The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-03-04
THE LEGISLATURE.
Both Bodies Are In Good WORKING
Order. t

~oss'py Letters Giving In Detail tho More
important Work of the Senate
and. House of Repre-
st. Paul, Feb 24.-When the legisla-
lature resumed work yesterday, after
the Sunday and Washington birthday
vacation, it seemed to be much re-
freshed and resumed the grind with
vigor. Two of the bills introduced in
to the senate pertained to railroad reg
ulation. One authorizes the railroad
commissioners to prosecute railroads
for violating the law, or compelling
them to reduce freight rates without
anyone making any formal complaint.
Another is the copy of the Iowa law
forbidding unjust railroad discrimina-
tions. The time limit, fixed in the
house. when road and bridge bills can
be introduced having expired, that
class of bills will have to rely upon the
senate hereafter, and four were intro
duced in the senate yesterday.
In order to make sure that the bill
providing for bicycle paths was GER
tainly killed, Mr.. Grondahl, its author.
moved it's indefinite postponement
when the house met yesterday. He
said it had been amended until he
could no longer recognize it as child
of his, and consequently preferred to
have it killed. In view of the popu-
larity of bicycles in both city and coun-
try, it seems odd that the only measure
introduced into the legislature in their
interest should have met with such
violent hostility.
There was quite q scrimmage in the
house over Mr.. Donnelly's bill requir-
ing proceedings to be begun at once
against stockholders in suspended
banks. The banking committee had
amended the bill, giving six months
time in which to commence action, but
on the ground that if so much time is
allowed the stockholders themselves
may become insolvent, and in order
that the depositors may sooner realize,
the argument is based for immediate
suit. The house, however, seemed in
clined to be lenient, and advanced it to
the calendar with the six months clause
still in. 1t will now require unani-
Bills licensing horseshoers and bar
bers were recommended to pass, and
after a few more legislative sessions
we may look to see these classes of
citizens rated on the statute books as
members of the learned professions.
Representative Reeves introduced an
other bill yesterday taxing mines, min
eral lands and iron ore. One of the
election contests in the house bids fair
to be somewhat expensive, as bill
was offered giving Representative Hall
1900 for his expenses in defending his
seat. Mr.. Coates, who tried to capture
it, will probably be heard from later
with thous and-dollar bill.
st. Paul. Feb. Ex-senator Dunn is
inclined to stir up the Milwaukee road
over its discrimination against the
Twin Cities. He says southern Mime
sofa can get freight from Chicago
sooner than from the Twin Cities. The
delay, he alleges, occurs at Austin
where passengers have to wait from
three to twelve hours to make connec-
tions with trains coming to the Twin
Cities. Judge Chandler, agent of the
Milwaukee road, replied that the
Southern Minnesota line, of which
complaint is made, extends distance
are 25 functions and crossings, at all of
which they would be glad to make
close connections if possible. He says
if Senator Dunn will make them a time
table which will do this they will be
glad to adopt it.
The senate passed substitute for the
house bill establishing board of par
dons. The house will probably concur
and the pardoning will thus be taken
out of the hands of the governor.
There was lengthy debate over
Senator Wymau's bill giving the bank
examiner more assistance, during
which the bank examiner was sSored
for not calling attention to the condi-
ton of the Guaranty Loan company,
of Minneapolis, and tother institutions
which have failed. In his behalf it
was claimed that he had 342 institu-
tons to investigate, and that it was
impossible for him to do so without
more aid. In spite of this statement
the opposition to giving him more aid
was very strong, and Senator Wyman
consented to have progress reported
rather than chance defeat by direct
vote.
The attendance in the house yester-
dar was smaller than usual and no at
tempt was made to pass any bills. It
requires 81 votes to pass bill and
where the attendance is light very
few negative votes will defeat a mea-
sure. The members did not want to
take any chance yesterday, and when
the order for passage of bills was
reached it was omitted. The bill pro-
viding commission to select banks
where state funds shall be deposited
was Indefinitely postponed
Mr.. Feig's efforts to have the bill or
ganizlng new counties sent back to his
committee in order to give T. B.
Walker, of Minneapolis. an opportunity
to be heard, proved failure and in
stead the bill was recommended to pass
in its present shape.