The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-17

dollars, and did not use a penny or 1T
for corrupt purposes, they deserve the
greatest credit. Indeed they must
rise to the highest level, in the pub
lie Judgment, as patriots and philan-
thropists and lovers of mankind. 1t
appears, il one is to believe the teSti-
mony of the officers of the state bank
ers association, that the people have
greatly misjudged them: and that the
ductiOn of the rate of interest on
money; and that the terrific opposi-
ton which has made to the two bills
for that purpose, and which has de-
feated them both, came from the
farmers and mechanics of the state
the borrowers, who insis ted on paying
high rate of interest on their loans,
while their benevolent creditors were
fighting to reduce it. 1t is melan-
choly spectacle to see the efforts of
philanthrophiStS thus resisted by the
very men they have benefited. 1t
elevates ones conception Of the good
ness of the few, while it intensifies
his wonder at the stupidity of the
many.
But one thing is plain,-speaking
seriously.-that all such combinations
to raise money for the purpose of con-
trolling or affecting legislation. are
against public policy and should be
prohit tied by law. In this age Of no
torious corruption, when the venality
of legislators is subject of daily dis
cussion and almost daily proof,
throughout the land, it is wrong and
dangerous to bring the weakness of
mankind face to face with great &C
cumulatiOnS of money, raised by the
capitalistic classes, for the protection
of their sO-called rights. No reform
can be effected in this world without
retrenching the profits of those who
have benefited by the wrongs. If the
public demand for justice and right is
to be met by corporate combinations
and assessments and large funds.
welded by few cunning and un.
scrupulous men, liberty and self-gov-
eminent are both endangered. This
committee has been able to dip into
only corner of this great abuse; how
much more might be developed if
time would permit thorough invcsti-
cation into the whole subject it is
hard to say. Enough is shown to the
prove the existence of such combina-
tions, and the raising of funds far be-
yond any legitimate use to which they
could be applied. Respectfully sub
mittcd, 1GNATIUS DONNELLY,
Chairman of the Committee
While not altogether agreeing to
within report being quite in accord
ance with the testimony in regard to
amount raised to defeat legislation re-
ferred to, sign the report with the
conviction that money has been raised
to defeat such legislation as the testi-
mony conclusion proves.
r. M. PROBsTFELD.
Mr.. Leavitt from the same commit
tee made the following majority re-
port:
The undersigned members of tie
committee appointed by resolution of
the Senate March II, 1891, to investi-
gate the charge that money was being
used by the bankers of this state for
the purpose of corrupting and in
f1uencing legislation relating to the
reduction of interest and the usury
laws Of this state, beg leave to sub
NIT the following report:
The first meeting of the committee
was held April 9th, 1891 Since that
time there has been held three meet
ing of the committee. Aside from
the officers of the MINES ota Banking
Association. there was examined four
witnesses. The evidence taken by
your committee shows the following
facts:
First. That in September 1887, the
private bankers of the state organized
an associations known as the Minneso-
ia Bankers Association. That this
organization was originally created
for the purpose of uniting the banks
affected by the legislation of the pre-
vious session of Legislature, and to
test the validity Of the act passed at
that session known as the Keller Bill
For this purpose the organization re-
tanned Hon. Gordon e. Cole, who aD-
peared before the Attorney General,
made an argument in favor of the I'M
constitutionality of the law and de-
livered an opinion to the association
to the effect that the law was uncon-
StitutiOnal for the reason that it had
not received the requisite two-thirds
vote provide for by the constitution.
For this service they paid him the
sum of two hundred and fifty dollars.
and. in addition paid another attor-
ney for his opinion the sum of twenty
five dollars.
Second That since the organiZa-
ton of the Minnesota Bankers Asso-
citation in September, 1887, said associ-
alton has raised fir, m membership fees
and assessments about 81, 100.
That this amount has been expend-
ed, according to the testimony of the
Treasurer. as follows:
Two hundred and fifty dollars for
opinion of Gordon E. Cole, $25 for an
opinion of another attorney as to the
validity of the act herein referred to.
That since this organization, the ex-
pense of all meetings OF executive
committee, including railroad fares
and hotel bills of the members of the
committee, has been paid out of this
fund, and that there is now in the
treasury of the association the sum of
$3.50, making 5000 in all which the as
ISOLATION has extended since it's Or
ganiZation.
Third. That all the officers of said
ass ociation, including H. R. Wells,
President; w. B. Parsons, Treasurer:
Hon. E. r. Smith, Secretary, and
Hon. H. B. Strait. Chairman of the
Executive Committee, were each
sworn and testified before the COM
mittee. and they each Severally swore
that no money has ever been raised or
used by the association for the Dur-
pose of influencing or affecting legisla-
ton.
Fourth. The evidence further
shows that in May, 1889, the Lombard
Investment Company of St. Paul, con-
trbuted $i5.55 to defray the expense
of circulating literature which con-
tanned, according to the testimony,
reasons why the bill known as the
Sevatson bill should not pass. and
showing the effect which in their