The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-24
by A POPULAR VOTE
Representative Stevenson Would
Change the, Method Of Elec-
ting U. $. Senators.
Majority and Minority Reports Are
Submitted on Prison Labor
-.. Conditions. -.

Representative stevenson of Minneapolis
wants Minnesota to petition congress to
call federal constitutional commission,
under the provisions Of article of the
constitution for the purpose Of proposing
an amendment providing for the election
Of United States senators by direct vote
Of the people. ..s- a,e
Article 5 provides that such a commits
sion shall be called on petition of three
fourths of the states and that the amend
ments adopted by such commission shall
be valid when approved by the legislatures
of a like number of states. A number
similar movements are afoot in several
other states. - -. - =.
aka. - A. Prison Labor Report. r!,.r :
The report of the committee Oh state
prison of it's investigation into labor con-
ditions within the Saltwater prison evoked
"a short, sharp. debate. With. it came a
minority report signed by Messrs. Fry
berger and McGregor and championed also
by Anthony Yoerg of st. Paul, who stated
that he would have signed it had he had
an opportunity. The ajority report APP
proves the action of the prison board and
warden in employing more than 200 con-
victs in the shoe factory at one time; the
minority report condemns this action and
declares it to be illegal and unjust to
shoe workers throughout the state.
% Mr.. Fryberger explained that the law
authorized the employment of convicts in
any one industry only to a number. not
in excess of 10 per cent of the number of
free workmen similarly employed in the
state., This law, he claimed, had. been
Violated. The minority report. recon-
lmends that the number of prison shoe
shop workers be limited to a. ma ximunl
Of. 300 -. - = .r.- So So ..s-r
Mr.. o'Laughlin of Lake City, speaking
E.
prised that city members had seen fit to
utilize: this prison labor problem as a
football to be kicked about in the house,
81 am glad to tell you, gentlemen" he
continued, that the law has not been
violated in this regard, and feel conf
dent that I can substantiate what I say.
In reckoning the number of shoe-workers
In. the state, the prison: board included
men operating or employed in the smaller
so-called cobler shops Certainly they
should be included, for they compete with
this prison labor just as much as do the
larger city factories, and when they are
included, no infraction Of the law can be
claimed. move the adoption Of the ma
jority report =
Mr.. O'Laughlin carried his point and
the majority report was adopted. r,
. TO Protect itasca Park. ,>.-
Mr. Bennett introduced a bill which
makes the hauling of logs over lands
! within 1tasca state park or the placing OF
logs or debris within the waters of Elk
or Itasca lake, without first having OBJ
| tanned a license from the governor. ARIEL
ony, punishable by from three months to
zone years Imprisonment, or by a fine OF
| from 81, 900 to S., 600, or both. ,''- 3
Terms Of Service In the, M. N. G.
/ A bill introduced by Mr., Hinton fixes
| the term of office of field and genera
officers of the national guard : at ter
years, but permits a reelection. >..
Higher Court Fees. g..
| Mr.. Shearer sent in a bill raising tho
| fees to be collected by the Hennepir
county clerk of courts, so as to make the
office self supporting. The schedule pro
posed is about double that now in effect
and has been advised by the public exam
| liner. - 80
'- Days OF Grace Bill Amended.
| The Deming bill to- establish days OF
grace was amended in committee of the
whole, SO as to exempt sight drafts, an6
then after a hard fight, recommended tt
pass .-....., -. .,-~~ >..s. ~. te ~ i: