The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-01-11


| There are two distinct steps in
the creation of legislature. First
comes the election of members by
the people, and then the organiza-
ton of the members into law
making machine. This latter step,
almost as important as the election
itself, was taken by the Minnesota
Legislature on Tuesday, and the
session is now in readiness to man
ufacture history.
The Republican members of the
house caucused at the capitol
Monday evening, Lawrence H.
Johnson of Minneapolis was nomin-
ated for speaker;A. E. L. Johnson of
Minneapolis for chief clerk; A. H.
Vernon of St. Paul for first assistant;
Otto Arneson OF Herman second
assistant; Lester Bartlett of Buffalo
for enrolling clerk; D. W. Meeker of
Moorhead for engrossing clerk; B.
F. Seiz of Red Wing for sergeant-at-
arms; Geo. H. Deans of Foreston for
assistant sergeant-at arms; A. H.
Spring of Rochester for postmaste
Geo. W. Johns of Garden City for
assistant postmaster; and Rev. r.
D. Phillips of Ceylon for chaplain.
These nominations were converted
into elections the following day.
This meeting Monday was made
somewhat memorable through a
speech by Speaker-elect Johnson.
The position to be filled by Mr..
Johnson is second in importance
only to that of governor, 50 far as
influence in shaping Legislation is
concerned, and for this reason the
statements of the speaker were
deeply significant. With the
greatest candor and amition was to
give all possible assistance in
bestowing upon the people the re-
forms which they now need and de-
mand. He asserted that in his cam
paign of speaker not a single pro-
mise of preference had been given
to any member.
The senate organization plums
have gone to S. A. Langum of
Preston, who has been reelected
secretary; w. H. Alton, St. Paul, first
assistant; w. A. Simonton, Glen
wood, second assistant; Frank A.
Holcomb, St. Paul, enrolling clerk;
E. A. Nelson, Hallock, engrossing
sergea nt-at-arms; and Rev. J. w.
Eckman, Duunell. chaplain.
The aggregate salary of all the,
senate and house forces named
above would almost double the
combined compensation given an
equal number of senators and re-
preventative. That explains the
unseemly scramble for pieces of
patronage pie.
Again has the magic name of
Johnson conquered. The speaker
ship went to L. H. johnson and next
to that the most highly priced
position in the house organizati ton,
the chief clerkship, was captured
by Aldoph E. L. johnson. Is it
nationality or the name which
brings success to every aspiring
son of John? The three now most
prominent in Minnesota politics
are Governor Johnson, Speaker
johnson, and Chief Clerk Johnson.
The former is of Swedish descent,
the new presiding officer of the
house is mixture of German and
Dane and~the last named Johnson
is of Viking blood. 1t must be the
name.
The chief clerk is the purchasing
agent of the house and has general
supervision over all the clerical
labors of that organization. In
tel1igence, energy, and absolute
honesty should be qualities of this
official, and these attributes are
said to be controlling characteris-
tics of the affable successor of
Julius Schmall.
The list of senate and house com
mittees will soon be made public
and then it will be possible to pre-.
dict the quality of Legislation that
may be expected. If the railroad
committeeiin either body is made up
of railroad members, it will materi-
ally lessen the chance for remedial
measures in that direction. The
same may be said of other depart.
ments. The writer intends to make
a special study of the various CON-
mittees and then tell the truth con-
corning their attitude towards i'm
portant legislation. If good laws
Dnra Th0rne.