St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-06
The House Advances the Gov
, ernor's supplementary"
Grain Bill,
By Placing 1t on the Calendar
for Passage at Today's
Session.
Fir. Barrett's Anti-Grain Mix
ing Bill Is Sidetracked
Temporarily
To Allow a Poor Republican
Bill the Right Of
Way.

The Republican party Of Minnesota
is digging its own grave wide and deep,
as fast as the shovelS can exert the
power they possess. Pretty soon there
will not be enough sympathiZers left to
even place laurel tree at its head and
feet when the mourners have left the
legislative graveyard.
This is not a startling nor eXagger-
ated statement. 1t has often been
voiced on the floor of the house during
the present session, in grammatical and
parliamentary language. 1t has oftener
been stated in hotel rooms and corri-
doris. and on the streets, in words en-
phatic and earnest, but tinged with
blasphemy to an extent which forbids
printing. -.
Action taken in the house yesterday
by partisan majority emphasizes the
truth of all that mas been said, and
shows plainly the spirit actuating the
leaders of the party in power.
The bill to require all elevators to
secure a license from the state was
passed some time ago against the reiter-
ated protest of a large majority OF the
farmer members. Immediately the
steering committee" or the governor,
who is the boss Steerer of all the legiS-
lation enacted, decided the bill would
have to be supplemented" and it has
been.
When the Winston. election bill was
up for passage the general feeling was
that it bore so good countenance de-
feat would be impossible, so far as the
whole bill was concerned. But it could
be emaSculated in one of its very best
features, and it was. Several stout
hearted. far-seeing Republicans pro-
tested, but they were summarily snub-
bed. If there is one belief firmly
grounded in the minds of the people at
this time concerning the Australian
ballot law, it is this: That the inherent
design and merit of the sys-
privacy and simplicity. The pres
ent style of ballot absolutely defeats
the main point outside of privacy iii
preparing the ballot. Yet, when Re-
publican with the courage of his con-
victions, Mr.. Boggs, proposed to embody
III the bill a ballot which would allow
the humblest citizen to vote quickly and
intelllgently; and despite convincing
and powerful speech in favor Of such
greatly needed reform by another Re-
publican, Mr.. Schofield, the present
abortive ballot was retained to plague
the perplexed voter. And it was re-
tanned solely by Republican votes, a
fact the people will no doubt recall at
the proper time.
Changed Under Pressure.
Yesterday the most fragrant instance
of unreaSoning partisanship occurred.
Two bills were OH general orders to be
considered together, one introduced by
Mr.. Barrett. a Democrat, the other by
Mr.. jacobson, main shouter on the
Republican side. On all sides, where
unprejudiced comment or criticism was
heard, the Barrett bill was pronounced
far and away the best. Mr.. Cotton. while
opposed to both, boldly voiced this
general belief on the floor. But
party dictum rode in the ascendant, and
by changing of votes at the crucial
moment the jacobson bill was recon-
mended to pass. This happened just
before adjournment last evening. a
few Republicans voted for motion to
substitute the Barrett bill and favorably
recommend it. The motion prevailed
on the roll call, but before the vote was
announced two or three of the tempo
rary ''bolters" were argued with to such
good purpose that they changed their
votes and saved the jacobson bill. Mr..
Barrett'S measure holds the place of the
other on general orders. however, and it
is just possible it may yet be sent in to
the senate for choice between the two.
The whole day was put in on general
orders, but action was secured on only
half a dozen bills, and two of these were
indefinitely postponed.