The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-03-04
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

1
Licensing Elevators Causes a Warm Debate
| in the House.
The house had special order Monday
afternoon the Walsh Bill, providing fol
tho raising OF the limit OF liability of EN-.
ployers for personal injuries resulting in
death to employees. Up to 1889 the limit
was $4,000 and it was then raised to s10,-
00C. Two years ago the limit was re-
duced to $4,000. and Mr.. Walsh, of Ran,
soy, wants it put up to Sl2,500. The most
of the afternoon was spent in debating
the bill and finally, by vote of 48 ayes
to 81 nays, it was agreed to recommend
the bill for indefinite postponement. Mr.
Walsh made magnificent fight for its
passage aud from all appearances it de
served better fate.
Tuesday Immediately after recess, the
| house in com mittee Of tie whole with
Mr.. Cotton in the chair, took up H. F.
337, to regulate the hauling and ship
lnent of grain. A @ull house was in at.
tendance in the expectation of an inter
esting if not an exciting deb ltt', and the
anticipation was not far wrong. The
discussion WAS opened by Mr. Greer, who
took the floor in favor OF the bill lmn1e-
diately after it's reading. He offered an
amendment that gave rise to IA long, tire
1oho fo fc TN
Except at terminal points" M ASST: Nc
Grath German, Moore, Buck and Ma,
guire took exception to the amendment
az wrong in principle and misleading.
Mr.. Greer quoted the planks OF both
parties platforms touching the subject,
and said bosh had agreed last fall to give
the farmers some measure Of protection
fron the righteousness of the grain COM
Dimes. Hs was willing to have stricken
out anything that was considered wrong
in the bill, but as whole be considered
il a fair and good bill, in the interest of
the small farmers of the state.
he. Furlong had been unable to dis
cover the slightest demand for the bill.
He thought it would havea tendency to
drive out independent buyers and heart
lily seconded the motion of the gentleman
from Ramsey. ~
MIR. German moved that when the
committee rise the bill be recommended
for indefinite postp ,nement. As reasons
for his motion ne said he had talked
with good cit1zsns, business men and
farmers, OF both parties, and not one had
spoken in favor of the bill. On the con-
trary, they were all opposed to it. The
author of the grain law in 1885 had told
him that if he could have his way he
would wipe out ell the law on the sub
jeot. Mr.. German asserted the farmers
of the state wanted free and open mar
ket in CHS matter as in the sale of hogs,
corn, barley, oats and other products.
Mr.. Barrett Analysed the condition OF
the grain market as affecting independ-
emit buyers, showing how the bill might
be used in crushing them and 'orclng
them out of the market Amidst a storm
of questions and Interruptions be sturd-
lily stuck to the assertion that the bill
would go right back to the questions of
grade, dockage and weight and said he
could not favor it. To his opinion it
would complioate matters without, in
any way, helping the farmers. The pro-
posed amendment would cause trouble
in ways not now foreseen.
Mr.. Lockwood, as an independent
buyer, expressed the opinion that the
bill would have the effect OF encouraging
fair and open competition, by placing
every elevator under state inspection.
Mr.. Young stated the bill was simply
for the purpose of providing tribunal
where disputes could be settled, not for
the purpose of restricting market or
anybody. To the statements
that the farmers are opposing the bill,
he said the farmers had no definite bill
they were asking for, bit they were de-
manding relief from terminal despot-a
ism, and this bill he believed would fur
nish that relief and provide method by
which redress might be had for griev
ances.
Mr.. O'Neill denounced the bill vehem
emily. He said he was opposed to this
bill on account of the unlimited power it
placed in the hand Of the railroads and
warehouse commissioners 1t gives
three men the right to say who shall OF
shall not have the right to do business
upon the great public highways OF our
state, after this state has donated about
one quarter Of its domain to railroads in
order that its humblest citizen, residing
at any point within it's boundaries, should
have the right to do business, to buy or
sell products free and untrammeled
along such public highway.
s Mr. Mcguire proposed an amendment
TO strike out the licensing feature Of the.
bill. It was, in his opinion, the ohjee-
J, II 1 <xf Ehc. hill Nj Oh mid