The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-24


TangIe which Would Ensue.
The house. with thirty-two of its
members absent, transacted business
yesterday. Four bills were passed and
two new ones introduced. The best
part of the session was devoted to a
discussion on the bill providing for the
election of the railroad and warehouse
commissioners. The debate occurred
in committee of the whole, with Mr..
Staples (Rep), of Dakota, in the chair.
The bin of Mr.. Torson (Rep), of Wa
tonwan, H. F. 10, providing for the
election of the three commissioners at
the general election in 1900 and every
two years thereafter was recommended
TIC pass by the committee on general
legislation. The author of the meas
ure moved that when the COM
mittee rise the bill be recon-
mended to pass. Mr.. Roberts
ress reported. He was in accord with
the object of the bill, but was uncer-
tain as to whether under the measure
it would not be possible for the gov
ernor to appoint three new members
of the commission. This point he
wanted settled before he was ready to
vote either to recommend or pass the
bill.
Mr.. West Rep.), of Mower, had an
amendment which provided that at the
general election in 1900 the three COM
missioners be elected, one each for two,
four and six years, and thereafter one
for six years at each general election.
The two-year term, he thought, would
not bring the better qualified men to
seek the office, while the longer term
of six years would result in capable
ia ala
Mr.. Jacobson Rep), of Lac qui Parle,
did not favor the amendment, but, if
it came to a question of securing the
passage of the bill only by having this
amendment he would vote for it. The
siX-year term for the commissioners
was unWise, and the bill as it stood
would be of much more benefit to the
state than with the amendment. The
two-year term would give the commits
sioners the notification that if the
business was not we'll done they could
so.
Mr. ONeill Onion), of Big Stone,
favored the two-year proposition for
the reason that if the commissioners
did not attend to business properly
they would have to go. and If they
did all right they would be reelected.
Mr.. AhlStrom, (Rep), of Hennepin
took the ground that every two years
the people should be given a chance
to. pass on the work of the commits
sioners.
Mr.. Stiles Rep.), of Lincoln, said the
object of the bill was to get the COM
missioners closer to the people. By fix
Ing the term at six years the COM
nissioners were removed away from
the. people, and he was opposed to it,
The people could be depended upon to
do the right thing. and the good of
the service demanded that the term
should be two years, and, if the men
elected were not the men for the place,
then the people could have a chance
to dismiss them.
Mr.. Won Lehe Rep), of LIE Sueur
suggested that an amendment which
would prevent all the members going
out at the same time would be advis-
able. Under the present proposition
one board would get something started
and another board would have to fin
ish the work, which was hardly the
thing
Mr. Grondahl Rep.), of Goodhue, Of
fered an amendment making the term
four years. He was opposed to the
SsXyear term as too long.
Mr. jackson Rep), of Ramsey
favored a two-year term. The mem
berS of the house and other state off,
Gals were elected for two-year terms,
and the people of the state could be
trusted. The amendments offered by
Mr.. Grondahl and Mr.. West We're voted
down. Mr.. Roberts insisted that the
measure be amended to suit his views.
in now rather than substitutes appoint
ed by Gov. Lind. AS it Is, the bill leg
1slateS out of office the three men and
gives the governor an opportunity to
name new ones"
He offered an amendment providing.
that the present commissioners hold
office until the first Monday in Jan
uary, 1901. or until their successors
We're elected and qualified.
Mr.. Fosnes was on his feet in an in
slant to oppose any such amendment
L Know something about this cues
ton he said. land 1 know the people
of the state, irrespective of party, de-
mand change in the railroad and
Warehouse commission. I do not be-
Ieve it fair for the gentleman from
Hennepin and those standing with him
TO extend the term of one of the mem
bers of the commission a year longer
than the present law allows
Mr.. jacobson said there was no dis
position on the part Of Republicans to
keep the people who had elected the
present governor from receiving the
plums; and on behalf of the Republic
ans he favored the law not being
changed so as TO extend the time Of any
member of the board.
Mr.. Roberts explained that he was
not advised as to the extension Of the
term of any member of the commission
under his amendment and withdrew it.
In order to allow the bill to be amend
ed so as to make it certain that Gov
Lind would not have a chance to ap-
point an entire new commission it was
agreed to report progress on the bill
Chairman Staples, in putting the mo-
ton. supplemented it by SAYING not
much progress had been made.
BILLS THAT FOUND FAVOR.
Other bills in general orders recon-
mended to pass were: H. F. Sc, by
Mr. Wethern Pop), of Beltrami, which
allows the organization Of school dis
tricts in counties having twelve or mora
children Of school age The same sec
ton was also amended so as to allow
townships in unorganized counties to
be organized on 1t being proven to have
twenty-five legal voters.
The bill of Mr.. Gutterson RepD. of
Blue Earth, providing for the election
or school district officers on last Mon
Gay July instead OF the same day In
June, as now provided, was recon-
mended to pass.
PETERSON BILL is SET.
The bill of Mr.. Peterson Rep) NJ
Renville, providing for the reduction of
interest On certificates of state land
from to per cent, is made a snec;.1
order for Thursday. In order to he Cd
vised and have the other members in.
formed on the subject Mr.. Lvnds
(Rep), of Carleton, offered the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the state auditor is hove
by requested to communicate to this house