St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-22
Else There Will Be a Slaugh-
ter of the InnOcents at the
End Of the Session.
The Reyes Secret Committee
Expected to Make Sensa-
tional Disclosures.
Odds and Ends Gathered for
the Dedication OF the
Reading Public.


ter of the bills introduced, the house
will have to stick closer to business than
has characterized its proceedings the
past thirty-three days. Up to the pres
ent hardly a score of bills have passed
this end of the legislature, and those
largely local measures. There are
some very important bills on general
orders and in the hands of the commit
tees, and unless immediate action be
taken there will be great slaughter of
the innocents towards the end Of the
session. There has been shown on the
part of many representatives DISPOSE
ton to shrk definite action upon i'm
portant bills. These come up for dis
cuSSI0n, when member will lengthily
address the house upon its mOmentouS
Importance, etc, etc. and, without tack
ling its provisions, suggesting any
amendments or recommending its pro-
visions, Sagely propose that action be
deferred. And thus from day to day
Welghty measures are deferred. 1t is
not difficult to see what the result will
be. The general orders of the house
will become choked with business, and
to reduce it many bills will be passed
over without proper discussion or prun-
ing of their Objectionable features, or
so framed as to adequately secure the
end aimed at in placing such laws upon
the statute books. representatives
could we'll cease their economic sguab-
bles, and donate their full time to the
duties the people elected them to per-
form.
The KeyeS special committee appoint
ed to investigate the state prison will
report to the house this week. Mem
bers darkly hint at sensational develop
mentS, but it is doubtful whether the
people will place much weight upon
the conclusions of the committee. Its
meetings have been executive, and that
of itself is sufficient to destroy the value
Of the investigation. If an investiga-
ton INTO public institution cannot be
conducted with open doors, it should
never be held. An investigation or
dered by the senate has been open to
thes public, and any recommendation
the committee makes is certain to bear
print. The public rightly ignores the
conclusions of secret body.
A most obliging set of men are the
members Of the house railroad commit
tee. 1t is surprising to see how quietly
they will give up evening after evening
to railroad officials. so that they might
fully explain their objections to the
anti-railroad bills before the legislature.
There is one bill-the Currier bill
which has been in the hands of the
committee nearly month, and yetnoth-
ing definitely has been decided regard
ing it, the railroaders not having ex-
hausted their objections. But the
Of I,A
be imposed upon. For instance, the
eravely asked to defer action until a
representative of the Pullman Car COM
pany could appear in opposition to this
Currier bill. when would he come?''
was asked. and the reply came, "Proba-
bly, a week" Just fancy one OF the
most important committees of the house
asked to wait week in the interests of
one man before deciding upon the fate
of a certain bill No fault could he
found with the proposition if there
were only one man who could represent
the Pullman Car company, OF if the
company could only afford the services of
one man, but such is not the case. The
committee properly ignored the request.
Henry Georges pet theories are at
discount SO far as the representatives of
this state are concerned. The bill sub
hitting the single tax amendment to
the people was quickly squelched
Under the provisions of this bill, if the
amendment to the constitution was
adopted, any county, city, town and
village could by majority vote tax all
land values and take off all lmpositions
from personal property and improve
ments. 1t was, therefore, merely the
thin end of the wedge of the single tax;
but even that would not be swallowed
by the representatives. The opposition,
however, was not SO much against the
single tax, but was based upon the idea
that the people in the rural districts did
not properly understand the question.
There was a visible smile all over the
house when Representative Stockwell
said if the bill were passed he would take
his grip and educate the farmers on the
good points of the single tax.
4
The only bill which has created a
fight in the house is that relating to the
incorporation of West Duluth-a purely
local measure. The supporters and OPP
ponents of the bill are lobbying hard.
and every stage of its passage is to be
vigorously contested. Is it not absurd
that the time of the legislature should
be wasted upon purely local question,
as to whether West Duluth should be
incorporated or not? Why not let the
people affected decide the matter TOR
themselves? Surely they know how to
decide upon the merits of the bill better
than residents of Southern Minnesota.
Representative Tucker, OF Cotton
wood county. is the grand old man of
the house. He does not very often
speak, but when he does he commands
instant attention. Notwithstanding his
advanced age, he can hold his own in
debate with any other man.
One of the ablest men in the house is
Representative Greer, of Wabasha.
Though Republican, he is popular
among all the members, and has so far
sions. His mind is not warped by any
partisanship; he discusses all bills upon
their merits, whether the source from
which they emanate is Democrat, AL
lance OF Republican.
Never before has the legislature of
Minnesota, within week, been called
upon to mourn the death of so many
public men. The deaths of Window,
Porter, Sherman and Sibley followed in
terrible tragic succession, so much SO
that many of the legislators have been
almost uninterruptedly occupied in
drawing up sympathetic resolutions.
What would some legislators do if
they could not raise the cry of economy?
Many would surely never be heard of,
for it is singular fact that the men who
blare economy are those who never dis
tinguish themselves in the least degree
in performing the proper functions of
legislator.
Congressman Hairless Affection.
1 tl,aH olnn