The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-01
WORK BEGINS 70 DRAG
MOST OF THE LEGISLATURES
HEAVY BUSINESS is STILL
UNTOUCHED
BIG BILLS AWAIT ACTION
Primary Election, Railroad Taxa
ton, AppOrtionment and other
Important Questions Are
Still to Be Settled.


been the busiest week of the legislature.
About 200 bills have been put out of the
way, but only few of them were of
much Importance. Such important legis-
lation Of the primary election bill, the
railway and street railway taxation queS-
tionS, and the apportionment of the
state into senatorial and congressional
districts are yet to be considered. More
than 200 assembly bills are still in the
hands of committees, and the clerks esti-
mate that the legislature is about eight
working days behind the session of two
years ago. Speaker Ray does not think
the work can be finished before May Is,
and his estimate is regarded as very
conservative.
The primary election bill did not get
back to the senate from the committee
on privileges and elections this week, as
was expected. 1t will probably be report
ed next Wednesday evening or Thursday,
and made a special order for the Tuesday
following. That 1t will be amended by
the senate is certain, but just how the
amendments will be sprung or how far
reaching they will be is guess-work as
yet. Senator Hatton, chairman of the
committee, is regarded as an uncertain
element on the bill. He is believed to be
in favor of retaining the state and con-
greSSional conventions, but making the
law apply to the election of members of
the legislature. Senators Jones and
Whitehead are understood to be opposed
to this, while Senators Martin and Mil
Ter are for the bill as it came from the
assembly. On fiat question between
these two propositions, Chairman Hat
tons vote is guess. If it goes for
the assembly bill the minority will put
in the amendments without which it is
not believed possible for the bill to pass
the senate. Whether the assembly will
concur in these amendments remains to
be seen, but the narrow majority by
which the bill passed the lower house
gives ground for the belief that it will.
The apportionment bill Is no nearer
settlement than 1t was two weeks ago,
so far as the congressional districts are
concerned, and these are the principal
Barney, of the Fifth district, is much
worried for fear he may be legislated out
of office, and is protesting against the
proposition to take Waukesha out of his
district, unless he is given some other
equally good Republican district which
would insure him the retention of his
seat. He has plan for a new Fifth dis
trict to be made up of Washington,
Ozaukee, Waukesha and a part of Mil
Wallkee county, but Milwaukee insists on
two districts, or at least only such addi-
lions as would give the city control Of
both, and his plan is not likely to go
through. Some of the leaders in the as
sembly are expressing their dissatisfac-
ton over the action of the senate in
amending the assembly district bill after
1t came from the committee, in the di-
vision of Brown county. They say it has
established bad precedent after it had
been settled that the work of the COM
mlttee should be practically linal The
assembly laid the amendments over until
Wednesday night, and may refuse to con-
cur in them.
absence Of HI
HAIL. who has been ill all the week in
Minneapolis, has delayed action on the
railway ~ y lax bills, he being chair
Sessment and collection of taxes. It is
hoped he will be able to be here the COM
ing week, but it is probable that if he
Is Is n, not the pllIs viii be reported for pas
sage, ana that the report of the commit
Tee Will be practically unanimous
%, One Of the surprises of the week was
sembly of Mr.. Spratt's bill repeating the
corrupt practices act. It was recon-
mended for Indefinite postponement bv
a me committee, but its author made a
IN having 1T advanced. He denounced
the present law as a measure which
puts premium on perjury in recurring
candidates to make sworn Statements IF
their campaign expenses Tt ia a safe
preolcLlon, however, that the repeating
phi Will meet its death before it reaches
IllO SONSTUOr Tor a veto.
Another bill which was advanced after
being reported adversely by the commit
zee was Mr: DahPs bill providing for the
ADOPTION of the Torrens system of land
titles. Mr.. Dahl made an able argument
Tor the measure on the floor and succeed
ed IN having 1t ordered to third reading
t put even II 1t finally passes the assem-
ply 1t is likely to meet the same fate in
the senate as have similar bills
The anti-cigarette bill will be I'D again
IN the senate next week. and will bring
on announcer lively contest on the floor IF
came from the judiciary committee Fri
commttee vote being five for and four
against the bill. The dissenters were
Senators Roehr, Mills. Gavenev and
weed. There is chance now that the
Dill may pass by close vote The vote
on reference was Is to Is, but its on
ponents then claimed that at least five
OF the votes for re-reference were given
out of courtesy by senators who were in
reallty opposed to the bill. The report of
the judiciary committee is expected 70
work change of heart in at least that
number. '
The anti-pass resolution for a coastf
tutlonal amendment prohibiting passes
mas not come to the surface vet. and
there are rumors afloat that IT will be
lost sight of. The rumor has few be-
levers, however. A bill by Assemble
man key Karel was ordered to en-
groSsment this week which is of consjd-
cradle interest to cities. 1t provides that
when grades of streets are changed. as
SeSSment can be levied not only for da M
ages accruing for the change of grade
but for benefits as WELL
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