St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-22

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yesterday, and after debate upon the
bill providing that the railway commits
sioners shall be elected by popular vote,
an adjournment was taken until tomOr-
row morning, and the remainder of the
! day was employed In very industrious
consideration of bills in committees.
! THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.
The Manner of selecting the Sub
ject of an Exciting Debate.
Another exciting controversy ensued
over Senator Canestorp's bill providing
for the election of the railway commits
sioners by the direct vote of the
people. The author moved the passage
of the measure when the calendar was
taken up in the senate. Senator Keller
was incontinently opposed to the ell
tire system. and he Branded it as a
miserable and abject failure. The COM
missioners, he argued, are supposed to
exercise kingly power for princely
salaries; they really accomplish moth
ing. He favored Senator Browns bill
abrogating the law. He wanted to chop
off the heads of the commission.
Senator TaWney spoke at length, and
he warmed up to the subject as he pro-
ceeded. He was opposed to the meas
ure and he treated the question in
comparative way, by asserting that the
present system of regulating railways
is in vogue IN nearly every state in the
Union, and in twenty-five out Of thirty
states the commissioners are appointed
by the governor. The efficiency of the
commission depends more upon the
personnel than upon the manner of
their selection. He argued that politics
are relegated to the background. One
commissioner is Democrat and two are
Republicans. Had there been Demo-
cratic governor, two would be Demo
Gratis and one Republicans He was
certain that the effect of the law pro-
posed will be to cripple the powers of
the commission. These powers are adj
visory and recommendation, and not
executive. The Illinois and Minnesota
systems are almost identical. and they
have the reputation of being the very
best in the UuiOn in this respect.
Senator Lommen carried the theory
advanced by the senator from Winona
to the unwritten end, so to speak, and
suggested that the entire system of the
government be so revolutioniZed as to
select veritable car and clothe him
with the appointive power of every
Office in the country. He held til at it is
safer to allow the people to exercise the
power rather than the governor. SEN
ator Stevens had not been present in
the committee OF the whole, and he was
aStoniShed to learn that it was not Op-
posed there. He asserted that one of the
fundamental principles of republican
form of government was that there is
no safety except in distribution of
powers, and departure from this SyS-
TEN must sooner or later result in dis
aster. There can be no great and con-
tinued abuse that will not he remedied
by the voice of the sovereign people.
Senator Stevens felt that the present
method had operated to the general
satisfaction of the people. He con-
tended that the bill is wrong in prin-
ciple and pernicious in effect.
Commissioners Impotent.
Senator Hompe reviewed the history
of the law from its inciplency, and stated
that there are serious abuses sought to
be corrected. The people feel that the
railway companies have entirely too
much power. The commission sets up
IllG pea LlloG tilSJ UAN POhNlANoS W PAS
vent overt acts.
''It would have been just as we'll and
far less expensive" SAID the senator
from Otter Tail, ironically, ''to have
hung the portraits of the commissioners
in the capitol. and let them suffice. The
people have lost confidence in the COM
mission. They have been an absolute
failure, and from all parts of the state a
demand goes up to be given the right to
elect by the people, and then the re-
sponsibility will be assumed by the peo
pie and not by the administration. Cor
porationS distrust the proposed law.
That is because they find it easier to
control the appointive. power than to
control the people of the state. II this
bill does not pass | shall vote for the
Brown bill to wipe the board out of ex-
iStence."
Senator Keller made characteristic
speech. He thought that the senator
from Otter Tail had sounded the key
note. He would chop off the official
heads, and in the interest of economy
he said there are too many officials i'll
Minnesota, and all drawing prncely
salaries. He called halt. 1t is pro-
posed to create commission of agri-
culture another sinecure. He liked to
| see people get soft snap, but it be-
| comes big burden to the taxpayers.
| The railway commission may be an or
! nament to the state. but there can be
no question that 1t is useless.
81 asked my people in Stearns coun-
| ty," said the senator, "how they felt
about it. [ asked them what they want
ed me to do. They said. Chop off their
heads That is what the people de-
| mand. Let us do this, and cut down
the cost of running the state, and our
constituents will say we are doing
something"
Senator Donnelly spoke eloquently in
| favor of the bill. In this respect he felt
constrained to oppose his friend Sena-
| tor Keller, and Senator j. w. Peterson.
i firing of the debate, moved the previous
question, but at the appeal of Senator
| Leavitt he withdrew his motion. Sena-
| tor Leavitt claimed that the bill is the
most important measure pending action
in the senate. and he argued effectively
and eloquently for its passage. lie
was very sorry to say that it is a politi-
cal question. The Democratic party had
! esteemed it of sufficient Importance
to make it prime issue in