The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-12

Does MOI belieNe In SSnufnE Menu
bers of One Legislature Around
to Do Investigating for a Report
thetic Body-SOme of the Mem
bers Were Quite Bitter.
The junket of the members of the
legislature to the insane asylums at
Rochester and ST. Peter had it's effects
on the Staples bill, H. f. 261, yesterday
and the measure was defeated. The bill
provided for the appointment of a COM
mission of five, three from the house
and two from the senate, to investigate
and report to the next session of the
legislature bill relating to the estab-
lishment of a state board of control to
have charge of the correctional and
charitable institutions of the state.
The commission was TO be appointed
by the president of the senate and
speaker of the house and an appropria-
ton of $4,000 was carried by the bill
10 engage a Stenographer and pay the
expenses and per diem of IS each
when the commission was at work.
The petty chickering's of the members
which have heretofore been confined
:. to committee rooms were revealed on
the floor of the house and was mani
Tested during the debate. Back of this,
however, was the influence of those in
terested in the management Of the
state institutions who are opposed to
the entering wedge which will take
away the power from the numerous
boards and place it In the hands of
central body.
To this, more than anything else, was
due the defeat of the bill, at least so
claim the friends of the measure. Mr..
70 1re-r T1 I'd To-, ~,
MANAGEMENT of the institutions would
not even allow an investigation to be
made as to the workings of the plan
In other states he would give them a
chance to oppose a bill having in view
the direct change to a board of con-
troll. The bill, he said. would be in
troduced at an early date.
The bill of Mr.. Staples was the first
one on the calendar and after a short
debate as to an adjournment being
taken to Wednesday morning at 10
O'clock, the discussion opened.
Mr.. Foss Rep), of Grant, held that
the bill simply provided for junket-
who were given authority to visit in
situations in the state, the United
States, and. if they deemed best. the
Philippines. in search of information.
1t would give the gentleman from Da-
kota, who had introduced the bill, a
place at 50 per day after the session
had adjourned. It provided for the ap-
poiptment of a stenographer and that
the investigation could be made col
lectively or individually by the men,
bers of the commission. If he was one
of the commission he should. under the
provisions of the bill. prefer to make
the investigation Individually. While
he-majority of the members of the
house would, after the session, have to
homo n1aOt fhrpo
them, accompanied by a typewriter,
would go around and investigate at SIS
per day. He admired the ingenuity
of the gentleman from Dakota to make
a place for himself, but was opposed
to the bill.
Mr.. Gutterson Rep.), of Blue Earth,
did not believe the commission neces-
sary.f Future legislatures would put
no stock in the report of the commits
sion and it would prevent members
of future legislatures from visiting the
state institutions and acquainting
themselves as to the needs Of the In
stitutiCns. K
Mr.. Marin Pop), Of Polk offered an
amendment providing for the appoint
nent of the commission by the COVER
nor and that no member of the legisla-
ture should be a member of the same.
Mr.. Fosnes Onion), of Chippewa,
offered an amendment making Mr.
CSS one OF the members OF the COM
mission.
Mr. Staples objected to the first
amendment and agreeded to the sec
ond one. He stated that a number Of
q certain class of the members Of the
house were always ready to impugn the
motive of others. The member from
Blue Earth did not understand the
first thing about the bill, and feared
1T would shut off legislative junkets,
and the member from Grant saw it
only in the light that he looked at all
questions. The object of the bill was
to ascertain if it was not in the inter-
ests of the state to do away with the
numerous boards and centralize the
duties in one board the same as in
other states. The interests of the state
in his opinion would be promoted by
having a single board of control
Mr.. finland Oem.), of Ramsey,
questioned if the appointing of mem
hers of the legislature on the commits
sion was not unconstitutional
Mr.. Staples said it was not The at
torney general had been consulted on
the question, and, in fact, the bill had
been drawn by the former attorney
general
The state Of affairs now was that the