Warren sheaf., 1907-01-31
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

st. Paul, Mimi, Jan. 23-Hon.
Knute Nelson, the ''little giant" of
Alexandria was today formally named
United States Senator for a six year
term to succeed himself, by the Min
nesota legislature. The house and
senate met promptly at noon in the
house chamber and was called to or
der by Speaker johnson. The min
ntes of yesterdays sessions of both
houses telling of the vote in each
whereby Senator Nelson was elected
were read and formally approved.
Speaker Johnson then announced
that Senator Nelson was reelected
and adjournment was at once taken
until eleven a. m. the following day.
The house at it's separate session to-
day broke all records so far made as
to the number of bills introduced in
one day. Thirty three we're today
presented. The Anti-cigarette bill
made it's biennial appearance fathered
by s. O. Morse. Walter L. Case of
Carlton representing the Head of the
Lake delegation introduced a bill for
a recount of the vote on the Constitu-
Eonal amendments, each county to
pay it's proportionate part of the ex-
pense. L. G. Spooner introduced a
bill to authorize the board of control
to sell binding twine outside the
state. The measure follows the rec
concentrations of both the board and
the governor and is aimed to give the
state more freedom in competing
with twine sold by the trust. w. @.
Bicknell introduced the Stephens
Senate bill for establishing of nine
agricultural high schools in different
geographical districts of the state.
Elias Rachie introduced in the house
and Senator Withersteine in the SEN
ate bill calling for the establish
consisting of the governor, auditor
and secretary of state, these to select
two other members and the entire
board to elect an executive agent
who will be the only salaried mem
ber of the immigration bureau. The
bill carries an appropriation of $50,
10000.
s. A. Nelson in the senate and j.
A. Gates in the house presented a
memorial to congress asking for. abol-
ishment of the tariff on lumber with
a view to knocking out the alleged
lumber trust. The resolution was
adopted by the senate without di-
senting vote, but laid over for the
day in the house on notice of debate.
Senator Putnam introduced a bill in
the senate claiming to decrease acci-
dents suffered by railway employees.
The measure demands that automatic
brakes be placed on all freight cars
operated in the state of Minnesota by
Jan. 1, 1908. Senator Fosseen is the
author of another of the insurance
reform bills which put in an appear
ance today. 1t forbids insurance
companies under heavy penalty from
making political contributions in any
way whatsoever.
st. Paul, Minn., Jan. 24-Gov. J.
A. johnson today replied to the Gates
resolution passed in the house and
calling on him for special message
of recommendation on the subject Of
county option and liquor license.
Reading between the lines of polite,
parliamentary language, the message
Informed the house that the question
was up to the lawmakers as a legisla-
tive proposition and not to the gov
ernor as the executive of the state;
that the question was their trouble and
not his, and he accordingly declined
to commit himself. The governor
quoted the section of his original
message on the initiative and refer
endum and thought the legislature
would do we'll to apply it to this special
subject. He held that county option
is n 1T yet a political question in this
state; it is purely a moral one and to
be settled by the representatives of
the people, involving the principle Of
local self-government.
'"Thatit would be manifestly impro-
peri read the message, ''and indeli-
cate for me to discuss this question in
detail at this time, is evident from the
1dCD UldU UI0 w DIS AOU COu-
current and was not joined in by the
senate, and that there is now pend
ing in that body a bill covering this
very question, and for the further
reason that if such bill is passed, it
will become my duty to officially
review it.' The whole drift of the
governors message was, "its up to
YOU, not me-" and was absolutely
In the house today W. A. Nolan
stirred up a hornets nest by moving
reconsideration of the senate resolu-
tion authorizing legislative payment
of expenses of lawmakers on trips to
state institutions. The motion was
opposed by F. L. White, R. J. Wells,
and others and was lost by vote of
40 to 60. Nolan warned the members
the present legislative session prom
ised fair to be the most expensive in
the history of the state. Ambrose
Iighe endorsed this sentiment. J. G..
Lennon condemned the resolution in