The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-05
DO NOT NEED RECORD
LEGISLATORS ARE OPPOSED no
STENOGRAPHIC REPORT OF
THEIR SPEECHES
MIGHT LEAD TO TROUBLE
One Senator Says Such a Step Would
Result in Notwithstanding
Home Constituents to
Disagreeable Extent.

On several occasions there has been
suggestion that the Minnesota state leg
lslature should publish daily complete
record OF its doings after the style of the
much-abused Congressional Record,
which would contain full and authentic
reports of all legislative doings, the text
of all bills introduced, the speeches made
by members on the floor, and all reports
of committees and other business of the
two bodies. 1t is not likely that such an
innovation will be started in this state
Tor some years to come. Of all members
who have been asked to give an opinion
on this question, the decided majority
was very much opposed to the idea. One
senator said yesterday:
mot until we have legislature of
deaf and dumb members will such rec
ord be published i'll this state. After the
public had read one issue it would
rise and demand the instant abolition OF
the legislature. The absurdities, the fool
lshneSs, the bombast, the frivolity of
this supposed august and dignified body
already receives a too full and adequate
report In the daily papers, which, for
tunateiy for Us, do not circulate very ex-
tensively among our rural constituents
Inc members are not very eager to adj
vertise the fact that they often work
fifteen minutes and then adjourn three
days.
Jokes would Fall Fiat.
Then jokes which are so precious to us
as they eniiven the weary hours of our
official duty, while all right and proper
in these legislative halls, might disillu-
slonize our country friends who picture
US laboriously burning the midnight oil
over the solemn and portentous affairs
OF state. They might not be particularly
caught with the humor of half-hour
session devoting itself entirely to the
passage of a bill providing for large
danger sign over places where liquor IS
sold, for the protection of legislators
such a bill having once been actually
passed. There is much that is trivial,
and sheer waste of time in the DELHI
eradonS OF the legislature. Then there is
much of the discussion which is of no
interest whatever to the general public,
and it's publication each day at the states
expense would be an understandable e4-
penditure of the peoples money. So far
as l can remembers there have been no
epoch-making speeches delivered in the
state legislature in recent years which
are entitled 10 the Immortality of the
printed page. The Congressional Record
is bad enough. We do not need any of
it, or want any of it here
Would Not Waste Time.
Another senator thought he saw some
feature of advantage IN the proposition.
IF the senators knew that every word
they spoke was to appear in cold print
and to be circUlatedfar and wide beneath
many an unfriendly and critical eye, they
would be more careful of their words;
less time might be wasted. There have
been many important questions before
the legislature upon which able gentle
men have expressed themselves profound
ly and their speeches-the result of care
full study, would throw many sidelights
upon these questions. Then if the people
could read the entire discussion of an
important question and see how the final
result was obtained, there might be less
unjust criticism of members fer thEir
votes by people who do not understand
what they criticise.i'l
At the session of 1897 a certain newspa-
per made & proposition to print full steno-
graphic accounts Of the doings of the
legislature every day, but the legislature
rejected the offer.