Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-03-06

phone franchise and the city hall.
ST. PAUL LEGISLATIVE letter
Hearing on the County Option Bill on
Tuesday Of Last Week.
St. Paul, March BY all means
the most notable event this week was
the hearing on the local option bill.
By adroit filibustering the opposition
had held the bill up so that it had
never been before the committee until
this-the eighth week of the session,
when public hearing was arranged.
Also by adroit bungling the place
where the hearing was to be held was
not arranged, and three hundred peo-
pie crowded the corridors of the Capt.
toll, trying to get into room 2O2 which
has a total capacity Of about twenty
people.
About twenty minutes past two, how
ever, the crowd gathered in the House
Chamber and galleries and Chairman
Webster called to order and asked if
there was anyone who wished to be
heard. A number of>direct and con-
vincing speeches were made in favor
of the bill, and there being no opposi-
ton, its friends felt there was no oc-
casion for further discussion. A lit
tie before three o'clock, or thirty five
minutes after the committee had called
to order, one of the leading opposi-
ton members of the committee moved
to adjourn the hearing for two weeks.
A storm of indignation swept over the
people who had gathered expecting
the bill would be acted upon-either
voted out or some other action taken
which would get the bill advanced.
The minority had prepared with a
minority report in event of adverse
action. Nearly half hour was vast
ed in arguments pro and con, the OPP
position showing itself for the first
time, making the statement that they
had understood that the friends of the
bill were to be heard this time, and
that they who were opposed to the bill
would be heard at a later hearing:
The demand as made again and again
as to who was responsible for any
such statement, but the opposition re-
NAMED discreet]y silent on this ques-
ton. Finally the opposition of the
committee, making excuses of import
ant other engagements, announced
that if adjournment were not taken at
once they would Withdraw, leaving the
committee without a quorum. Final
" adjournment of the hearing was
made until Tuesday, the 5th of March.
While this by no means tells the fate
OF the bill, it was clearly tactical
victory for the opposition It was
agreed that action would be taken by
the committee on that occasion.
| The Elections Committee which some
weeks ago asked for time to: consider
the Higgins bill for the election. oil
United States senator's by direct vote
of the people, took favorable action on
the bill, and when the report was read
Mr.. Higgins moved the suspension Of
1.-The rules and the bill be given its sec
ond and third reading and placed on
final passage, which was done. Every
leffort will now be made to hurry the
Ibill through the Senate, so that that
portion Of the bill which directs the
ISecretary of State to mem alize other
Ilegislatures now ID session may have
Immediate action. .s 3=s*s 81
The Elections Committee also con.
Esidered the Mobiles bill, which pro.
Ivides for the non-partis ian election Of
Judges and such administra alive officers
las county treasurer, register 81 deeds,
aud itor,l curt commiss ners, supren-
tendents 81 schools, etc. this bill
Ishould become & law, the names 81 the
Judges and state administra tfve 81.
fcers would Us 81 aced on ballots for
general election without any party de-
signation
MI. Isobeck's bill the protect ion
girls, raising the age Of sconsentsto
Iefghteen years, and Increasing the se.
1Yerity 81 punt hment, passed The
Ilhouse.
AoRS HoRs
have q mum ber sofs NorE gIholrtses fo1