Warren sheaf., 1899-04-20

vi
1899 and the last days have been full of
urgency in the conside deration Of every
thing. The time limit for debate was
not put in force until within q few days
almost hours-of the close, and but
few night sessions were necessary in
order to finish the work that had been
brought before the two houses. The
senate by fits Of industry sought to
catch up with its business and did
really get over considerable ground
during the last week. The house con-
tinued its steady gait and sought to
clear all desks of work before the clos
ing hour.
In more ways than one this is q most
unusual sort Of q Legislature. It has
nearly always been the case that the
general appropriation bill as agreed on
in committee was increased materially
when under consideration in the two
houses. The various institutions or de-
partments whose demands had not been
fully granted by the committee would
form com binations and in most cases
succeeded in securing at least portion
of their rejected demands. In this way
it has happened that the general appro-
priation bill as finally passed called for
more money than when it was reported
to the house and senate from the joint
committee having it in charge. This
year this rule was reversed There We're
changes and combinations in the COM
mittee meeting, but the reported bill
was not only not materially increased
in its aggregate appropriation
but when passed was very much
less in amount. In part
this was due to the subsequent discov-
cry that a few items included in the
general bill had already been provided
for, either by special bill or by stand
ing appropriation. However, there were
scarcely any changes of moment in the
bill after it was reported, and when
sent to the governor it called for over
100000 less than when it came into the
two houses from the joint committee.
This record would be hard to surpass,
and it is credita BILE to both houses and
to the party leaders who brought it
about
The states business has continued to
increase and naturally an increase in
the tax levy would not have been wholly
unexpected at this time. However,
careful work on the appropriations has
made it possible to prevent any increase
in the tax levy, as in the last bill OF
the legislature it is fixed at 1.5 mills, the;
same amount as for the past two years.
Before passing the Underleak anti
trust bill the senate amended it in many
particulars, but the house considered
the original bill more nearly correct
and adopted amendments proposed by
Mr.. Dwinnell bringing the measure
nearer the original form. AS so amend
ed the bill was passed by the house and
sent over to the senate for final action.
In 1891 when the Alliance and Democ-
racy were in power an antitrust law
was enacted and is still on the statute
books. Like much that was done that
year it was Of little effect and no attempt
has ever been made to prosecute any
trust under it's provisions. This years
measure is along the line of the most
effective laws in other states and good
results are anticipated from its passage.
The famous jacobson gross earnings
bill has finally been defeated in the
senate after a hard and tempestuous
life. This bill sought to increase the
tax on gross earnings of railroads IN
Minnesota. 1t was given thorough
discussion in the house and passed that
body several weeks ago. In the senate
it was received with joke, several
committee chalrmen asking to have it
referred to them SO that they could get
a .swhack" at it. When the committee
finally got through with it, it came into
the senate Handicapped with the rec
ommendation for indefinite postpone
ment. This was debated, attempts be-
ing made to reverse it, and finally the
bill and report was placed on the table
whence they could be called up
for action when the best chance
offered. The apparent disposition
was against letting the bill come
1OTlQdllY U0lOT6 Gu0 S0udG6. I1OW0V0E,
the time finally seemed to have come
and the attempt was made but failed.
The bill is still on the table but in such
shape that action on it's really impos-
sible. Any blame that may attach to
any one for the defeat Of the bill be-
longs in the senate. Since senators do
not come up for re-election in 1900 while
members of the house Of representa-
stives must then be elected, those now
in the lower house, with higher ambi-
tions or with desire for, reelection,
are inclined to resent personally this ac-
tion Of the senate, holding that it will
affect their chances before the people,
but cannot affect the senators upon
whom blame should. fall. This feeling
has not helped matters pending between
the two houses.
The friends Of Anoka and Hastings,
and the governor, all win in the fight
over additional provision for the insane.
r. is NOT often both sides can win. hnt