The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-03-18

and congratulate the new president al
If he were in the next room.
Do Not Love Bicyclists.
For many country members the very
name of bicycle has the same effect as q
red rag to a bull, and any measure in
the interest of bicyclists is assailed even
before they know it's purport. This
was apparent in the action taken on
the Scott bicycle license bill last week
This bill provided that bicyclists in the
larger cities must register and pay 81
for license, and the money thus paid
into the city treasury was to be used
by the city for the construction Of cycle
paths in the city. When the bill came
up for consideration Mr.. Scott was alb
sent, attending to other business. The
customary courtesy at such times is to
lay the bill aside temporarily until the
author of the bill returnsOnd then take
it up. Thus is usually done, even though
the majority are opposed to and fully
intend to kill the bill. However, in
the case Of this bicycle bill, that court
esq even, was not extended. The bill
was read, few anti.cyclists spoke
against it, and it was summarily exc
cuted. Yet the city members, whose
districts alone were affected by it.,
favored it as a means not only of build
ing cycle paths, but also because it reg
istered wheelmen, and might serve to
aid in locating and furnishing obnox-
ious ''scorchers.'' Work will go on as
heretofore on cycle paths, and the
friends of the wheel will doubtless in
crease in number till even Representa-
tive Foss may develop into an expert
cyclist.
Work of Reapportionment.
Reapportionment work still goes on
IN the committee, but little is given
out by the members of that commit
tee. The senate last week by unani-
nous vote defeated the house resolu-
ton fixing the maximum membership
of both houses. On it's face this might
look like blow at reapportionment,
but the passage of the resolution was
unnecessary, as its consideration had
brought out many expressions of opin.
ion, and that was all it had been de-
sired to accomplish in the first place.
With all these various opinions in
view, the members of the joint COM
mittee on reapportionment are working
away in quiet, and only occasional
whispers leak out. 1t is understood
there will be slight if any change in
the present total membership of the
legislature, one report making the
number of senatorial districts So, an in
crease of 4, with ia representatives.
The work is now being prepared by a
subcommittee and will be considered
by the full committee and reported to
both houses. While changes may be
made after that is done, the
committee seeks to prepare a
reasonably satisfactory bill, in
which few, if any, changes will be
made. It would be comparatively easy
for them to draw up reapportionment
bill that would equally divide the state
on any agreed basis Of representation,
but the difficulty comes in trying to
formulate one that will be satisfactory
to 81 different senators and to ia diff
ferent representatives and then receive
the approval of Governor Clough.
Hearing ON the Douglas Bill.
A public hearing was given by the
house railroad committee on the Doug
las maximum rate bill last Thursday
night, with arguments by Mr.. Douglas
and various railroad attorneys. The
Anoka- Hastings contest occupied so
much time since that the committee
has neither agreed on report nor met
to consider the bill further. It will
cause more warm talk on the floor be-
fore finally disposed Of, but in the
meantime various outside interests are
being heard from. The federation of
labor endorsed the bill strongly and
Mr.. Douglas has been commended for
it by the Moorhead chamber of COM
MERGE and others in other sections. It
will be reported from committee this
week.
Got Rid of the Temptation.
Occasionally an important bill will
slip through almost before those voting
for it are aware of it. A few days ago
a bill was introduced in the senate to
repeal the ore tonnage tax law, and it
passed under a suspension of the rules,
against the heated protests of Senator
Spencer of Duluth. It was at once
taken to the house and passed in that
body without an opposing vote. With
this law repealed the necessity for a
new mine tax law is emphasized. Dur
ing the discussion in the senate of Sem
ator Spencer's attempt to delay the
passage of the bill some things were
said about Legislators which would
have caused a libel suit if stated half
SO plainly in a newspaper. AS one of
the principal reasons for suspending
the rules to pass the bill it was sug.
gested that the mining companies had
more money than the senate, and to
protect the honor Of the senate the bill
should be hurried in order to get rid of
temptation. And this was one of the
mild suggestions.
The legislative committee junket to
the northern normal schools is due for
this week, the two committees on nor
NAL schools, with the usual contingent