Morris tribune., 1891-02-11
STATE LEGISLATION.
RECORD OF WORK DONE BY MIN
NESOTA SOLONS.

NESOTA SOLONS.
A,Comprehensive. A, Summary Of the Pro
ceedings for the Week Giving a List O
Important Bills Introduced, Referred
and Passed.
Tuesday, Feb. 3.
In the senate after some bills o1
local Importance had been introduced
La Due handed up bill raising the age
of consent from 10 to Is years, and Sen
ator McHale introduced three bills
amending sections of the penal code re
lating to rape, indecent assault and sc
on. From Senator Brown came bill
amending the law regarding slander.
Another scrap arose over the report
recommending indefinite postponement
of the bill exempting mortgages from
taxation. 1t was finally decided to lei
the bill go to the committee of the whole.
The only bill on the calendar was Sen
ator Smiths, making election day legal
holiday. 1t was passed without opposi-
tion. At 10:45 the senate went into
committee of the whole.
The consideration of general orders
proceeded with Senator Davis in the
chair. Senator Hompe's bill relating to
foreclosures of chattel mortgages, and
Senator Davis bill amending sections
81 and 80 of the Probate Code, were ia
vorably considered. When the commit
tee arose the railroad resolution was
taken up, Several minor amend
ments were adopted and then
the resolution was passed with
out dissent. In the resolution
provision is made for searching exam
ination into the affairs of the railroads
of the state, and the committee in charge
is directed, out of the wisdom gained
from this investigation, to draft law
remedying all known evils, and which
shall be just to all parties concerned.
House: Petition from the senate for
representation in the prison investiga-
ton committee referred to the commit
tee.
R. L. Penny sent up a measure aimed
at chattel mortgage men. In brief it
provides that after its passage all chattel
mortgages are invalid, unless the mort
gagor files schedule of all moneys ad-
vanced by the mortgage at the time of
advancement.
Introduction of bills concluded, the
house went into committee of the whole
on general orders. Mr.. Bjorge took the
chair. Progress was reported on several
bills. In the afternoon the Durant-
Daily contest was taken up and testimony
heard on both sides, but without action
in the mater the house adjourned.
Wednesday, Feb. 4.
The usual tilt occurred in the senate
during the morning hour, and as usual
John Day Smith and Ignatius Donnelly
4I,0 IL
of Mr.. Donnelly on Tuesday regarding
what Donnelly pleased to call the water
ing of the stock of the 500 road, and
which Mr.. Smith characterized as an
insult to Senator Washburn and to the
members of the legislature which elected
him.
Among the bills sent to the speakers
desk was one from Senator Mcmillan.
1t makes radical provisions for prevent
ing corruption in elections. The meas
ure first limits candidates to the follow
ing expenditures during campaigns:
All state officers, including United
States senators and congressman, 81 900;
all county officers, $500; town and city
off esig, $3.50, except lille of over 15,-
600 einha abitants, where the Office of the
mayor shall be limited to $500. The
bill went to the committee ON judiciary.
Senator Keller introduced bill appro-
priating SAL 900 ror the expenses of the
st. Cloud reformatory from Jan. l to
July 81 of this year.
In committee of the whole Senator
March's resolution for a committee to
inquire into the condition of waterways
of the state was passed.
Some discussion was indulged in over
the measure to provide for state board
of immigration and it was referred to
the committee on finance.
House: Mr.. Bjorge reported the bill
to provide for the furnishing of seed
grain to counties afflicted by frost,
blight or hail during the year 1890. The
report contained an amendment relating
to the manner of distributing the seed
grain and prohibits the county commits
sioners from receiving any remunera-
ton in handling seed grain. The bill
was ordered printed as amended.
The Daly-Durant case, which was
unfinished business from Tuesday, was
then taken up. The arguments of coun-
sci for the contesting representatives
occupied all the forenoon and portion
of the afternoon, the balance of the
time being used in argument by the
members. When the vote was taken
Mr.. DAILY had Sc votes to 80 for Mr..
Durant. Two Democrats-Darelius
and Dearing-voted for DAILY as did
also ten Alliance men.
Thursday, Feb. 5.
The crop of petitions presented in the
senate was large. They came from all
parts of the state and related principally
to raising the age of consent.
h 4 +haf1
usual tilt and then the senate went into
Hompe in the chair. senator Sanborn's
bar examination board bill was recon-
mended to pass by vote of l6 to Is.
Senator Marchs bill comforting addi-
tional powers on trust companies was
favorably considered, as also was Sem
ator Leavitt's, fixing fees for bank ex-
iting prize fighting and fixing penalties.
A very long and tiresome discussion
arose over Senator Leavitt's bill provid-
ing for the submission to the people of
constitutional amendment directing the
establishment Of an income tax. 1t
was finally recommended for passage.
At the afternoon session some minor
measures were acted upon favorably,
and the senate adjourned till 10 o'clock
Saturday morning.
In the house the first business was
the report of Bank Examiner Kenyon
upon the condition of Minnesota savings
banks. Four had been established In
the state during the year, one at Duluth
and three at st. Paul The communica-
tion went to the banking committee,
Several reports from the Judiciary
committee were received and some un-
important bills were passed.
A committee was authorized whose
duty it shal be to confer with similar
committees from other Western states
in regard to uniform rate of interest.
The committee will consist of three
from the house and two from the senate.
A large number of bills were intro
duced, among them being the following;
To prevent fraud upon boarding house
keepers, and making the jumping OF a
board bill an indictable ofense;- pfoyid-
ing for free text books; requiring rail-
roads to use semaphores at all dangerous
crossing approaches.
In the afternoon the introduction OF
bills was proceeded with and the first
bill proved the most important measure
of the day, 1t was introduced by Mr..
a