The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-04


Military Bill Introduced at the
Request of the Senate
The house attended strictly to Its own
business yesterday. The calendar con-
tanned twenty-nine bills, and fourteen
of these were passed. When that part
of the calendar on which senate bills
were in order was reached the house
went into the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Roberts lKep), of Hennepin, plead
ed that one of the senate bills, which, he
said, was local measure relating to the
salary of judges and clerks of the pro-
bate court. be passed, but the members
would not listen.
On general orders the same studious
attitude was taken as to senate bills
In each case when a senate file was
reached progress was reported. Six
house bills were advanced to the call
endar.
Bills to the number of FIVE were intro
duced with the consent of the governor.
NEW MILITIA COMPROMISE.
The only one of the five of more than
passing interest was that introduced by
Mr.. West iRep.), of Mower, amending the
military code.
An effort was made by some of the
staff officers of the Fourth regiment to
secure the passage of bill which would
consolidate the Second and Third regi-
ments, and by so doing allow the Fourth
or at least all the staff officers, to retain
their shoulder straps at the expense of
the staff of the Third.
The bill of Mr.. West which was re-
ferred TO the committee on military af-
fairs, allows the commander-in-chief of
the national guard, or, in other words
the governor, to keep in service three
regiments pending the absence of the
First, now known as the Thirteenth
Minnesota volunteers, in Manila. The
will give the Fourth regiment the place
In the guard occupied by the First regi-
ment until the return of the boys from
the Philippines.
The bill as introduced yesterday was
the result of Il conference of the officers
of the Second, Third and Fourth regi-
ments, and is satisfactory all round.
SOME STREET CAR BILLS.
In the committee of the whole two
hours was put in on the two bills author
izing city councils to grant franchises to
street railway companies and legalizing
acts In this direction already passed by
such bodies. The measures are intended
to allow interurban lines to be construct
ed and operated between st. Paul and
Saltwater and Anoka and Minneapolis,
although the legislation is broad enough
to cover other trolley lines in various
parts of the state.
H. F. 81, by Mr. Hillary (Rep), of
Washington, as introduced provided that
by a majority vote the city or village
council could grant a franchise either by
resolution or ordinance for twenty-five
years, and also a proviso to the effect
that in cities or villages where a COM
pany was operating double track lines
the corporations persons to be given
franchises under the bill should only be
granted the privilege to extend lines from
the limit of the city to the point of con-
nection with such existing lines by the
nearest practicable route. 1t also provid-
ed that If the existing company desired
IT could within ten days after an ordi-
nance was granted file with the city or
village clerk notice that it elected to
extend the tracks to the city limits, and
if the existing company should within
sixty days do so no rights should accrue
TO those who applied for and had been
granted the rights under the ordinance.
On the face of the bill, as introduced,
several of the members of the house
argued that under such a law the Twin
City Rapid Transit company would have
a sure thing in each of the cities of St.
Paul and Minneapolis, and while it was
possible for other companies to secure
rights and build lines from Anoka to
Saltwater and other points, such COM
panies could only come to the limits of
either of the Twin cities with the pro-
posed lines.
Mr. Winston (Dem.) of Hennepin, Of
fered an amendment striking out the pro-
vision allowing the franchise to be grant
ed by resolution. This was adopted.
The second amendment of Mr.. Winston
struck out all that part of the bill which
allowed existing company lines any cinch
on running to the city limits to meet the
proposed interurban lines, and allowed
councils to grant franchises to new COM
panies. This was also adopted
Mr.. Staples CRep.), of Dakota, presented
an amendment which limited the fran
chise granted in cities of over $4,000 in
habitants to a period of fifteen years
This was also adopted.
Mr.. Dunn (Rep.), of Ramsey, wanted
the franchise granted only by three
fourths vote of the city councils. Mr.
Staples opposed this, claiming that if the
amendment was adopted it would be i'm