The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-15

GOVERNORS SALARY,
FIFTEEN HUNDRED
Political Economy in 1859, as
Described by Gen. John :.
B. Sanborn.

Legislative methods of the formative
period of Minnesota's history and the
heroic work of the men of that time in
the service of the state were presented
entertainingly in an address by Gen.
John B. Sanborn read last night be-
fore the State Historical society.
The second state legislature, 1S59-60,
of which Gen. Sanborn's paper treated,
former Legislators beside the author,
to-wit, Gen. c. c. Andrews, Horatio E..
Mann and John B. Olivier.
The historical society met in the
senate chamber. Because of the fact
that Gen. Sanborn is suffering from
an affection of the eyes, his paper was
read by R. L Holcomb. Gen. Sanborn
was present, however, and presided.
Selections from the paper follow
The first legislature had met Dec. 2,
members and the house of eighty, al
though at the time the total white popu-,
lation of the young state was only ABOUT
150, 000 The election of 1859 resulted IN a
complete victory for the Republicans
Alexander Ramsey was elected governor
over our late honored associate, Cen
George L. Becker, by a majority OF sos
Then the second legislature convened in
the old capitol building at st. Paul. Dec.
z 1859 Hon. Amos CoggSWell, of Steele
county, was elected speaker of the house.
In his message to us the retiring governor,
Gen. Sibley, declared: 1.-The embarrassed
condition of the state finances and the i'm
poverished situation of the people 1mpera-
lively demand retrenchment In eXpend1-
lures"
He knew that large sums in taxes were
delinquent and could not be collected; that
the people were poor, with small resources
and smaller incomes. But he also knew
that the. state, already in favor with
homeseekers, must not be allowed to take
-S9e backward step in her progress, but
must push steadily onward.
When, on JAN 2, 1860. Alexander Ram
sey became governor, he said in his in
augural: "a thorough revision of all laws
whereby the expenses of town, county. or
state governments can be reduced is I'M
peratiVe.
Along these lines the labors of the
~ onerous and exacting. As chairman of
the judiciary committee. was engaged.
nearly every night of the eighty days
of the session until nearly midnight
often until the small hours of the night.
The other members of the committee
were equally as Industrious. Horatio p.
a very late hour, then walked to his home
in Minneapolis, walking the distance back
the following morning in time to be
present at the opening of the daily session
About Dec. 16 the judiciary committee
of the house brought in a new tax bill,
the main. principles Of which may be said
to be still in force. 1t was a complete
substitute for the inadequate measure en-
acted by the previous legislature.
The most rigid economy was prescribed
in every detail of the public expenditure;
from $1,000 to $1,000; the secretary of
state was given $1,000; the auditor, treas
urer and attorney general $1,000 each. The
houses of. the legislature and the other
state offices was fixed at 500 per year.
At the time the fuel used was wood and
the lights chiefly candles
The statutes relating to common schools
were amended at this session and sub
stantially new system was adopted. A
new law was passed for the government
BY it's provisions the foundations of the
institution were securely laid and Its
future upbuilding provided.
In pursuance of its policy of economy.
the second legislature reduced the total
membership Of that body to twenty one
in the senate and forty In the house.
The legislative sessions were reduced to
sixty days.
1t may with propriety be said, by one
of it's humblest members, that the per-
sonnet of this legislature was of high
order.
Of the house, John B. Sanborn, colonel
of the Fourth Minnesota, become major
general; DR.. Moody c. Tolman was a sur
geon of the Second Minnesota; William
Mitchell served nine years on. our SUI
preme bench; William Pfaender became
lieutenant colonel and served two years
as state treasurer.
The great value of the work of the
legislature of 1850 was that it established
sound and safe policies for the govern
MAN. have ever since been followed.
E. A. Bromley, Of Minneapolis, read
a paper on 1.-The Old Government
Mills at the Falls of st. Anthony
New members of the society were
elected as follows: Charles A. Ben
nett, Pipestone; Adolph o. Eliason,
Montevideo; R. I. Holcomb, St. Paul,
and II. Y. Jones MINNEAPOLIS.