The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-10
Vail. Won Lehe. West. Wilkinson. Wood.

Vail, Won Lehe, West Wilkinson, Wood,
Yates. Mr.. Speaker-S2.
Mr.. Reeves, chairman of the judiciary
committee, was the first TO be heald
against the passage of the bill. He
outlined the same old argument about
Senator Day and laughed at the con-
tentlon that all the senate's actions In
which he participated were void be-
cause he was a de factO senator. In
this connection it must be recalled that
Senator Days vote just topped off the
necessary 70 to give the Anderson
measure senate majority.
Decisions could be piled to the cap
itol DOME" he said, which would show
that no act of a de facto official could
be questioned. There should be, there
fore, no uncertainty on that score. This
being allowed, he thought, there was
nothing left but to consider what was
the best policy for the house to fol-
low. The time had come when some
credit must be conceded the members
of the house committees, and the seven
teen lawyers on the house judiciary
committee were a unit on the bill at
hand. They were Of but one mind as
to the validity of Senator Days acts,
and by the adoption of the committee
report there should be discouraged all
talk of precautionary measures. Mr..
Jacobson thought 1t would be folly to
adopt the Stockwell SuggeStion-and
said so too in his own emphatic man
ner. Said he: This house cannot afford
to question this bill, for the courts will
settle the matter anyhow in two years.
L do not question the good faith Of the
author, but we ought to sit down ON
this measure and sit down hard. We
ought not even to listen to these fears
which he has expressed that there is a
cloud ON the Anderson law. This
brought the Hennepin member to his
feet in an instant and he explained
that he had been informed by legal
talent second to none in the state that
there was a cloud on the validity Of
the Anderson law, and that his action
was taken in the interest of the people
and to preserve to them the benefits Of
the Anderson law. He then repeated
his motion to report the bill for pas
sage.
Partly out of courtesy" said Judge
Hicks. also from Hennepin, and also
that the matter may have full and
free debate [ take this step and wish
to second the gentleman'S motion
Mr.. Donnel1y explained that he had
heard privately that the attorney gen
eral had declared that the Anderson
law was invalid. Mr.. Donneily recon-
niended that the matter be laid by I'M
ill accurate information on this point
could be secured.
II do not think it wise to censure
the attorney general" put in Henry
Johns but if he rendered any such
opinion, 1 consider he is not fit to be
attorney general. No lawyer in the
state can consistently cast any shadow
of doubt on the validity of the act.
Messrs. Feig, Underleak and Douglas
all took a hand in the depate' WHICH
was nearing it's end.
Mr.. Stockwell was worked up. Blind
folly" he exclaimed, ''I don't see why
this measure cannot have fair treat
ment." But the house could not listen
to his side and voted him down with
no more than necessary Formally
When the committee report had been
adopted he said he wished the ayes
and noes You'll get 'em and more
than YOU want" was the somewhat
sharp rejoinder from the Lac qui Parle
member