The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-10
Gjertsen Bill Is Taken Up by
the Senate After a Long
Wait and Despite the Pro-
tests of the Opposition Is
Recommended for Passage
To Revive EarlyAdjourn.
ment Resolution.

The much abused Gjertsen bucket
shop bill, having survived several
trips to the Judiciary committee and
a siege at the top of the list of bills
on general orders, was rescued by the
senate yesterday afternoon, and after
a somewhat lengthy debate. recom-
mended for passage.
The Gjertsen bill is designed to aboI-
lsh the bucket shops now doing busi-
ness in the state. It's provisions draw
a line between the so-called bucket
shops and boards of trade or cham
| bers of commerce. Senator Torsen has
introduced a bill directed against buck
| ct shops and boards of trade, and the
existence of this bill has been respon-
sible for the troubles of the Gjertsen
measure.
Senator Gjertsen has made several
unsuccessful attempts to secure con-
sideration for his measure, and when
the bill was rescued yesterday after
noon he again moved for favorable
recommendation.
Senator Horton protested, and as a
substitute moved that the Gjertsen
bill be indefinitely postponed. In sup
port of the substitute motion the SEN
ator from Ramsey declared that the
bill was bad one, not being for the
! interests of the public, the exchange
es or the farmers. He admitted that
1t was directed against gambling in
stitution, but insisted that the recog-
nized boards of trade were engaged in
/ the same business and could see no
reason for making a distinction.
Senator Gjertsen defended his bill
and the boards of trade by declaring
that bucket shops We're not gambling
institutions. but Skin game" institu-
tions, and that while gambling might
be found on the floors of recognized
exchanges, legitimate business was the
primary object in the establlshmenr
| of the exchanges.
The author of the bill attacked the
Torson bill. He said he had been in
| formed by Senator Torsen that the
TOrsen bill was identical with his
bucket shop bill with the exception
of the section relating to the boards
of trade, which in the Torsen bill
are to be compelled to make public
their quotations Assured this by
Senator Torsen, he said he had inves-
tigated and had discovered that the
Torsen measure had slyly dropped the
word manager" wherever it appeared
in the Gjertsen bill, and that this
CidISG Ildue the law WOIInleSS, as IL
made it impossible to convict anyone OF
conducting a bucket shop.
Senator Gjertsen declared that he
had introduced his bill merely to save
the simple farmer people who were be-
ing robbed of their money by con-
Germs whose operators met every
morning to divide the receipts pouring
in from the farmer districts, and only
spent money for postage to notify
the suckers" that they had lost III
their transactions. He insisted that
this was his only reason. and declared
himself willing to accept any amend
ments designed to accomplish that
end.
Senator Horton offered an amend-
ment to include all boards of trade in
cases where the sale was not actual or
| where the purchase price was not paid.
| Senator Brewer and several other
senators believed that this would op-
crate against legitimate future sales,
and Senators Gjertsen and Calhoun,
of Hennepin, objected to the amend
ment. The protests availed and the
amendment was killed.
Senator Horton then repeated his
motion to Indefinitely postpone the bill
and the motion was lost. Senator
Gjertsen's motion to recommend the
bill for passage was adopted.