St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-08
Legislature Too Large for Eff
fective Work--Cutting 1t
Down Favored.
WHO TO REPRESENT ST. PAUL
Kick From Rochester on the
Failure to IndOPSe
Cleveland.

1HlS view Is entertained Dy many peO-
| pie III this COMMONWEALTH and especially
by the lawyers and judges. who know
| the real condition OF our laws. There is
| growing opinion that the state neeuS
constitutional convention for the pur-
pose of giving good basis for the
| laws. John F. Kelly, who revised the
| statutes few years ago. in speaking
of the laws, said that they are in a
chaotic condition and need revision i'll
general. He says the adoption of the
| New York system gave to this state the
lame features of the code of New York
without giving US the benefit of the i'm
proyementS III their statutes. Mr..
Kelley is not alone in the view that
commission is needed to make careful
classification and revision of the Mime
sofa laws. The legislature of 1891
passed law providing for Il revision,
but it was never put into operation.
-
There is sentiment among class of
| people over the state that, at least, a
number of able iurists from various
parts of the state should be sent TO the
legislature with view of putting on
successful footing a revision of the
laws. But few men would care to
undertake the labor necessary to &C
cOmpliSh so much needed claSSifica-
ton and revision. yet it yearly becomes
more apparent that some persons must
take up the burden sooner or later.
There are any number of people who
deprecate the fact that the election of a
United States senator overshadows
everything else when electing legiSla-
ture. 1t is entirely too common a thing
to. select nell to the legislature with
view to his vote on senator rather than
making legislative ability a prerequi-
site.
The farmers see the need of an anti
corporation, pine land ring, wheat ring
legislature. and have been working for
some years to get legislation that will
not be inimical 10 their interests. That
they have not given up the fight is appar-
ent from the discussion goiug OIL among
the representative men of the state.
-
1t is asserted that the legislature is
too large for effective worn, and there is
sentiment among conservative men
that the appUr;ionment bill that comes
up at the next legislature should dim .n!sh
rather than increase the number OF
| members in both the house aud senate.
One of the most important matters
under consideration by the citizens OF
Al Of
other cities in the state, is that of mu-
| nicipal corporation laws. The fact
| that the constitutional amendment
| adopted two years ago prevents special
| legislation makes it necessary to pass a
! general law for the amendment of city
charters. The attempts ii the last leg
| lSlature to get municipal bills through
were futile because the people could
| not agree upon plan. This matter
| Will come up again and must be settled.
| The people of st. Paul. for instance,
cannot live under the Bell charter much
| longer. 1t is absolutely necessary for
changes to be made in our city charter.
and that. too, in the near future.
The questions of interest to st. Paul
have started serious inquiry as to who
shall represent this city i'll the next
legislature. This city Is entitled to four
senators and ten representatives, all of
| whom are to be elected this fall A
| number of people are fearful that the
United States senatorial matter and
some other matters will overshadow the
questions of more vital Importance to
the city and state.
There is widespread sentiment that
the sixteen men to be chosen to repre-
sent this city in the next legislature
should be men not only of ability, but
men who have an extensive state &C.
| quaintance. They should be men who
will have the respect of the Legislature
and who will be able to grasp the ques-
tons looking to the interests of the
city and state, and present them forci-
| bly, to the Legislature. 1t is true that
| this class of men are hard to induce to
| give their time to the work. 1t is also
| true that this class of men have no
| inclination TO appear in the arena OH
| the hastings and ask for votes. There
| is a belief, however, that men can be
| found in the various wards and Sena.
! toriaI districts who will make the sacri-
| flee in the interests of the needs of the
| city and state.
The opinion is general that if the
Democrats of this city will get together
| and select ticket for the legislature
that has the requisite business ability
| and acumen the people will see to it
that they are elected in the interest of
good government. A movement of this
kind has not been set on foot, but, as
Republican said a few days ago, lit
| would be a shrewd move on the part of
thd Democrats" Inquiry among bust
| ness men has disclosed a sentiment
against picking up "nobodies" for the
legislature. They believe in turning
out and selecting good men and then
seeing to their election. The Repub-
lican party cannot be expected to look
higher than politics this fall, and the
opinion is that the Democrats are in a
position to name and elect a good legis-
lative ticket from Ramsey county.
{ 80
Hon. John Lind, of New Ulm: Hon.
J. c. Flynn. of Little Falls; Bob"
Dunn, of Princeton. aud l.. p. Hunt. of
Mankato. a qlartette of way-up Repub-
lican politicians, were in the city yes
terday. The three first named will be
In the Twin Cities for two or three
days to confer on state politics. 1t is
said that their mission is to induce
Gov. Nelson to pull out of the race
for United States senator. They will
make the plea that it will hurt
the general ticket: but 1t remains
to be seen whether they will succeed
In their mission. The fact that they
may not be sincere In their reasons may
cut some figure with the governor, and
he may think that the side track Is
shown him to make the way clear for
some other train rather in the interest
Of Republication or the safety Of the