The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-17
STONES RATE BILL
House Yesterday Placed It on Gen
eral Orders, Overriding Rail-
road Committee.
Fust Submits a Bill Prescribing
Comfort and Safety for
Theater Patrons.

BY vote of 50 to 5 the house yester-
day overturned the railroad committee
and placed Representative Ward stone
bill on general orders. The Dill proiuplts
railroads from raising rates without the
approval of the state railway commission
The only defense made for the commit
lee was by w. A. Nolan, it's chairman. but
before the debate finished he was asking
to have the bill returned and the com
mittee given another chance he ana
not vote on the final roll call.
The debate was married by some exhl-
bition of feeling. Messrs. Burns and
Stevenson appeared to take it as per-
sonal affront that the winning motion
was made by Mr.. Johnson and each man
got caustic in his remarks. Burns ac-
cused Johnson of playing to the galleries,
and Stevenson said he was tired seeing
the gentleman from Hennepin continual
ly advertising his business before the
house" Johnson, rising to a question OF
personal privilege. repealed both state
ments and declared that he had at least
endeavored to behave as a gentleman
while on the floor. w. A. Nolan declared
he was tired of having these Hennepin
county squabbles aired on the floor and
frowned terribly, but it was noticeable
that he glared at Johnson and not at MS
neighbor. Stevenson. r ',
1t develops that the railroad commit
tee did not really know very much about
II.
said that the railroad commission, which
had considered the question for several
months, was entitled to as much con-
sderation as the house committee which
had dismissed 1t with half an hour. He
laid special stress on the fact that the
prevalence of railroad mergers and COM
binations made it necessary to guard
against advances in rates.
Frank Clague made the principal speech
In favor of Johnson's motion, and he
turned the scale in the minds of good
many members. He announced that II
the house permitted the bill to go Oh gen.
era orders he would offer an amendment
that would meet the only objection made
to the bill. His amendment would per-
nit the commission to grant emergency
rates. Mr.. Clague was loaded with fig
nres TO show how rates have been jug
Eled in this state.
Mr.. Burns talked against the bill. de-
c!aring 1t would make cars out of the
commissioners, and cripple competition
entirely, but he voted for the motion.
The first round was on substitute mo-
ton by Mr.. Chinook Of Ramsey. refer
ring the bill back to the committee. Mr..
Stone moved to lay the substitute on the
table, and this carried by a viva voce
vote. A roll call was then demanded on
the motion with the result already stated
The only ones to vote against the mo-
tion were Armstrong, Fulton and
O'Laughlin.
Fust's Theater Bill.
Representative Fust of Minneapolis
doesn't like the seats in local theaters
and consequently introduced bill tc
change them The measure provides thai
none but the newest and most approved
seats be used, that they shall not be
closer together laterally than six inches
nor than three feet from front to rear
The bill then continues thus: ~
And ii further reOuire6 that Ga id
seats shall be Of the newest pattern ano
be provided with hat racks, foot rests anC
be upholstered with the best quality O.
plush or lea ther.' .a
The bill also compels managers of thea
tiers to provide the --latest and most ap
proved schemes and systems of ventila
ton. fire escapes and exits and the lates
and most approved apparatus for extin
gushing fires but applies only to thea
ters to which the admission fee is create
than 81 for the best seats. n
Pay OF County Employees
W. T. Nolan of Hennepin introduced
bill fixing salaries to be paid employees il
the county treasurer's office. The meas
ure provides for chief deputy at 90
per annum: second deputy at $1,000:
cashier at $1,000; two statement clerks a
$1,000 each; and an accountant and state
ment clerk at 81 900 each. The matter c
compensation for extra help is left to III
board of county commissioners. The hi
applies only to Hennepin county and wa
referred to the Hennepin delegation.
A second bill by MI Nolan of simila
purport to the other, but applying to til
auditors office provides for chief DEF
uty at $4,000; three clerks at $1,000:
bookkeeper at 1920; an assistant boob
Keeper at 5000; three deputies at 1.20
and six clerks at $1,000. Extra help is !
be provided for by the commissioner
Like the other Nolan BILL this measul
was sent to the Hennepin delegation.
For Soldiers Mother. ..->
Mr. Tighe sent up bill appropriate
s46S for the relief of Mrs. Mary c: Sil
clair, mother of Robert B. Sinclair, wi
enlisted in the Second Minnesota Nation
guard regiment and died at Camp Ran
sey and who. according to the bill, was II
first volunteer soldier to give up his Ii
in the Spanish-Amercan war Mrs. Si
clair has been drawing a pension of $
month since August of 1901, and the 81
asked Is the amount which would ha
been paid her had the pension be-
granted from the date of young ST
elairs death.
On Drinks and Poisons
Mr. Wilson introduced a bill providi
that damages may be recovered from a.
vender OF liquors who sells intoxicati
drinks to an habitual drunkard after ha
Ing been notified not to do SO by hu
band. wife, child parent. guardian
employer. a...-a rs.
Mr.. Jacoby sent Up bill requiring dru