St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-09
Smiths Tfrade.

SEhahE's kIraQes
The reading completed, Senator joan Day
smith TOOK the floor, and delivered a TRADE
against the measure that would have almost
persuaded an outsider that il was not The
man who voted for the outrageous amended
police commission Dill two short years ago
That was speaking. According to him, the
Charter was nothing but a political docu-
ment. but his reasons for this course were
apparent TO sustain the governors veto; IL
local bill was to be demonstrated n partisan
scheme, and to this end Mr.. Smith turned all
his powers.
After call of the senate had been gone
through with Senator March took the floor,
and IN Il calm and dignitied manner defend
Ell the report OF the Hennepin delegation,
reading opinion after opinion from the law
reports 10 sustain his position. AS part of
this speech he had the clerk read an opinion
from the attorney general to the effect that
the new charter i'll no wise affected the
patrol limits.
Marefi's Reply. Z
THE question before the senate is of para
mount importance TO every member upon
this floor, said Senator March. .rhe veto
OF the charter of the city of Minneapulis.
passed by recemnle ndalion of six-sevenths of
the Hennepip county delegation and prac-
tcaily unanimons vote ofDboth houses, is
vetoed by the governor for no substantial
reason, and the blow fell like a thunderbols
upon he delegation. The genators upon this
floor representing Minneapolis have not tired
~ 4lAuuGHCc tlIe ACTION OI any man OF LtllS
body, except by stating the case and appeal
ing to the reason and Judgment of its inem-
bers. The main reason given TO the governor
for the rendering of the veto was that tits not
provided tn submit the measure to II vote of
The people. such proposition covering
bill providing for all the legislation of a great
city. could not constituuonaily be so con-
sidered.
The senator here read n number of autho-
rites III proof his statement, touching on
buLh the grounds OF the proposition being
in violation of the constitution and DIS a
matter of expediency. The authorities
quoted clearly stated that the legislation
could not delegate such question to the
people 10 be decided by popular vote. The
senator also demonstrated that the main
objection of the protesting citizens of Mn
neapoils were based upon supposed repeal
of the patrol limits, but the opinion of the
attorney general effectually disposed of that
objection. The main question. then, for the
senate to decide, he said, was whether the
malOrity OF the citizen CT city cculdsthrough
partlsam committee in private conference
with the governors influence that official to-
use the vote power TO over ride The acts Of
the large majority. Senator March then
mace noble appeal to the senate to protect
It's own dignity aud not establish precedent
that would in years 10 come establish rules
of law and custom.
a recess was taken until 3 o'clock at this
time.
A SquaIIy Afternoon.
Inc AFTERNOON session opened with every
appearance OF squall in the senate. Re
publicaD politicians OF all shades and classes
were busIly engaged i'll whipping their rep
resentatiYes into line to support the govern
or's veto of the Minneapolis charter. The
senate chamber ha0 hardly become quieted
when Senator John Day Smith was on his
feet asking for recognition. The kinneapo-
lis charter. or rather the governors veto, was
his topic. and for some time he declaimed
against that document.
For the OpiuiOD of the attorney oennral N
the effect that the charter did not interfere
with the patrol limits, cut no figure what
ever with Mr.. Smith, at least he preferred 10
take Judge A. Ii. Young for his authority
Into the merits of the new charter the speak
er did not enter at all, conhning himself
rather to controyerting the long line of de-
cisions read by Senator March in the fore
noon session, claiming that there could be-
no objection to allowing the charter TO be
submitted to the people.
The Stat Democracy.
Senator Mayo, of Olmsted, spoke for tho
outside senators. and made strong appeal
for the passage of the bill over the veto. He
said:
The question now before US is not that of
the Minneapolis charter. 1t has passed be-
yond local question. and become state
question. We care no more about the char
ter and do not wish to discuss il. | am sur
prised to hear Senator Smith reiterate the old
arguments ahCut patrol limits, discuss pro-
hibiCng; all these have been discussed for
days and we know all about them. The
question is. has the governor a right of veto
on this bill? He gives nc reasons only his
opinion This single opinion is no better
than any other mans opinions unless il Is
supported by law and reason. This veto had
neither law or reason. As the matter now
stands before US, the people of Hennepiu
county sent 10 this legislature twentv-one
representatives. OF this number nineteen Of
these supported lhe bill. The charter passed
both houses almost unanimously. AS the
bill was strictly locs it was expected there
would be no trouble about qeto. But 10! q
large delegation of Republicans came before
the governor. and by single .senalor from
Hennepin ana al their request gave a veto
This veto violates the rights OF the people
TO local government. This is question Tor
the whole state to udge of. Shall we have
a local governmenttthat shall LOOK after it's
own local rights? Shall we have q Iegis.
lature 10 legislate for the whole people or
shall the governor from MS own free politi-
cal bias stand above the people and above
their legislature and become an autocrat and
stand above the czar of Russia? There ara
several more charter bills before the legis-
lature based upon the same principles as the
charter. TAsre is ST. Paul Man
katO Rochester and others. II the governor
vetoed this bill because it had not been be-
lore the people to be voted upon. then he
must veto all these bills for the same reasons
If he does not, then it viii show that he
vetoed the Minneapolis charter for personal
reasons of his own. This is vicious veto.
1t is wrong in justice and in principle. Ii is
worse than a mistake.
Fails 10 Pass.
This ended the talking and the clerk was
ordered TO call the roll. The senators voted
, IN f1.a-r fhn D<rR