the invitations extended by Nebraska and
Missouri on the ground that it would be
unproductive Of good This was carried by
% yeas 20 nays. The committee then
arose ans ri. Donnelly moved to amend by
striking out the substitute. This was lost by
vote of ~ yeas to 70 nays the senators vot-
ing as follows:
Yeas-Senators 3orchert, Brown, Don
nelly, Geissel, Kelly, La Due. Leayitt, Lie
rau, Lommen, McHale March, Mott, Nelson,
O'Brien, Phillips, Seyatson, Stevens, Taw-
ney and Wood-19.
hardt Canest6rp, Crandall, Craven, Davis,
Day. Dean, Eaton, Glader, Grinnell, Crate,
Guderian, Hammer, Hompe, Keller, Kiester
Mcmillan, Morse, j. W. Peterson, S. D. Peter
son, Probstfeld, Sanoorn. E. r. Smith, John
Day Smith and Stoekton-26.
The resolution was then defeated by the
same vote and the senate took q recess until
9o'clock. When Senator Crandall made a
motion to reconsider, to clinch the matter
Ar: Donnelly remarked sarcastically: