The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-01-04
Senator Clapp Renominated by Majority Of
127 to l.---Had IS More Than Major
ity Of the Legislature.

~
igation, would earnestly Iecoula.. er..l
the adoption of a joint resolution
which will explicitly endorse the said
| Cooper bill" and request our senators
| and representatives in congress to
support said measure. To enable our
people to fully avail themselves of the
benefits of the national laws regulat-
ing transportation and of the interstate
| commerce commission in the admins
tration of these laws would urge the
passage of a bill which would author
ize the state board of railway and
warehouse commissioners to represent
any individual complainant before. the
interstate commerce commission when,
in the judgment of said board of rail-
way and warehouse commissioners,
the grievance of the complainant is
a just one.
In the discussion of this question of
transportation / beg to remind you
that generally we have dealt with
steam railways. Every indication
points to the fact that within q few
years our state will be quite generally
trayersed by electrical railways and
that within the coming two years sew
eral of these lines will be under con-
struction. Being common carriers it
would be wise, in my judgment, to in
corporate in our statutes at this time
a provision which would place all such
common carriers under the control
and jurisdiction of the board Of rail-
way and warehouse commissioners. L
would also urge your attention to the
advisability Of giving said board power
to regulate and control telegraph and
telephone companies. Every public
service corporation which gets it's au-
thOrity from the state and is protected
by the state should be forced to sub
nit to public control.
RAILROAD PASSES.
During past years a strong prejudice
has arisen in this state against what
is commonly termed the pass sys-
tenn" am not among those who be
lieve that the giving or accepting of
! free railroad pass or frank is in
tended in any way as bribe and yet
the mere acceptance of the courtesy
necessarily places the recipient under
some slight measure Of obligation to
the corporation. Public officials and
men prominent in other walks of life
have been the beneficiaries of this
system, which has been in vogue ever
since our existence as a state; and the
system has bi en- so much abused that
sentiment has become aroused against
a continuation of the practice. All cor
pOrations do business on an earning
basis and every-@free pass or favor
granted by corporation is OF neces-
sity paid for by the class Of citizens
who do not come within the favor of
the corporations. Public opinion in
| this state has grown to such an extent
that there is a general demand for the
passage of a law similar to that adopt
ed in the state of Wisconsin, and
! which is most stringent and effectual.
would urge the adoption of law
which will abolish the pass system in
this state The legislature should not
hesitate to give expression to this SEN
timent.
PRISON LABOR.
For a number of years the state has
maintained a plant at the state prison
for the manufacture of binding twine,
and the messages of my several prede-4
cessors in Office have in almost every
instance acknowledged the wisdom OF
the establishment of that plant. It is
profitable source of employment for
our convict labor and, in addition
thereto, is of great benefit to the farm
ers of the state by giving to them
cheaper binding tWine. The situation
in this regard is peculiar to the extent
that in this instance the convict labor
thus employed is not thrown into COM
InI 1oh h0r Of hn
state It would be wisdom upon the
part of the state to devote practically
all Of the prison labor to the manufac-
ture of binding twine. It would be
source of revenue equal to that de-
rived from the manufacture of other
products. Prison labor should not COM
pete with free labor It might be a
source of economy to engage a por-
tion OF this labor in the manufacture
of shoes and clothing for the inmates
of our other public institutions, but,
aside from this, believe it would be-
wise, economical and profitable to ex
tend the tWine plant to such an extent
as to provide employment for the re.
mainder. Our present contract system
is open to great deal Of criticism.
By the change suggested two results
would be accomplished, both of which
would be to the best interests of the
state.
LABOR LEGISLATION.
Another subject which is OF great
interest to the working people of our
state is what may be described as the
common law doctrine as to the non
liability of master to servant for
injuries occurring through the negli-
4ence# of aafpllOW servant This, an