The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-03-18
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
STATE SENATORS WANTED TO KNOW
WHERE THEY WERE At.

S''.se ps.'s- 800
- Conference Of the Results Of Which
No One will spsak-Balief That Tenn.
peranoe Legislation Was the Principal
Topio-Progress in Reapportionment.
Judge Hicks Would Abolish Marriage
Licensos-Road and Bridge Funds
Douglas Freight Rate Bhl-Looal OPP
tlon In the House.
ST. PAUL, March l6.-[Special. 1.-The
last week in legislative matters has
been almost without features. Ten
weeks Of the session have passed and
not until last Friday did the Republi-
cans think it necessary to hold caucus
to decide on party action. Only the
senators oaucused and they would not
say what it was all about, although
guesses were general and reasonable
that temperance legislation was one of
the principal subjects discussed. AS
they begin to realize that the record of
this session will be considered in the
campaign Of 1898 the Republican lead.
ers appreciate more fully the necessity
for careful action on general legisla-
ton. Several temperance measures
are pending, the principal ones being
the county local option bill and Senator
Knatvold's attempts to make liquor
licenses $1,000 in all cities and villages.
Nothing definite has yet leaked out as
to possible action on these measures,
but it is admitted that in general
way they were discussed. Some sug-
gestions have been made that the eau
Gus was held to decide what
to do in the Anoka- Hastings
hospital war, but this is de-
MED. Some Republicans express alarm
over possible party defections in Anoka
county if Hastings wins this fight, and
this fear is believed to have started the
story that caucus action was desired
on The hospital site bill. This caucus
has been used as text by one Republi-
can politician to berate the legislators
soundly for allowing the holding of a
caucus. Said he: IF no caucus had
been called, then whatever action was
taken would represent simply the per-
sonal views of individual senator's, but
a caucus having been held the party
will now stand for whatever legislation
results. If unpopular laws are enacted
the Republican party will have to take
hts punishment"
Knatvold Is Not Satisfied.
Senator Knatvold is not satisfied with
the temperance and liquor license laws,
even as proposed to be amended by his
license equalization bill His latest
bill provides for local option from
county down to the municipal town
ship. It is very thriftily provided,
however, that the adoption of the law
by any county, village or town organ
IL stion shall not prevent the manufac-
ture of intoxicating liquors therein for
sale at other points.
Progress in Reapportionment.
This week sees something definite in
the way of reapportionment, the joint
committee having the matter in charge
reaching an agreement last week, bill
being drafted with but four changes
from the present total membership of
the two houses, each gaining three or
four members. The First and Third
congressional districts will lose one
member from each house, the Seventh
gain one senator, the Fourth and Fifth
will each gain one member in each
house, while the Sixth district will
gain three senators and as many repre-
sentatives. The committee followed
the general plan of allowing $4,000 in
habitants to each senatorial district It
is impossible to predict accurately what
will be done with the bill in the two
houses, but it is reasonable to suppose
that as the matter has reached this
stage by hearty cooperation of the two
houses some form Of reapportionment
very like to this measure will become a
law and the sections now aggrieved be-
cause of insufficient representation will
be happy.
Would Abolish Marriage Licenses.
Judge Hicks of Minneapolis, in Hen
nepin county, has introduced in the
house bill for the encouragement of
marriage; at least that is the result he
argues will result from it's enactment
into law. It repeats the present laws
requiring a marriage license. Whether
Hudson, Wis, will send delegation
up to lobby against the bill remains yet
to be seen, but they will doubtless hope
that, for the sake of Hudson ministers
and justices who now do a big business
with runaway Minnesota couples, this
bill will not become law. In support
of his bill Judge Hicks says the report
of the justice or clergyman will suffice
for a record and that the license fee is
often burdensome.
just an Incident.
In debate the other day on the uni
versity tax bill Henry Feig, the Kandi-
yohi county statesman, referred to
himself as an agriculturist. A few
minutes afterwards In the same dis.
cussion Representative Laing, in refer.
ring to himself, said: II support this
bill, not as an agriculturist, but as a
plain, simple farmer, for that is what
I am"
What is the difference?" demanded
Feig.
"a farmer works the ground; an
agriculturist works the farmer" was
the retort, and the speaker had trouble
securing order.
Governor Clough has vetoed his first
bill Of the session, the victim being the