The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-02-10
THE LEGISLATURE.
Both Bodies Are in Good Working
Order.
Cosby Letters Giving In Detail the More
Important Work of the Senate
and House of Repre-
sentatives.

ton of the fourth insane asylum at
Anoka were heard in the house on Sat-
urday. The governor sent in the ma
mission appointed to select the site.
The reports were ordered printed for
future consideration, but not until
there had been a good deal of debate,
during which Mr.. Donnelly, of Hast
ings, and Mr.. Staples, also of Dakota
county, had condemned the action of
the commission in changing the loca-
ton from Hastings after having once
given that point the preference. There
is evidently a row in prospect
The resolution calling upon the bank
ing committee to investigate the bank
examiner, and expressing the opinion
that his Office should be abolished. was
Overwhelmingly defeated, and, in the
stead, Mr.. Feig offered one raising a
special committee of five to Investigate
the causes which have led up to the
recent failures of state banks and re-
port what legislation is needed to pre-
vent future failures
One of the most practical, and per-
haps the most important bills of the
session, was offered by Representative
Stone. 1t provides for an immigration
board, to consist of one member from
each congressional district to be APP
pointed by the governor. No salary is
allowed, except to the secretary, but
the commissioners are to be allowed
travelling expenses. The design is to
revive immigration work, which has
been sadly neglected for many years.
Another bill, of especial interest to
St Louis county, provides for the cleo
ton Of mine inspector in every coun-
ty where mines exist. 1t is patterned
after the Michigan law, where it is
very popular, owing to the protection
it secures for miners in their necessary
dangerous employment.
Mr.. Donnelly stirred up the banks
again by two bills, one requiring them
to keep posted in their counting rooms
their lists of stockholders, and the
other requiring immediate suit to be
brought against stockholders to enforce
their liability when bank fails.
Something of a Jug handle county
local option bill was offered by Mr..
Hollister. It provides that at every
general election the counties shall vote
on local option, and if it carries no
liquor shall be sold in the county for
two years. If it fails to carry, then
the towns can vote to licence or not to
license. as at present. If the county
votes no license, the towns have no
further discretion in the matter.
As the senate took a vacation from
Friday to Tuesday, the house wanted
TO skip Monday, but Jacobson was on
hand to demand industry, and SO there
will be a house session today.
ST. Paul. Feb. 2.-Yesterday was cy-
clone day in the house, the senate not
being in session. That Is, it was chiefly
devoted to wind. Only five bills were
introd uced, and aside from one reduc-
ing the legal rate of interest to 6 per
cent and 10 per cent by contract, they
were all of minor Importance. The
great bone of contention was. the bill
offered by Schmidt. of Duluth, making
a board of three persons to select
banks where the state funds shall be
deposited. The argument against the
bill was that 1t relieved the state treas
urer of responsibility. which he should
be compelled to shoulder, and the ar
gument for it was that the state treas
urer could favor certain banks. with
draw funds from country banks to
bolster up city banks. and that he
really ought to be relieved of the great
responsibility which now rests upon
him. Mr.. jacobson made a very de-
termined effort to defeat the bill out
right, but it was finally referred back
to the committee for further amend
ment- Its ultimate passage is doubt
full
The bill abolishing the 5000 bounty
for the arrest of horse thieves was ap-
proved.
A resolution was adopted authoriz-
tigate the transfer of the Mountain
Iron mine from the state to private
parties to pay the expenses of wit
nesses without the usual circumlocu-
ton of submitting each item to the leg
lslature and having the com mittee on
legislative expenses report before pay
ment can be made. This committee
evidently means to do some business.
As usual when only one branch of
the legislature is in session, the pro-
ceedings were brief.
st. Paul. Feb. Both the senate
and the house yesterday were es-
pecially interested in denying news
paper statements. The senate was ex-
ercised over interviews with Mime
arsol;e y,,orchapte couceruiuo depart-
ment stores, while the house was dis
turbed by the Newspaper stories that
State Treasurer Koerner had not filed
his bond. This was clearly disproven,
his bond having been filed Jan. 4, as
required by law. Another state officer
was also defended, in the person of
Secretary of State Berg, who had been
accused of not producing certain pa
pers desired in the Mountain Iron in
vosfi0afion This was also shown to