Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-10-13
e E. LOMMEN.

The Peoples candidate for congress
in the It'll congressional Dist of MINI.
was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa.
Feb. 9, 1856. He received his educa-
ton in the common schools, Brecken-
ridges Institute of DEBORAH, Ia. and
the Upper Iowa University of Fayette,
Ia He taught school and worked OF
the farm in order to obtain means to
secure education, but did not finish a
collegiate course
In 1878 he settled on farm near
Crookston, MINI. where he resided
since. and experienced the ups and
downs of farmers life.
In 1890 he was elected to the State
Senate by the Alliance Party, and in
1894 was the Peoples Party nominee
for Lieut. Gov.
One of the first acts of his legislative
career was to introduce and secure the
passage Of bill reducing the salaries
ofcounty officers in Polk county, there
by saving to the people of said county
several thousand dollars each year.
He also introduced the Red River
Valley Drainage bill appropriating
500, 600 for drainage purposes, and
it was largely through his efforts that
the bill became law Among the i'm
portant measures introduced by him
may be named, bill for the reduction
of the rate of interest and making it a
criminal offence to charge usury: but
as Mr.. Donnelly claimed it was better
to amend the present law, as it con-
stitutionality had been passed upon by
the supreme court. amendments were
| offered embracing the charges includ-
ed in Mr.. Lommen's bill. Mr.. LON
men supported and voted for the bill
as did the other Alliance members: but
| as the Alliance had less than one
fourth OF the membership OF the Ser
| ate they could not be held responsible
Tor its failing to pass.
Among other important bills intro
duced and champiored by Mr.. Lommen
were S. F. No 81. bill for an act to
establish a court OF railway and ware
houses, ETC., etc. The intent OF this
bill was to meet the objections Of the
supreme court, to the railway and
warehouse commission exercising JUDI.
cial powers: S. F. No. 155 bill for an
act relating to elevators and ware.
houses at railway stations. public ele
vators at terminal points, the furnish
ing Of cars. the shipment Of grain an6
other produce in carload lots, and the
weighing and inspection Of grain an6
fxingsthe liability of'eommon carriers
| S. F. No 156, to amend Sec. 6 and /
Chap. 10, Gen Laws of 1887. relating
to common carriers.
| These bills were intended as a relic
10 the shippers of grain, but like hun
dreds of other meritoriou
measures they:were defeated by cor
porate influence.
Mr.. Lommen. voted for the Dulutl
elevator'bill,' for. the taxation Of r. r
lands and many others in the interes
of the farmers.-He', voted for th
measures demanded by organized: Ia
Dor in favor Of the working men.
He voted against the Duluth an
Winnipeg land grant and the capitc
bill.
The republicans have been trying t
blame the Alliance for the extravs
gence OF the.legislature of 1891, but a
they had only II members out of 81
the senate this charge will not sticl
Mr.. Lommen fought against the e,
travagant appropriations and vote
against the Gen. appropriation bill {
that session. Many Of the Republica
papers who are now trying to be-litt
MI. Lommen, characterized him E
. one Of the able champions Of the farm
ers' interests, when hewas in the legi
lature.
Hunting notices for sale at thi
/ | offioo