Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-01-23
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP
Our Special Correspondent Tells of
the Solons' Doings.
But Little Work Is DOne---Everything
Seems to Wait Upou the Pending
Senatorial Struggle.

St. Paul, Jan. 1.-THE senate was
fairly industrious yesterday, six bills
being introduced. One of them was
the usual bill making eight hours a
days work on public works. The
others related to legal matters. The
point of most interest in the senate
was the refusal to confirm the list of
appointments made by Governor Lind.
since the last legislature adjourned.
There is a decided method in this re-
fusal which reminds one of the cele-
brated remark of Flanagan of Texas,
"What are we here for". There are
some whose terms of office continue
for some time to come while others
have about run their course. The
failure to confirm, however, will make
all of the offices vacant at once and
give Governor Van SAINT an opportu-
nifty to fill their places with members
of his party. It was evident that the
senators were not fully decided on the
best policy to pursue, as they content
ed themselves with adjourning the
matter until next week, when it will
be taken up in executive session, but
the prospect of REORGANIZATION is
quite favorable.
Lieut.. Gov. Smith made five boys
happy by appointing Ralph Lomen,
Dick Whitney, Fred Manahan, Willie
Marquardt and Claus. Ekman pages.
The house promptly passed the SEN
ate bill appropriating $l50,0o0 for leg
islative expenses and spent almost the
rest of the entire session in discussing
measures of economy.
Mr.. jacobson of Lac qui Parle, who
has been there before, made himself
heard numerously but in the main was
voted down. He won one point, how
ever, which was perhaps the most i'm
portant of all. The rules of the house
were under consideration and change
was proposed in that relating to ap-
preparation bills. AS the rules have
been, appropriation bills were scat
tered about in various committees ac-
cording to what the money was to be
used for, and after being reported
back by the committees having them
in charge were sent to the regular
appropriation committee for further
consideration. 1t was proposed to
change this to send them to the ap-
preparation committee at first, but a
long wrangle the rule was allowed to
remain as it was. While other chang
es in the rules developed sufficient
amount of wind to run wind mill
water tank for railroad station, they
were not of vital interest.
There is one lone contest case in the
house, that of Blair, Republican from
LIE Sueur against Mahood, Democrat,
the papers being filed yesterday.
There was of course, some bumcombe
talk about reducing the number of
clerks for committees with the usual
result that they were increased. It is
necessary for political purposes to have
these economical scraps as they read
we'll in the newspapers.
Only two bills were introduced in
house. One provides for tax COM
mission to be appointed to the COVER
nor to report a revision of the tax laws
to the next legislature. and the other
creates board Of control for all state
institutions.
The committees on mileage were I'M
able to report yesterday and both
branches adjourned until Monday
evening without having tapped the
$150,00O they had provided for them
selves. A good many will go home
during the recess, but owing to the
senatorial contest a larger number
than usual will remain in the city to
ascertain if possible What they are
here for"
st. Paul. Jan. 15.-After a recess
since last Thursday both houses met
last night. 1t was a mere matter OF
form to adjourn until Monday even.
ing, because nothing was expected tc
be done, but it gives the appearance
in the journal of legislative day.
The senate, true to its traditions,
simply met, called the roll and ad.
journed.
The house made little more of a
showing, seven bills being introduced.
One bill was devoted to regulating
elections. Another provides for mix
ing up the names on the official ballot,
alternating the candidates in print &C.
cording to politics. If it ever should
become a law, it would mix the politi-
cal children up to a degree that an in
telligent man would require ten min
utes to mark his ballot, and the unin-
telligent would not get through before
the polls closed.
A third bill provides for the burial
of honorably discharged soldiers at
tho IF Tho tofo
No one expects that there will be
any very serious attempt at legisla.
! ton until the short term senatorshit
contest is settled, and no one knows