The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-04-24
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
BY John HI. BuFke.

BY John HI. Burke.
Thank God the session of the Minnesota
legislature is about at an end and we
would be disposed to thank God again had
1t never convened. May we never see the
likes of it again. and If Mr.. Staples-a
member of the house-be a true prophet.
we never will. for he said on the floor
OF the house one day that no member
need fear that he or his associates would
ever be reelected.
IL Is possible that in all the realms of
space worse body of beings could be
round. but in our experience we have
never run across it's equal, and we have
mad some experience during the last twen-
ty-1our years. In subsequent letter it
may be our lot to cauterize some of the
political malformations that have abound
ed in that body, but before undertaking
that job it is necessary for us to get our
stomach and yours in as good condition
as possible since a true statement of the
story of both bodies will cause such a
stencil in the body polite by reason of
the immoral eff1uvia and corrupt stencil
emanating therefrom as to turn the stom-
ach of an ostrich. The big fight in the
senate this week has been over the Staples
pine land bill which has now passed both
houses and it remains to be seen whether
Dave Clough will dare veto it, though he
is generally credited with lobbying against
It's passage. In future article we may have
occasion to say something on the lobby
ing propensities of Dave Clough and GER
tain state officers. Also of certain senators
that have been trying to defeat certain
measures
There is lively breeze brewing on the
appropriation bill which passed the house,
and in reaching the senate that body
struck out all after the enacting clause
and inserted instead it's own bill.
Senators Miller, and Ringdal succeeded
In getting in an appropriation for the rail-
road commissioners to carry on suits
against the roads to reduce rates but not
without a hard fight, during the course of
which our senator unjustly accused Mr.
Ringdal with acting in a partisan man
ner. We do not desire to extol any men,
Der ahead of others but cannot refrain
from stating what we know to be a fact
that there is not on the floor of the SEN
ate Single man who by his acts has
been less partisan than Senator Ringdal
or who is more respected by his fellows
Coming into that body a stranger to legis-
latlve proceedings, and a member of a
political party vastly in the minority he is
admitted to be among the ablest members
thereof. His honesty, probity and conserv-
atlveness being conceded on all hands.
The Miller bill to place express companies
under the control of the board of railroad
commissioners has BASED both bodies after
hard fight. The Meilicke bill is still both
ering the Minneapolis Chamber of Com
merce, who seem to think it is aimed at
them, but why they should think so one
cannot imagine unless they have been doing
something they ought not to-
Hanna's bill for the election of railroad
commissioners was defeated by the aid of
Dave Clough.
Our Republican friends are bound the
chickens shall roost rich if they don't roost
nigh, since they appropriate money for
$4,000 hen houses and $4,000 to $4,000 pig
styes for state use, which, together with
$4,000 for an alleged drill hall where an
nual meetings held once a year to bow
down and worship John Saint Pine Land
Pillsbury, the great joss Of the University,
will convince the people that this legislat-
ure has been economical
In our last letter we stated that house
file No 527 had been defeated, but later
reconsideration was held and April Ii
the house passed the bill.
This was one of the most iniquitous meas
ures ever passed, and is one that for sew
eral years T. b. Walker, by his attorney,
Geo. p Wilson, has been trying to secure.
since it validates every act committed in
acquiring title, no matter how much crime
has been committed. 1t covers-and was
so ntended-forging deeds by dead men
and every species of villainy, by providing
that payment of taxes for Is years shall
Under q Of rive
But 10 members voted against the vii
lainy, viz: French, Kendall, Leach, Lee
Meilicke, Moore, Rice, Tallman and Vigen
to their credit be said.
Dale of Hennepin, had a bill modelled
after the California law providing for the
taxation OF all property, including that OF
churches. He made a hard fight for the
bill but defeated. Whatever may be
the views of the members on this measure
there seems to be a growing sentiment on
the subject among the public al large de-
handing the taxation of all property.
The house has actually found sonnet hing
against the railroads and committee re-
ports that the Omaha and Northwestern
roads have made unjust discrimination on
coal rates between Duluth and Tyler
The judiciary committee of the senate
has made divided report on Meiickes
freedom of market bill, Sheehan McHale
French, Collester, Young, Thompson and
Schaller reporting in it's favor, whereupon
in accordance with the program for delay
Howard moved the bill be referred to the
committee on grain and warehouse.
The senate drainage bill has passed both
houses, also one for publication of official
ballots.
AS predicted the house has dismissed the
Ives Impeachment proceedings, after a hot
discussion, but by vote of 80 to IT,
For the second time the Populist vote in
the senate has come to the aid of the Re-
publicans in compelling them to redeem
their pledges.
Once the Populist vote carried the raj.-
road tax bill, and now by the same vote
the pine land bill is carried. despite the
Vaccinations of the state administrations
BILLS INTRODUCED.
To purchase site for Birch Cooie mon
ument
Relating to exemption from executions
Relating to disbarment of husband and
wife from interest in real estate.
Enlargng powers of building and loan
associations. This was introduced by Nor
gan to take the place of one vetoed by
Clough.
To publish geological report.
General appropriation bill.
For certain machinery at the state pris-
on
To regulate employment at the peniten-
tiary.
For additional clerk hire by the secretary
of state.
For geological survey
BILLS ASSASSINATED
To amend the tax laws section l515 Of
Kelley's statutes.
Senate Files 6l4 and 731.
House File 324
To appropriate $1,000 to construct a ditch