The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-19
HORTON BILL ST|RS
4. HOUSE OPPOSITION
Members of Both Parties viii
Fight Nocturnal Senate
Measure

The Horton bill is doomed in the
house. 1t was generally admitted yes
terday that the measure could never
pass. 1t will be either killed outright
or so mangled by amendment that it's
author will refuse to own it.
Among the strongest Republican
members Of the house, the opinion is
almost unanimously expressed that the
Horton bill, continuing control of the
new state capitol in the state capitol
commission for two years, appropriate
Ing S75,000 annually for it's operation,
and providing a $4,000 salary for some
member of the commission as super
intendent Of the building, will be in
gloriously defeated.
Since the Horton bill was railroaded
through the senate under suspension
OF the rules at a Monday night session,
quiet indignation has spread among
mouse members, until yesterday, famed
by public opinion, it broke into a genu-
inc revolt against the high-handed con-
duet of the so-called senatorial COM
bine in forcing the bill through the
senate.
;. Members of the house see in the Hor-
ton bill partisan scheme to deprive
Gov. Johnson of the prerogatives of his
once, and to create high salaried po-
sltlon for a member Of the capitol COM
mission. While there is a difference
OF. opinion among members of the
house as to the proper authority in
which to put the control of the new
capitol pending its final completion,
there seems to be a practical unanimity
OF sentiment against depriving the gov
ernor of his appointing power and
against the creation of an office for
which there is apparently no warrant
Member Not Consulted
There was an apparently well found
ed report in circulation yesterday that
The capitol commission as a whole had
not acquiesced in asking for the pas
sage of the Horton bill, and that even
member of the commission living so
near the state capitol as John De Lait-
ire, of Minneapolis, had not been con-
suited In the preparation of the bill.
The Horton bill, it was claimed had
been conceived and executed, SO far as
the senate is concerned, in the new
state capitol. - ~ :,,.ts-.3
lille the Horton bill passed the
senate without serious opposition, it
is said that this was due l1aore to the
system in vogue in the senate than to
the merits of the bill. In the senate
there is what is known as patronage
trust land of the forty three senators
VINO are supposed to be enrolled in the
senatorial combine, the author of the
Horton bill is one of the leaders Sen
atorial courtesy, as exemplified in the
senate, requires members of the close
corporation to vote for a measure pro-
posed by one of their fellows. But
Senator Horton took no chances. The
Dill was called up at Monday night
session when many of the senators were
not in their seats, the rules were sus-
pended and the bill was passed.
1t is the first time in my legislative
career that a measure of any special
importance was ever passed at night
session, said Senator C. H. Dart. of
Meeker. yesterday Here was bill
carrying an appropriation of $4,000
annually, and creating permanent DO
sition at $4,000 a year, put through at
night session under suspension of the
rules. IL is something new in the his
tory OF Minnesota legislation, and 1 do
not believe that history will very soon
repeat ITSELF
In the house, where the bill was sent
after It's passage by the senate, feeling
has been manifestly against the meas
ure since its purpose and the facts con-
nected with its nocturnal passage have
become known. The Horton bill is now
before the committee on public build
lngs, and 1T is highly probable that it,
will come from the committee with an
adverse report.
Opposed the Measure
Representative w. H. Putnam. OF
Goodhue, chairman of the railroads
committee and member of the public
buildings committee, said yesterday
that he was opposed to the bill Il am
opposed to any bill which will destroy
the prerogatives of Gov. Johnson" he
sand. Il shall vote to indefinitely post
pone the bill in it's present FORM
Other house leaders were as emphatf
. in their expression of the bill.
w. B. Anderson, chairman of the ju-
! dietary committee, said: IF the Hor-
ton bill Is designed to take away from
the governor any prerogatiyes that he
may now have, it is simply partisan
measure, and l will not vote for it. The
! BILLS an important one and should be
carefully considered. From such in.
\ foRrnation as now have in reference
to its provisions, could not vote for it.
The action of the senate in passing so
! important measure under suspension
of the rules and at night session. is
something unusual in Minnesota legis-
lation, and / do not approve of the
course adopted by the senate
Sherman S. Smith, of Hennepin, a
member of the public buildings COM
|. mittee, said: IF / were to vote for a
favorable recommendation of the Hor-
ton bill think that would vote alone.
!. 1t is a measure for which 1 do not be-
slieve the house will stand"
Il don't believe for minute in clip
ping the wings of Gov. Johnson de-
clared ]. H. Morley. of Owatonna. HE
has been elected governor and should
have every bit of patronage that has in
the past gone with his office. 1t is
small piece Of partisan politics to at
tempt to job him out of few cheap
places in the new capitol by the enact
ment of the Horton bill. do not be-
lieve, either, that the capitol commits
sion has any business operating the
new capitol 1t is not the purpose for
which the board was created
IS George e. PerIey. of Clay, said that
he believed the house would materially
reduce the compensation of 5000 car
ried by the bill for superintendent to
be named from the capitol commission
B. S. Bennett, of Polk, admitted hear
ing many objections to the provisions
of the Horton bill. He would not say
that he would vote against the bill, but
he would vote to amend it in several
important particulars before voting