The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-02-09
LEG ISLATI We GOSSIP
Our Special Correspondent Tells Of
the Solons' Doings.

The Work Of Introducing Bills, Both Pub
lie and Private Goes Merrily On. As
Yet but Few Measures Have
Received Final Action.
st. Paul, Feb. 1.-The legislature recon-
vened yesterday after their three days
vacation. but did not seem to be in a
working mood. These little vacations do
not aid committee work, but when the
members visit their homes a lot of bills
are generally incubated. Only twelve
came in at the senate session. so that the
rule was not proven this time. Perhaps
their constituents want to be let alone
and do not desire as much legislation as
usual s5s
eral Importance unless 1t was one offered
making the working day eight hours.
Perhaps this bill was offered to keep the
farmers from putting in too much time.
+ The governor sent in the appointment
of David Bronson, of Saltwater, as mem
Der OF the state prison board, vice J.. s..
OBrien removed. This created no ex-
element, as some politicians imagined it
would. The governor removed Mr..
O'Brien because he proposed Gas the gov
ernor says) that If he (O'Brien) was ap-
pointed surveyor flogs and lumber, he
(O'Brien) would run the board of man
ayers as the governor directed Mr..
OBrien denies this and claims he was
removed because he would not vote for
the candidate for prison chaplain favored
by the governor. Mr.. Bronson will be
easily confirmed, as it is not of great in
terest to the public who holds the Office.
Mr.. O'Brien threatens to carry the mat
ter to the courts, but he may cool of.
The house was in session an hour and
half during which time two minor bills
were passed and 16 introduced. The to-
tai number of bills introduced in the
house for the first month are 1884,, which
is far below the average The state is
to be congratulated. One of the bills in
PRODUCED provides for sliding scale of
lawyers fees in foreclosing mortgages,
the fees to range from SIS to 500, accord
ing to the value of the mortgage.
Another bill offered provides for an ex-
aiming board of twelve who must pass
upon an applicant before he can practice
medicine. Still another places the tele-
graph and telephone companies on the
list of common carriers and subject to
the railroad and warehouse commission.
st. Paul, Feb. 2.-No bills passed by
the senate and two by the house was the
legislative record for the first day of the
second month of the session. One of the
bills passed by the house provides for the
free distribution of what remains of the
0f =
by the state. This comprises about
three-fourths of the amount brought
from Germany. When it was originally
purchased there was no sugar beet
factory in the state and there was not
much use of purchasing any seed. AS a
free gift. it ought to be in demand. The
second bill passed amends the act de-
timing legal paper and provides for a
consolidation of papers without losing
their legal status. This is only one of
hundreds of cases in which it is neces-
sary to burden the general status with
a law, owing to the constitutional amend
ment forbidding special legislation The
Rochester Record and Rochester Post
have consolidated. Both were legal
papers but the consolidat ton, uniting the
names. makes difference and so a law
must be passed applying to. all news
paper consultations and be handed down
for all time In the general statutes Two.
thirds of the general legislation is Of this
specific character. ..
One of the bills introduced in the senate
permits fishing at all season of the year,
on the ground that people should not be
forbidden the opportunity to secure food
Representative Hagstrom thinks we have
too many holidays and so offers bill
revising the list and emitting Lincoln s
birthday. He did not forget labor day,
because the people who work have votes,
but he forgot the birthday Of the man
who was largely instrumental in freeing
the enslaved laborers.
The house got up to 211 bills yesterday
and the senate to 49, but as yet business
is not crowding.
The question of having an examining
board of Osteopaths to pass upon their
wishing to practice that profession is at
tracing about as much attention as any
pending measure. (.
st. Paul, Mimi. Feb. 3.-According to
the Minnesota Senate. one years deser-
ton is enough to secure a divorce, as
that body has killed the bill increasing
the limit to three years. Only four bills
were introduced in the Senate yesterday
and one of these was for closing thea
tres on Sunday. This bill has been intro
duced in the two last legislatures, but
those bodies felt it incumbent to go to
the theatres a few Sunday nights, after
which they concluded that the bill should
not pass. Perhaps this legislature: will
follow the example Of its predecessors.
There was quite lengthy debate in
committee of the whole over the bill tax
ing foreign corporati tons who wish to do
business in Minnesota. The bill is of the
class which restricts commerce between
the states: and is of doubtful constitu-
tionality. After the debate the Senate
passed it over for further consideration.
Mr.. Jacobson not. being in favor of a
Northwestern International exposition in
1902, the resolution laying the ground
work for such a scheme was defeated in
the House.
The colored people seem likely to get
their rights on paper, at least, as the
bill presented by the only colored man in
the legislature, Mr.. Wheaton, has been
recommended to pass. When that be-
comes law the colored people can pa
tronize the saloons and touch elbows
with white folks.
Each branch of the legislature passed
one bill. The, Senate bill legalized deeds
and mortgages effectively executed
while the bill passed by the House legal
lied certain. school bonds issued by Min
neapolis. The bill providing a bounty of
so cents per ton for all pig iron made in
Minnesota from Minnesota ore is being
strongly urged in the committee on man