The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-02-22
LEGISLATIVE 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 legislative feat
ure of the day was the appearance of
Hon. w. ]. Bryan in the house this fore
noon when he delivered brief address.
The senate not being in session until af-
ternoon. he did not visit that body. Rep
resentatives Yale, Stivens and Roberts
were appointed committee to escort Mr..
Bryan TO the speakers desk. He was &C
companied by Gov. Lind and received
with hearty applause. His speech was
non-partisan and in advocacy OF good
government This episode out of the way,
the house went to work with will and
passed eleven bills. One of them prohibits
railroads from raising rates on live stock,
lumber grain. flax and coal. without the
consent of the railroad and warehouse
commission. Another requires railroads
70 provide conveniences at way stations
for shipping grain and live stock, and a
third railroad bill requires the company
TO issue passes to shippers of live stock
accompanying the stock. The other bills
passed were of minor Importance.
The senate did not convene until 2:30
p. m, and only held a brief session,
transacting no business of general inter-
est.
St. Paul, Feb. 16.-Since peace has been
declared between Hastings and Anoka
there is no trouble in rushing insane leg
islation. The senate committee to whom
the bill giving both an asylum was re-
ferred has agreed to report favorably
and it will not be surprising to see the
bill go through under suspension of the
rules. A large list of bills were intro
duced in the senate yesterday, but in
spite of the fact that the constitution for
bids special legislation, nearly all were
of a local special character. One bill
amends the game law, and another pro-
poses an amendment to the constitution,
giving counties local option. This ex-
tends to counties what towns already
enjoy. Another bill offered requires all
convict made goods to be so branded.
The house devoted it's chief energies to
discussing the bill giving a bounty of
fifty cents per ton to all pig iron made
in Minnesota. To the surprise of the
friends of the bill ii encountered strong
opposition-so much so that the author
of the bill offered an amendment to limit
the number OF tons on which a bounty
could be collected to $50, 900. No result
was reached. Only two bills passed, and
those of minor Importance
st. Paul. Feb. lit Senator Halvorsen
can have his way there will be some new
offices created. He introduced bill yes
terday to have the Office of temperance
commissioner created, with a salary of
$1,000 a year. and one deputy with 81, 600
salary with special deputies at s. per day,
to be selected by the commissioner. The
bill carries an appropriation of $4,000.
Senator Miller offered a bill compelling
individuals, partnerships or corporations
to exhibit their insurance policies and
premiums paid to the assessor for the
purpose of being used as a basis for tax
alton.
Only two bills passed the Senate IN
surance Commissioner Dearth is now out
as John OShaughnessy, of Saltwater,
was confirmed as his successor.
The House now has a county option bill
pending as well as the Senate, and there
the part of the temperance people to Sc
cure some restrictive legislation The bill
granting bounty Of 80 cents per ton on
pig iron manufactured in the state was
recommended to pass, but almost at the
message on the proposed increase of the
sugar beet bounty. which may indicate
the fate of this bill if it passes both
houses
Prison labor and good roads combined
received some attention in a bill appro-
priating $4,000 to enable the state prison
commissioners to secure rock land near
the prison and use the prisoners and ma
chinery to crush rock, which is to be de-
livered free of charge to commissioners
of any county asking for the same
st. Paul Feb. 1S.-The bill placing COM
mission men under the control of the rail-
road and warehouse commission, and re-
quiring them to give bonds, precipitated
a lively debate in the Senate and was
finally sent to the judiciary committee to
see if it was constitutional The commit
tee on illuminating oils presented a sub
stitute bill for the one pending, making
the state oil inspector a salaried office.
The new bill fixes the salary at 81, 400 per
year. and provides for one deputy in each
county. at a salary of 500 per month.
The so cents per ton bounty on pig iron
bill was again the subject of lively de-
bate in the house. Numerous amend
ments were offered. and ]. ]. Hill, presi
dent of the Great Northern. was assailed
by Mr. jacobson. but no result was
reached.
This debate occupied so much of the
session that little else was done bill
was offered exempting newspapers from
execution to the extent of s. 600. and job
printing offices to the extent of $500.