The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-04-10
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
BY JOHN II. BURKE.

BY JOHN II. BURKE.
Some weeks ago we commented in
severe terms on the present House Of
Representatives., making some COM
parsons between it and the Moses"
South Carolina body many of whom
did time as convicts. 4
Our comments were just, mild and
exceedingly conversative. but certain
members did not like them. Time
has shown we were right, and corrup-
tion has since then been openly
charged and the lie passed on the
flo, Of that body.
We have not opened on the Augean
stable as yet, but if we ever do, will
show up the purtrescent nastinesS
thereof on such wise that the read
er will hold his nose to get rid Of the
effluvia emanating therefrom, while
the blush Of shame will come to the
cheek of all good citizens to think
that such orgies could be carried on
in any community much less by the
alleged respectable representatives or
our alleged Christian people.
DcudUc Il llc IA, " ANSdA'A0 siiAo6N
Indebtedness seems to have in it a
big wood-chuck since it is claimed it
will validate the Water Works debt of
West Duluth for S259,O0O on plant
said to have cost $4,000, and which is
. said to have been pet scheme of
VIM. r. Merriam The last day for
introduction Of bills was March Both,
at which time there had been 1873 in
PRODUCED in the Senate and $50 in the
House maxim 1893 in all.
On April 1st the House passed a
very important resolution, one having
a great influence in the international
questions pending between this coun-
try and Germany-to-wit.
Resolved, BY the House the Senate
concurring that we send our hearty
congratulations to Prince Bismarck,
on this his sOth birthday.
Resolved, That suitable cable
gram be sent at once by the chief
clerk and the Secre tary of the Senate
to Prince Bismarck.
We are not able to state who was
the author of the document in the
House, but Stevens of Ramsey county,
moved and secured its adoption in the
Senate. And no doubt Prince Bis
marck will be highly edited when he
gets that telegram signed Michael
Jose phi Bowling, and will forthwith
look back to his files of the "REpRE-
SENTATIVE" which be it known he of
course reads carefully every week-to
y1Of III
sofa Legislature is composed of any,
way. And IT he peruses carefully the
legislative reports therein contained,
we fear there will be another edict
against the Importation of American
pork; but the latest to edict will be
made to apply ito the two-legged
swine that are said to thrive in more
northern ATTITUDES of the wilds of the
United States" which region has
been by some termed the Botany Bay
for New England. 1t will be noted
that with two exceptions every bill
heretofore referred to the committee
on railroads of the Senate has been
adversely reported and as to said two
bills they were not adverse to the
companies. Hence it is noticeable
that on April 3, that committee made
favorable report on Senate File GIL,
ment of committee to examine the
cost of railroads in this state and ad-
just rates of freight and fare.
For several months past an effort
has been made to secure some relief
for the people of this state from the
eXtOrtiOnate rates charged by these
companies and early in the session
the Senate and House unanimously
adopted resolution instructing the
committee to investigate the subject
In accordance with these instruc-
tiOnS the Senate committee, through
Senator Ringdahl, made voluminous
report on the cost of the roads, which
was presented to and adopted by the
Senate. That report is admitted to
have been complete and exhaustive
and represents great deal of work on
the part of Senator Ringdahl, while
the writer hereof donated to said
committee the results Of his labors
and researches for % years. Despite
these facts and the information before
the Senate, every bill looking to a re-
ductiOn of rates has been met with
the statement from senators that
they wanted to give relief to the peo-
pie. but the Senate has no infOrma-
ton as to cost on which to base action.
This was the argument made against
both the Henneman and Culkin bills.
and is slung in your face from every
quarter. Senator Ringdahl, therefore,
determined to test the sincerity of
the Senate in these utterances, and
with that end in view introduced his
bill to ascertain the facts as to cost.
When the bill came back to the SEN
ate from the committee Wyman Sc
cured its indefinite postponement by
the following vote:
Against ascertaining cost-Allen,
Barr, Cole, Collester, Currier Hanson.
Hodge, Howard, Johnson. A. G.. and
w. e. Keller, Knutvold. Larson, Nor
gan, Macarthur, Osmun, Potter, Pott-
geiser, Roverud, Smith, Sperry. Stew
ems, Sweningsen, Thorpe, Wing, Wy
man, Young.
In favor of ascertaining COST
Cronkhite, Day, French, Hanna, Iltis,
Jones, Lloyd. Masterman, Miller, Nc
Hale, Peterson, Reishers, Ringdahl,
Schallar, Swa tson, Spencer. Stebbins,
Stockton, Theden, Thompson.
To the 20 senators who voted in
favor of ascertaining the facts, the
thanks of the people of the state are
due for evincing by their vote an hon
est desire to ascertain the facts, even
when these facts might not be in &C
cord with their own precOnceived
ideas in every instance. The q sena-
tors who voted against it may many
80 h