The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-06
DONE IN CONGRESS
BY MINNESOTANS
States Representatives in Both
Houses Have Taken Prominent
Part in Legislation.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, March 6-That Mime
sofa is now we'll toward the front in the
national legislative arena is shown by
the Prominent part it's representatives
in both houses have taken in the fifty
eighth congress. Few bills of impor-
lance have been passed during its three
sessions in which Minnesotans did not
figure to considerable extent. This
is true of the entire congress, for it
was largely due to the insistence of
members of the Minnesota house dele
cation that the extra session was called
in the fall of 1908 to put the Cuban
treaty into effect.
congress, gone still further toward the
front, and is now easily classed among
the leading men in the upper branch
of the national legislature. He has
been identified with many pieces of inn
| portant legislation, notably that relat-
ing to Alaska, which had been, up to
the time of the visit of the committee
Of which Mr.. Nelson was a member,
rather neglected by congress. Imme-
after that visit Senator Nelson intro.
duced number of bills, which were
favorably acted upon by the committee
on territories, and which he steered thru
the senate. Among them were bills for
the creation of road and school fund,
a. new judicial district to handle litiga-
ton in the copper country, to extend
the coal land laws to the territory and
one or two others of minor importance.
Senator Nelson is also the author of
bill providing for an elective delegate
for Alaska. Mr.. Nelson has been in
charge of the statehood bill during
most OF the time it was being consid-
cred in the senate.
Minnesota Interests.
1t must not be supposed, however.
that Senator Nelson has neglected the
interests OF his own state while man.
aging these general matters. His men,
bership on the committee on public
lands brought him in close touch with
AL the important matters affecting pub
hc lands, one notable bill which he
steered thru the senate being the one
granting the state of Minnesota 10000
acres for forestry purposes. Every
other bill relating to the disposal Of
public lands in the state and in the west
generally also passed under his scrutiny.
and there was none affecting the state
alone which he did not pass, even down
to one providing for the cession of four
acres to school district in Roseau
county.
AS member Of the commerce com.
mittee of the senate. Mr.. Nelson has ba.
had to look out for the interests of
Minnesota in the river and harbor bill.
and has also secured the passage of tbe
numerous bridge and dam bills intro.
duced by Minnesota members of the
house. ''''
Clapp's Committee Work,
Senator Clapp, by reason of his mem.
6ershlp on the committee on Indian af
lars; mas been busy looking after bills
lands, the most important of which was
the Dill opening the Red Lake reserya-
tlon to homestead settlement. During
the present session he has, as a member
VI Inc interstate commerce committee,
been brought in touch with proposed
rallroad rate legislation, which has
of numerous bills.
Stevens Prominent.
Taking the Minnesotans at the other
end OF the capitol it can be said that
MI. Stevens of st. Paul has been more
IN the public eye than any other member
OF the delegation. Mr.. Stevens is now
one of the leading members of the com
mlttee on Interstate and foreign com
~AASASSD "hASA udc udd The FRAMING and
passage of the Esch- Townsend inter
, state commerce bill, and the bill for the
, reorganization of the Panama canal
, commission and the government of the
canal strip. Besides assisting in franz
ing the rate bill which passed the house,
Mr.. Stevens has introduced one bill for
, the regulation Of private car companies,
and another covering the general sub.
Iject of interstate commerce, and the cor
I rection of abuses which have arisen,
When it is said that there have been be-
tween forty and fifty meetings of the
full committee and subcommittee of
the committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, all of which Mr.. Stevens at
tended, it can be seen that he has been
one OF the busiest men in the house in
that committee alone.
Fully as important, from a general
and local point of view, has been Mr..
Stevens work on the committee on
, military affairs. Mr.. Stevens has been
!, enabled to provide for the greater Fort
> Smelling. which the people of Mime
five hundred thousand dollars has been
expended on this post in the last few
: years, largely thru Mr.. Stevens in
! strumentality. During the coming sea-
. son the additional land needed to carry
! out the plans for the fort will be Sc.
cured, an extra $4,000 having been
a pTOV1Qeu Dy congress-. "A new r1Q1ng
, hall to cost $50, 900, new roads and other
/ improvements costing $4,000, and pos.
, sibly new quarters at an expense of
: about eighteen thousand dollars, will be
: constructed. Mr.. Stevens has also
passed on all bridge and dam bills pre-
scented by other Minnesota members.
, What Tawney Has Done.
Altho Representative Tawney has not
) been in the public eye as much as in
t former years, he has not been idle. In
l. the earlier sessions of the Fifty-eighth
= congress he was occupied in a large
:, measure with legislation affecting the
d St. Louis exposition. Then came the
1t proposition of government aid for the
g Jamestown, Va, exposition. which has
+ kept Mr.. Tawney busy all winter. AL
!. this exposition business came to Mr.
u Tawney because of his Craftsmanship OF
ii the committee on industrial arts and ex
q positions. Then, as republican whip
- he has had to keep track of all inn
portant measures in order that the full
It party vote might be got out when need
n ed.