The Worthington advance., 1901-02-08
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP
Our Special Correspondent Tells Of
the Solons' Doings.

The Senatorial Question Being Settled, the
Members Are Rapidly Getting the
Wheels Of Government
In Motion.
st. Paul, Jan. 29.-Both houses of
the legislature held short sessions last
night The members Of the house
gathered in the hall at p. m., and
after Representative Umland had in
troduced bill ordering the payment
OF John G. Devereux's claim of $495
against the state. adjourned to meet
at 10 o'clock this morning.
Devereaux's claim against the state
Is for service rendered during the fall
Of 1851, when, acting under the orders
of the then adjutant general, he per-
formed the duties of drillmaster and
teacher at the Fort Smelling military
school.
The senators were called to order at
8 o'clock and listened to the reports OF
the judiciary and educational commit
tees and adjourned.
st. Paul, Jan. SO.-The session of the
legislature on Tuesday appeared to be
preliminary to the taking up of actual
work, and the sessions were short.
In the house eighteen bills were in
troduced and referred to committees.
One of these was to abolish capital
punishment for murder III the first de-
gree, substituting life imprisonment.
Another would make per cent the
highest rate of interest, forbidding
more, even by contract.
The constitutional amendment, de-
feated last fall, relating to the invest
ment of school funds, was again intro
duced.
In the senate two bills were passed
as amendments to the insane hospital
laws, The principal one provides that
when patients are taken away by
friends, before discharge, the expense
OF return shall not be paid by the state.
Senator Wilson introduced bill re-
quiring state and county officials to
furnish surety bonds, the cost to be
paid from public funds.
The tax commissions bill was some
what changed in committee Tuesday.
1t will be recommended that FIVE men,
bers be appointed by the governor,
the chief justice and attorney general,
each to be paid q salary of Us, 900 per
year, the commission to report its find
than July, 1902.
The bills introduced in the house
now number 116.
st. Paul, Jan. 31.-The daily sessions
Of the legislature are getting down to
the accustomed pace, which is hum
drum. In the senate, bill intro
duced forbiding unhealthy people
from marriage, was treated with some
levity. 1t is, however, q serious bill
and worthy of careful consideration,
as the hosts of defective children born
into the world demonstrates. It is
somewhat of travesty on legislation
that the first bill through both houses
is semi-violation of the constitution.
The constitution was amended q few
years ago to forbid special legislation.
The West Publishing company, of St.
Paul, for many years published the
supreme court reports. Two years ago
another St. Paul firm got the contract,
and in its publications has studiously
avoided referring to the previous pub
lication of the West company. The
proposed law compels the present pub
Usher TO allude to the reports of his
competitor. 1t has passed the senate
and was unanimously recommended by
the house. If this is not special,
what is?
The author of the anti-cigarette bill
has amended his new measure so that
cigarettes may be imported into the
state, though they cannot be made or
sold in Minnesota. The law does not
make it an offense to smoke cigarettes,
SO thas the dudes need not be alarmed.
They can buy the deadly pencil in
Chicago and smoke themselves to death
with just as much freedom as ever. It
is a proposed law which scratches but
does not kill the snake.
St. Paul, Feb. 1.-The long suspend
ed question of confirming or rejecting
some appointments made by ex-Gov.
Lind during the recess came up in the
senate yesterday. The result was that
Rev. Gustav Wahlund, of Isanti coun-
ty, who has been serving on the state
board of charities and correction, and
A. H. Hendrickson of Todd county and
John E. King of Mobiles, both members
of the state board of equalization, were
rejected. The two former were re.
jected for alleged untitness, and the
latter, seemingly, because he is dem
ocratic editor. At least no charges
were made against him. A fourth ap.
pointee, Louis Welter of Clay county,
a member of the state reformatory
board, squeezed through and he was
confirmed. This action gives Gov. Van
SAINT three new places to fill.
When the senate had filed all its
committee clerkships it discovered
that there were not enough offices to
go around, and so an extra clerk was
given to the, reapportionmentc commit
tee In order to make a place for j. s.
Vandiver. Senator Miller offered q
resolution declaring Vandiver's clerk.
ship vacant, but it went over under
notice of debate. There is a good deal
behind this resolution, but that is an
other story.
w. H. Mahood (dem.) was elected to
the house from LIE Sueur county. II.
E. Blair (rep.) contests the seat. The
committee on election reported, by a
vote of to 2, in favor of Blair. As
r,sual in such cases the division wa.