The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-19
HICKS RESOLUTION PASSES.
Election Committee Is Given a Com.
manding Position,

Chaplain Heard, Of the house of rep
resentatives, may or may not have had
any reeollectiOns of the interesting lit
tie incident which enlivened the Satur-
day session Of that body when he rose
yesterday morning to open the session
with the usual prayer, but at all events
he asked that the members might be
blessed with self-respect without self
c0nceit."
Messrs. Donnelly and Hicks were
both in their places, although many
Of the members had not arrived from
their homes.
With the time since Saturday to
calmly consider the merits and demer-
its of the case, the members again
took up the resolution of Judge Hicks
which was the bottom of the trouble
on Saturday, and after the matter had
been deliberately discussed by Messrs.
Donnelly, Jacobson and Hicks the reso-
luton was adopted by vote of II to
Is. The object Of the measure was
clearly stated by it's author, to be
merely to lop Off attorneys fees IN
specious and trumped-up election con-
tests.
So gently and quietly was the reso-
luton taken UP that it was actually
passed by the house without any OPP
position by Representative Donnelly or
any other person before the represent
tative from Dakota knew it was I'D
for consideration. Upon his statement
that he had not understood the reso-
luton when it passed, Judge Hicks
very considerably moved that the
question be reopened for consideration,
and the matter was taken UP again OH
it's merits. Mr.. Donnelly opposed the
measure as before, and said that with
out any wish to prolong the discussion
Of Saturday he would like to have the
roll called and his vote recorded in
opposition to it's provisions
Judge Hicks followed Donnelly with
an explanation of the bill and a defense
of its provisions. He delicateIy referred
to the Saturday episode, and said the
resolution had been sidetracked I'M
fortunately by personal remarks which,
perhaps, had better not have been
made. He referred to the merits of his
measure, and the necessity of doing
something to cut off the lawyers fees.
Such suggestion, Mr.. Donnelly said,
he had never heard in all his six years
in congress, and from fifteen to twenty
years IN the Minnesota legislature, and
he vigorously objected to giving the
committee on elections the power to
brand man as having brought in a
bogus contest. Here Representative
Jacobson, who may have seen signs Of
returning warfare, took a hand and
came to the defense of the resolution
by stating that it was aimed at third
and fourth rate attorneys who, in the
absence of other business, bring cleo
ton contests to the legislature There
were several cases at every session,
he said, and he characterized it as a
''damnable practice" Accordingly the
resolution was adopted aus stated
above. Judge Hicks asked that the
acknowledgment contest be made a
special order for Thursday morning at
Ii o'clock. After talking with the at
torneys he said, the matter would not
be very lengthy.
Representative Schmidt, Of Duluth,
sent in a bill (H. F. 94) at the instance
of the state treasurer and attorney
general. which seeks to give the sure
ties ON officials bonds for funds de-
posted in bank, the same preference
rights that are now enjoyed by the
state in regard to the assets of the
bank.
Mr.. Schmidt urged the suspension
of the rules in order that the state
treasurer might Immediately receive
the sum of $40, 900 which, he said. some
bank was willing to pay If the surety
could secure the same claim to prefer
ence which the state held. AS there
was some objection to a suspension of
the rules and quick action ON the bill.
Mr.. Schmidt withdrew his motion, and