The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-18
THE SENATE
Upper House Improved on 1908, but
Was Still Very Conservative. .

The senate elected in 1902 has now
closed it's record, and those members of
the body who wish to continue their
legislative careers will have to go be-
them would have considerable difficulty
in explaining their records, and some
are in disfavor with their constituents
because of the disappointing stand they
took on questions. 1a.
Probably a larger percentage of able,
Intelligent men never assembled IN
either house of the Minnesota legisla-
ture, and many of them were high
minded men who tried faithfully to
serve the states best interests. How
ever, the senate in the aggregate was
a disappointment, and it was domin-
ated by the old conservative or reac-
tionary influence. which has no sympa-
thy with the Roosevelt and La Toilette
school of government. There was no
denying the accusation often heard,
that the senate was ruled by a "com-
bine. - A majority, including men of
| both parties, had common understand.
ing which was lived up to in general
! They helped each other out with bills,
and when a measure that had 'tpopu-
listie' faint came up from the house,
/, or was introduced by some senator OF
more advanced ideas, they. quietly
smothered it in committee. Several
bills were killed this year, as two years
ago, by failure to report them out, and
efforts to force report invariably
failed, for the senate stood by the com.
mittees, whatever they did. .
! The record made this time was an
improvement on that of 1905. but not
as much of brace as was expected in
view of the fact that terms are soon to
expire. The senate executed an about
face on the, university and normal
schools. finally releasing them from
board of control care. Tt also changed
it's position on the tax amendment and
agreed to wide open form. 1t agreed
without murmur to the set of bills
reported by the majority of the rail.
road rate inquiry committee, and passed
them in form which a few years ago
/ yond all tradition and belief. However,
. the railroads killed the one measure
they feared the most, the reciprocal
{ demurrage bill, and also the anti-pass
, and fare-reduction bills. The private
, banking interests made a successful
= stand III the senate against the bill re-
/ curing them to incorporate and come
| under state O. national supervision.
I | Senators Somerville and Blower occu-
pied the leading positions during the
d session because of their committee posts
l. Somerville as chairman of judiciary had
j charge of the code, to which he gave
l. faithful attention, while Brewer as
| HedU VI tuS CohuilltCS HClu tHt
:, state purse strings. He was chairman
f also of the subcommittee which drew
l. the omnibus bill, and this made hin
IS practically chancellor of the exchecquer
n 1t was not unnatural that these two
should clash before the session ended
D as they did last Saturday over the ap
,e preparation bill.
.e The senators who sat at the past ses
IN sion have all been in the public eve be
is fore, except John T. Frater, of Brain
III erd, and hence do not need extende
IN mention. Their abilities and record
I'd are well known. Senator Frater sue
IS, ceeded the late A. +. Ferris for the I'm
IN expired term, and by reason of his Ion
lie service as county treasurer was well il
nj formed on most questions that aros,
He made good fight for his pet BILL
IN third state fish hatchery at Deerwoot
n Senator Peterson, in charge of the ant
lie pass and two-cent-fare bill, an
We Senator Eberhart as chairman of til
p, railroad rate inquiry, came in for III
no usual attention during the session, an
ed deserve special mention.