The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-20
THE BILL PASSES BY THE AID
OF FOUR POPULISTS.
The Republicans Go Back on Their
Platforml,and Try to Saddle the
Failure on a Populist Senator.
GORGEOUS RASCALiTY AND PO-
LiTiCAL TRICkERY.

tiOn in favor of the taxation of the
unSOld lands of the railroad COM
panies, and it was unanimously adopt
ed by the committee. Subsequently
number Of delegates, led by member
Of the Legislature, came into the COM
mittee room, and urged that the reso-
luton be left out of the platform, be-
cause the proposed action might, if it
became a law, endanger the gross
earnings tax on railroads, which in
1898 brought about million dollars
into the state treasury. After con-
siderabl debate the committee struck
out the resolution.
The Republican party met at about
the same time, and, with great flour
ish of trumpets, resolved in favor of
the immediate taxation Of railroad
lands. 1t was intended to be mere
trick to catch votes. They had been
pretending to favor such measure
for many years, but each session it
was killed in the Republican senate
by Republican votes. This same
course would have been repeated at
this session, but for the fact that
there were four Populist senators
there, elected by Populist votes. AL
though these gentlemen were under
no party pledges to vote for the bill,
and although some of them had their
doubts as to its effects on the gross
earnings tax, they nevertheless be-
leved their constituents desired it,
and as the Republican A ttorney-gen-
eral had reported in favor of it's legali-
ty and constitutionality they thought
they could risk the future and vote for
it, and they did so, to the great disap-
pointment of their Republican breth-
eren. Desperate efforts were made to
persuade some of the Populists to vote
against the bill, SO that it's defeat
could be laid at their door: and when
they failed in this they kept the Sen
ate in continuous session for nine
hours, and until half past ten o'clock
at night, trying to bring in Senator
Cronkhite (Populist) who was absent.
There were votes enough present to
pass the bill, at any time during those
nine hours, but they desired to blacken
the Peoples Party by calling public
attention to the fact that the Ser
geant at-Arms and his deputies were
ransacking St. Paul and Minneapolis
to find an absent Populist. Having
done this they quietly passed the bill
and adjourned. In the mean time they
had given leaves of absence to one
Democrat and two Republicans. There
ject lesson must be made of the absent
Populist. The Morning Call (Dem.).
of the 18th inst. said:
1.-THE Senate late last night, by just
enough vOteS-v0ting % ayeS-passed
the Anderson bill to tax the unused
railroad lands in this state. After be-
ing in session continuously for nine
hours without being able to bring in
the absent Senator Cronkhite, the call
OF the senate was finally dispensed
with and vote ordered on the final
passage of the bill, being a reconsider.
alton of the vote OF the previous day.
That the long delay was uncalled for
goes without saing, as there was abso-
lutely no change in the vote, except
the addition of Senator Smiths vote,
who was absent on the previous day
and of whose vote the friends Of the
bill ecere entirely soTe as early as 3 O'Clock
IN the afternoon"
The St. Paul Globe (Dem) said:
SAT last. after being the occasion of
the most desperate struggle the Sen.
ate Of the state has ever experienced,
and after being once defeated at this
session, the measure to tax the I'M
used railroad lands of this state has
passed both houses of the Legislature,
and only awaits the signature of the
governor to become law.
"Of the IS Republican members of
the senate, "a supported and % op-
posed it. That it passed was due to
the votes of the four Populist mem
bers who voted for it, When the bill
was defeated on the previous day, Re-
publican senators, who feared the re-
suit to their party, Immediately raised
the excuse that PopuliSt senator had
failed to vote for the bill, and when
the motion to reconsider was made, a
Populist senator was dragged from a
sick bed by the sergeant-at-arms and
compelled to vote on the bill, the SEN
ate readily excusing two Republican
members from attendance
Nov that the bill has passed, the
Republicans will, as matter Of
course, and with their usual modesty
and consistency, claim the credit for
its passage, although one hour before
the final vote was taken they engaged
in formulating buncome resolutions
to throw dust in the eyes of the pub
lie, and responsibility on the shoulders
OF the one POpulist absentee"
The sick senator referred to was
Senator Hanna, of Renville, V no is i'll
from the grippe, and this shows what
took place:
"At this stage Senator Hanna, the
sick member, who had been brought
early in the afternoon, secured the at
tention Of PresidentoDay. L am really
SICK said he, and I don't like to sit
here unless it is necessary. am llv-
ing at 81 East Twelfth street, and 1
should like to be- EXCUSED for one hour
or so. l voted ave on the bill yester-
day, and 1 shall vote that way again.
There is no wisaazonl my part to dodge
vote - 81
1--WE know It, we know it, came
from numb or, Of the senators.
Senator Hanna, continuing: If l
can be excused, shall return when
wanted
Senator Stevens said: L move by
unanimous consent the senator be al
lowed to go. and that he need not re-
turn until sent for This was agreed