The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-18
SEVERAL FIGHTS IN SIGHT.
Senate Has a Lively Programme
Mapped Out.

N
Mapped Out.
If, as is expected, the judiciary COM
mittee this morning reports on the
Theden occupation tax bill, which is
aimed to correct the department store
habit, it is likely that a contest will be
precipitated on the floor of the senate
which may last good share Of the
morning, if not longer. A number Of
senators have been printing them
selves for this occasion, in anticipation
Of a crowded gallery, and the fight
will be sonorous If not edifying. The
friends of the bill want TO get it into
the house as quickly as possible, and If
any antagonist of the measure has the
temertty to move it's indefinite post
ponement, instead of the adoption of
the committee report, he will find him.
self with long discussion set against
his name.
1t may be urged against the bill that
the meeting Of the judiciary commit
tee at which the bill was recommended
for passage was SHINY attended, one
OF the Twin City lawyers being pres
ent through the discussion. 1t is a
matter Of some doubt just where these
senators stand.
1t is whispered that some of the Re
publican senators are sickening of the
Powers scandal, and, taking the COM
missioner at his word when he declared
that an inquiry was due him" will
not spare him when they come to make
up the report Of the committee. They
realize that he put the Republican par
ty IN an embarrassing boat, and they
may let the eX-preacher pose as the
sacrificial lamb he has so often preach
ed about.
Senator Greer tried to get the senate
to take up the Sperry and Foss inner
tance tax bills-one the senate and the
other the house measure The bills
have been set together on general or
GERS and have been waiting several
days. 1t is probable that there will he
little delay hereafter, the friends of
the bill having concluded that one or
the other is ripe for passage, although
senator Sperry objected to their con,
slceratlon at late hour yesterday aft
ernoon.
1t is said that the Hastings folk will
not try to push their bill through in
general orders until tomorrow 1t
came up yesterday, but on account of
the absence of a number Of senators
who were detained by pressing private
business, Senator Schaller moved that
it be laid over temporarily.
1t is likely that the senate will not
take any holiday Saturday of this
week. 1t is away behind on general
orders, having over twenty-five bills
which have : ever even been reached
in committee of the whole. not to saw
ever having been considered Among
the foremost of these is the antitrust
Dill, which will be given a hearing by
the judiciary committee today after
which it will no doubt be ready for
discussion in full senate. If the Johns
bill is retained in it's present. shape. the
organized labor lobby will oppose it
heart and soul.
It is said that the fight made yester-
day against the capitol bill was made
merely for delay, and not in any hope
of defeating the bill on final passage.
When Senator Keller's beet sugar
committee gets its report ready it will
be one of the most elaborate yet made.
The report will be printed and will be
illustrated with half-tone pictures and
map showing the belt of Minnesota
territory in which beet culture for su-
gar making may be INDUCED in with
reasonable assurance of profit. The
culture is at it's best near an fsOther-
NAL line of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. That
line enters the state just above Still
water and runs in a slight curve
through st. Cloud to the western boun-
dairy, south of Fargo. 1t is calculated
that beet raising may be considered
possible with good results within 100
miles on either side of this line
The Mountain iron investigating
committee is quietly examining wit
nesses during the sessions Of the two
houses, and it is expected that it will
be ready to report by the middle of
next week.