The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-19

The legislature of 1899 has passed out
of existence. It's record is one which may
we'll be said to justly characterize the
party which was so largely in the ma
jority in that body. 1t has done literally
nothing for the people of the state, but
has set its face persistently against all
remedial measures. It has chosen to
ignore the popular demand for reform in
the state administration which found
such effective expression in the election
of our present governor. While protest
ing its desire to promote the expressed
will of Fhe people and, in its discussions,
Indicating a complete sense of the neces
sity of popular legislation, 1t has in every
instance so governed its conduct that the
popular demand has gone wholly disre-
garded. So
For what this remarkable body did not,
which it might have done, that was
harmful, the people have reason to be
thankful. For what it has failed to do
In the line of reasonable public demand > 1t
rests with the people to express their
condemnation.
When the effort is made to sum up the
extent OF the work deserving public ap-
proval which this body has accomplished
the task is found to be one of surprising
difficulty. An opportunity was presented
to enact such a law as would at least
seriously embarrass the further invasion
of this state by the trust conspiracy
In that direction the attitude of the legis-
lature was so palpably one of makeshift
avoidance as to leave the people really in
worse predicament in this regard than
they We're before it convened. The IN
derleak antitrust law is, as the G e
has already pointed out, worthless If 1t
were designed to protect the trusts, It
could not be more effective than 1t is
likely to prove in actual operation The
measure making the railroad and ware
house commission elective Is another
measure through which political capital
was the chief end sought. It's intent Is
simply to take the appointment of these
officials out Of the hands of the present
governor, rather than to concede to any
popular demand. With the amplest op-
portunlty to enact a measure for the
more just and equitable taxing of foreign
sleeping car concerns, it decided to leave
such corporations untouched, and busted
itself in increasing the tax on express
companies in such fashion as makes IT
morally ip hot
crease worth mentioning in the revenues
derived from this source 1t has made an
effort to regulate the doing of business
in this state by foreign corporations the
outcome of which is at least problemat-
ical. Even in the direction in which party
eXpediency would naturally lead this
body to so, the enactment of legisla ton
favorable to the agricultural interests of
worth recital. The Miller bill alone,
which certifies to the district court the
evidence taken at any investigation be-
fore the railroad and warehouse COM
mission in case of an appeal, is practical
ly all that has been done to secure q
reasonable measure OF relief to those who
may conceive themselves wronged by any
action Of the body mentioned.
Among the measures in which all class
es of our citizens were deeply interested
that came before that body was that ir
favor of free text books That proposal
Instead of being favorably acted on, was
palpably in the interest or rhe hoolr tr,,st
treated from the oucsre as Legislative
pariah. 1t never received any considera
hon whatever, and vas doomed from the
beginning to as early and as peaceful 6
acmise as could be given IT,
In one respect this legislature wa.
worthy of any that had preceded It, All,
soecial interest seeking advancement wal