St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-24
cheap BIG TALK"
Much Time Given to One Bill in
the Free-for- All.

Much Time Given to One Bill in
the Free-for-All.
When the house went into committee
of the whole, with Mr.. Fletcher. of
Hennepn, in the chair, the first
bill taken up in committee of the
whole was Mr.. UNDERTAKES measure,
relating to the management of public
highways and bridges, and providing
for the appointment of superintendent
of roads, constructed by townships. Mr..
Staples thought the house should defer
action OH the bill until the proposed bill
from the good roads convention is sub
mitted. Mr.. Underleak pointed out that
the township elections took place in
March and the good roads convention
bill might not be introduced for some
time, and in all probability would not
be passed in time to do any good during
the ensuing year.
Mr. Richardson thought the object Of
the bill was to do away with poll tax.
and opposed it on that ground. There
were many people who would not pay
poll tax and they were at present COM
PEELED to do work on the roads. The
bill would do away with this work also.
Mr. Abbott said the bill was not popu-
lar among the farmers. The villagers
could vote almost any proposition they
desired, and the bill might be popular in
the villages, DuC the farmers did not
want to be robbed of the right to 20 out
on the roads and work out their taxes
and be compelled to pay road tax in
money. He thought the bill was in the
interest of the machine men and the
bicycle men, and not in the interest of
the farmers.
Mr.. jacobson said it was a mistaken
idea to say the house should not legis-
late on the matter of better roads. There
is demand among the farmers of the
state for wise road legislation, and he
thought it would be better to thoroughly
discuss this bill and amend it so that 1t
would suit the views of all interested.
MIR. Greer thought it was absolutely
necessary that this legislature pass some
useful road law this Winter. He thought
the bill under discussion was a simple
measure and In no way radical, and one
that does not place any burdens Oh the
farmer.
A long and rather dreary discussion
followed, in which numerous exciting
incidents and "reminiscences relating to
road work were narrated by the mem
bers. Some told Of the good times the
farmers have when working on the
anu GlldI DuG lulu ACTUAL MUl
was done. Others thought that, if such
were the case, it would be a shame to
rob the farmers of such bright oasis in
their desert of hard work. Still other
members declared that when farmer
went on road to work out his tax he
often labOred so hard that he injured
his own health and ruined his team, to
say nothing of using up many valuable
shovels and scrapers. Attempts to defer
action on the bill were made, but, as it
is optional whether towns adopt the
law, if it becomes law, urgency was
pleaded.
Mr.. Dunn hoped the bill would be de-
feated. He hoped so because the farm
ers were the people primarily interest
ed, and they ought to have the disposal
of the matter. If the bill became law.
Mr. Dunn was of the opinion that the
loafers and the non-taXpayers to be
found in. every village would create
little political rings ana adopt4he law
and make it basis for farming out
small contracts for their political
friends.
Amendments and motions of every
kind and character were voted down
and finally the bill was recommended
for passage. 1t will no doubt give rise
to another fight when reached for final
passage.