The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-03-17
TAKING TO BALLOONS,

The judiciary Committee of the
House has been killing all our bills for
the relief Of the people. 1t has be-
come perfect slaughter-house. led by
Mr.. Reeves, a lawyer from Glenwood,
Pope county.
We quote the following from the
Pioneer Press report Of March 18th:
Mr.. Scotts bill defining vagrancy,
and providing punishment for va
grants. was considered in the commit
tee Of the Whole yesterday afternoon,
nie>t speech of the session. Mr.. Don
nelly Was the orator OF the funeral
OCCASION The bill contained most
drastic provisions for the punishment
of vagrancy. and aroused the hostility
of the whole house. 1t was pointed
out by several speakers that it would
give the police despotic powers and af-
ford an abundant opportunity for the
venting Of personal spite.
Mr.. Feig suggested that the bill
might be amended SO as to not apply
to bankers, and won a round Of APP
plause from the galleries. Mr.. Gron-
dahl said that any such proposition
was con trary to the spirit OF American
Institutions, and Mr.. Johns attacked
the measure with vigor. Inciden tally
he made some reference to the legal
profession and remarked that even
Mr.. Donnelly had son who was law
yer. This gave the Sage his opening
and he was quick to take advantage
of iJ.
1T is true that.I have a son who is a
lawyer" he said, land another who is
doctor. III had another think l
should make him an undertaken and
then have him attached to the COM
mittee on Judiciary to attend first to
the bills and then to the memb ers Of
the committee.
ut seems cruel to fire bullets into
the body of a dead dog, aud it must be
evident that the bill is sufficien thy
dead already. But look at section 3:
Amy person known to be a pickpockct'
known to whom? Why, to the po-
lice, of course. And having no visi-
BILE means OF support 1t is said that
there arc now four million men ia this
country without visible means Of sup
port, and when this Legislature ad-
journs. some Of Us may find ourselves
IN the same position. When found
prowling'- Imagine policeman be-
ing required TO discriminate betwee n
being IN place and prowling there.
around any steam boat landing, rail
road depot. banking institution He
might have gone there to look after
money he had deposited there. '-brok-
er's Office He could not be found
in more dangerous place. place
Of public amusement, auction room,
store, shop. or crowded thor
oughfarc He has got to keep on the
back StreetS,-'car Or omnibus, or at
any public gathering or assembly,
Why he couldn't even come in here
and occupy these galleries, -'shall be
deemed a vagabond and shall be pun
ished by Imprisonment in the work
house for not less than four nor more
than twelve months
I'm the name Of heaven where is a
man who is out OF work to go!
IF this bill should pass he could not
even go to church. He would have to
80 up'in u balloon; and If the pres
ent gold standard is continued much
longer that is where a lot of people
will have to COUP in balloon,-for
there will be no room for them any
where on the face of the earth. This
bill ought to be killed, and to that end
l move that it be referred to the judi
ciary committee"
Mr.. Scott vainly explained that the
bill was copy of the Massachusett It's
law on the subject. His bill was
promptly killed"
Under the guise Of jest and ridicule
we are teaching sentiments of human
ity.
1t is shameful to reduce men to
pauperism, produce conditions in
which they cannot get work. and the
send them to prison for twelve
months for having mo visible means
of support.
If congress of devils was held
in hell they would repudiate any such
inhumanity.
Oh things are getting lovely And
"the Advance Agent Of Prosperity" is
now in the White House, with $50, 900
a year and six new suits of clothes.
Prosperity is restored-for him!
Spread it out little. William!