The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-13
LEGISLATORS REST
WITH LITTLE DONE.
Revision Commission Blamed
for Lack of Re-
suits

Failure of the statute revision COM
mission to make its report to the legis-
lature, and the handicap under which
both branches of the state lawmaking
body are laboring in consequence, is
assigned as the reason for the second
recess of three days within two weeks
The senate and house both agreed yes
terday to an adjournment to Monday
evening at o'clock. While the adj
Journment is to Monday evening, it is
not probable that the real business of
the session will be reached until Tues
day.
The record of the house for its two
weeks, work is twenty three bills in
troduced, the adoption of permanent
rules, the appointment of committees
the naming Of subcommittee for the
Judiciary committee, and an inclina-
ton toward revolt on the part of mi
nority of the Republican members from
the organization which it had assisted
in forming
The bills thus far introduced in the
house are those which had been ex-
pected, and on which their authors had
in advance sounded public sentiment
to degree. They include a board of
control bill, primary election meas
"a y, q va &c III ollldSCl I'LL, d SOOd IOdUS
bill, a bill designed to reduce trespass
on state lands by providing extraor-
binary punishment for offenders and a
number of other bills of local or less
general interest.
Running Smoothly
It is perhaps too early to speculate
as to the feeling between the two leg
islative bodies, but thus far the house
has unanimously concurred in the SEN
ate resolutions and memorials, and
there has not been the slightest evi-
dence of friction. 1t is not improbable,
however, that the two houses may
clash, for already there are indications
that the strong men in the two bodies
hold different views as to matters of
legislative policy.
In the matter of legislative expenses
there is a decided divergence of opin-
ion. The senate has begun it's session
along the same lines that have marked
previous sessions. 1t has given au-
thority for the employment of an un-
usually large number employees anu
has placed their compensation at the
figures that have prevailed for gen.
erations. In the house the tendency is
to reform administration. Speaker
sClague'S rules committee, which has
succeeded to the usual duties of the
legislative expense committee, has re-
sisted pressure to employ the usual
number of clerks and the additional
house employees required by the en-
larged quarters of the legislature, and
has kept the total to about the same
number as two years ago. Not only
has the committee clipped the wings
| of aspiring employees, but it has reduced
the compensation of all doorkeepers
and. gallery keepers and num-
Der of the clerks from So to SO per day,
while all other house expenses have
been trimmed to the minimum. The
policy of retrenchment was outlined in
Speaker Clague's maiden speech to the
house, and he is given the credit
| or the blame-for it.
Applaud the Policy
Those closely associated with the
speaker loudly applaud the policy, but
the speakers critics say that the sys-
tenn is entirely unfair to the house en-
ployes who have come from long dis
tances to take minor positions in the
house They argue that when these
| men have paid railroad fare and the
expenses of living in st. Paul they will
have nothing left to represent their Ia
bors, and that the state can we'll af-
ford to pay a reasonable compensation
to its temporary employees. There are
| rumblings of revolution, and the policy
of those responsible for the organiza-
ton of the house is doing something to-
wards infiaming the opposition to the
speakers rule and the strict enforce
| ment Of his policy by his friends.