The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-05-03
B B B STORE,
POLITICS AND NEWS.
Gossip and Opinions Gathered In
the Capital City.

1t is not the intention at this
time to discuss the merits or de-
merits of the Hastings-Anoka asy-
lum bill which passed the legisla-
ture. That is a matter of opinion
upon which honest men may differ.
But we wish to call attention to
Gov. Lind s most striking incon-
sistency in dealing with this ques-
ton. The first bill that passed,
and which the governor vetoed,
provided for building all insane
asylum at Anoka on the cottage
plan and for the purchase of site
at Hastings for future use. The
friends of this measure had de-
ferred considerably to the opinions
of those who favored the county and
cottage plans. There were limita-
tions and restrictions thrown about
the bill so that there was no doubt
as to it's meaning The size of the
colony was limited to five hundred
patients, the capacity of the individ
ual cottages to sixty and there was
to be but one asylum to be built
until another was needed. To this
bill Gov. Lind put his veto.
The Hastings-Anoka people there
upon amended the Barker bill, which
was originally copy of the bill
that passed, and to this measure
the governor gave his approval.
This bill as amended removed all
the limitations and safeguards of
the first bill and established two
asylums to be built at once instead
of one. 1t would certainly have
been far better for the State had
Gov Lind signed the first bill and
in giving his approval to the second
he has stultified himself in the eyes
of the friends as we'll as the oppo-
nents of the Hastings Anoka combi-
nation.
Among the important railroad
measures which stand to the credit
of the Republican Legislature this
time are the three which will mean
a great deal to the people of Mime
sofa. One provides for the election
Of the railroad and warehouse CON-
mission by popular vote and another
gives the commission semijudicial
powers. Up to this time the testi-
mony taken before the commission
has had no standing in the courts.
When the commission had comcluc
ed an important case and the roads
took an appeal, as they almost in
yariably did, the whole grounds had
to be gone over again in the courts,
thus delaying often for an indefi-
mite period the most important liti-
cation. Questions of exhorbitant
rates and injuries which the people
suffered at the hands of the rail
roads thus remained unsettled from
year to year The new law will in
a marked degree tend to bring
about a much speedier adjustment
of difficulties between the roads and
shippers.
Another law prevents railroad
companies from raising freight rates
without the consent of the railroad
and warehouse commission. Among
the other railroad measures passed
IS one requiring roads to adopt the
standard guage upon direction Of
the commission and another requir-
ing roads to furnish platform facili.
ties for loading grain and live stock
The tax payers of the State are
to be congratulated upon the strict
economy practiced by the last legis
lature. In view of the fact that the
growing demands of the State in.
stitutions had to be provided for
it was predicted that the tax levy
would have to be raised. The legis.
lature fixed the tax levy at not
above LIS mills, the same as before,