St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-24
LEGISLATORS CONE.
Senators Pay Compliments
and Wish One Another
Happy Returns.
REPORTS ON LOST LANDS.
Attorney General Is Charged
to Pursue the Smelling
Process.
REPORTS ON LOST LANDS.
LOCAL MEASURES PASSED.
Provisions Of Several Bills
Pertaining to st. Paul and
Ramsey County.

The senate adjourned, sine die, at
1925 yesterday, in humor striking
ly in contrast to that attending the
early hours of the morning, when
there was a scramble for recogni-
ton to shove bills through, and fight
ing over the Stevens bill, to tax
sleeping cars. One of the incidents
of the early morning was an ex-
change of compliments between the
presiding officer and the senator from
Wabasha. The latter asked the right
of way to take up bill. The presi-
ding officer said he had several re-
quests on his table for recognition.
The senator from Wabasha said he
was not disposed to make requests
in routine style. The presiding Of
ficer observed that he was under no
obligation to do so. There was a
little warmth in the expressions of
both. Yesterday such scenes were
not witnessed, but, on the other hand,
there was a degree of melloWneSS
that may only be seen in the closing
hours of a legislature. The last i'm
portant act of the body was the
election of Senator George T. Barr,
of Mankato,a las president pro tempore
of the senate. He was nominated by
Senator d. F. Morgan, of Minneapo-
lis, and was elected, by rising vote,
on motion of Senator Hiram F.
Stevens, of st. Paul. Senator Barr
was a candidate for president of the
senate, when Senator Day was elect
ed to that position. He has served
ten years in that body, and is a hard
working legislator. He responded to
the compliment in a suitable manner
Shortly after the opening of the
senate, at 10 o'clock, an executive
communication, from the governor,
was received making number of
nominations as notarieS public.
These were confirmed.
A telegram was read from Senator
Culkin, who has been i'll several
weeks at him home in Buffalo, with
typhoid fever. This contained the
news that he is improving in health,
and thanked the senators for their
resolution of sympathy and for
faVors in taking care Of some of his
measures.
reports of two committees were re-
ceived, during the closing hours, that
are of considerable interest. One of
these was made by Senator Knatvold,
Oh the committee appointed to ascer-
tain what lands are held by railroads
that are not being taxed Owing to
lack of time, the committee had not
gotten to the bottom of the matter, but
1t was of the opinion that there is
abundance of opportunity to withhold
LARGE SUMS
of money from the treasury. that
should be paid in taxes. The commit
tee learned that some of the land grant
railroads had sold lands to settlers
with some kind of understanding that
the titles were to remain in the rail-
roads until the final payment In some
instances timber has been sold from
lands by railroad companies, while re-
tanning the fee.
The railroad companies, at present.
however, claim that they are not SELL
ing lands or timber with any such i'm
piled agreement. On the contrary. the
state auditor was notified of such sales
The land commissioner of the Great
Northern road reported that his COM
pany had no lands subject to taxation.
"A similar statement was made from
the Northern Pacific. The St Paul &
Duluth had no land on which it paid
taxes, but notified the state auditor of
all sales.
Accompanying the report was the
following concurrent resolution, which
was adopted:
Resolved That the state land COM
missioner and the attorney general be,
and they are hereby directed to pro-
coed to a full and careful examination
of the land department of the st. Paul
& Duluth railroad, and that if eva
sions of the letter or spirit of the tax
laws are found to exist in the sales
of lands or values which are the prod
uct of such lands, or in the evasion of
the payment of taxes to any degree,
to proceed thereafter to contest
through the courts for the rights of the
state to the full limit of the law.
LOST MINERAL LANDS.
The other report came from the COM
mittee appointed to ascertain what had
become of the state mineral lands.
Senator Young handed in a report in
which it was stated that difficulty had
been encountered in investigating fully.
They had corresponded with the de-
partment at Washington, and other
efforts had been made. Important wit
nesses were found to be absent from
the state, and time precIuded going to
the bottom of the matter
The committee is satisfied that the
interests of the state have been sacri-
feed by the unauthorized relinquigh-
ment of valuable lands within valid
school indemnify land selection, which
have since been acquired by private in
diyiduals, and finds evidence strongly
indicative of trc existence of fraud,
The committee recommends further
investigation by the attorney general.
and believes the state may acquire
valuable property if investigation is
prosecuted.
The report was adopted.
DAY ECLOGIZED.
- A resolution, offered by Senator Nc
Hale was adopted, thanking President
Day for courteous treatment of the
senate and for impartial rulings. All
arose in voting for this resolution On
motion Of Senator Ringdal. Secretary
I.engun and Assistants W. Z. Allen
and H. G. Ba"rows were also thanked.
= large group Of senator's and officers
was brought into the chamber and
presented to Lieut.. Gov. Day. Senator
Stevens made the offering speech, ard
spoke of the efficiency of that oinclaI,