Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-03-09
TRAPPING ON OTHER LEGISLATORS.

teresting legislative correspondence. to the
Glenwood Herald. In speaking Of the men i'll
the legislature, he last week "sized up" Repl e.
sentative L. c. Spooner, as one of those mem
bers whose advocacy of even good bill endan-
gers it's chances of passage, account of his
ldomineering and debating methods The ar
lticle follows:-
There are plenty of hobby-riding men in
the legislature. With some their pet hobby
becomes vertable mania. Our friend, the
gentleman from Stevens Mr.. Spooner has prob
ABLY developed the most acute case of the SEES
sion. His hobby? The railroads, the poor down
trodden railroads. And how he does delight in
Igoing after them. His position as chairman of
the railroad committee in the house gives him
such splendid opportunity to ride his hobby.
During the first month of the session he called
a meeting of the railroad committee every day
and was actually chagrined when the house
would adjourn over Sunday. There weren't
enough days in the week for him. Members of
the committee couldn't get chance to attend
meetings of other committees which they con
sidered equally important Something had to
be done. They couldn't call Spooner, he didn't
remember that there were such thing as other
committees. He even forgot that he was on
the Judiciary committee himself. J Finally
enough members of his committee to "turn2the
trick got their heads together and fixed up a
deal to keep Spooners hobby from running
usual. A bunch of the members forgot about
it. Spooner counted noses-no quorum present
hence no business. A day two later the same
thing happened, majority of the committee
found forgetfulness virtue. Spooner isn't
blind man. He saw the light, and his foam
lathered hobby was sent to the barn for few
days rest There other things about Spoon
er, besides his hobby, that are worth mention
ing. He is able attorney, he is energetic
enthusiastic, ambitious His chin marks him
as full of determination and possessed of the
tenacity of purpose of the bulldog, When his
ponderous jaws snap and his eyes blaze-and
they do frequently-you know we'll that he
means business But if he doesn't watch out ;"
I'm afraid the COLLINS will get him." The other
11S men in the house are not going to be tramp
led on and dictated to beyond a certain limit
At the rate Spooner has starte out it won't be
long before he oversteps the limit and then he
will come to with jerk and find himself and
his light under a bushel. And yet really think
he means we'll, though his play so far savors
too much of playing to the gallery, the old
game of riding into popular favor on the wave
of an aroused public sentiment"
$50
Representative Spooner, with his usual
adroitness, did not answer the criticisms which
we passed on his conduct in reference to the
demurrage bill He did not explain why he
neglected and refused to correct some of the
glarihg defects of the bill. He talked about
section ~, but section IL was not an issue in
our discussion
IS I
Especial credit is due to w. C. Bicknell flor
the bill introduced by him this week reducing
the maximum interest charge to per cent. |
Interest charges should always grow less as a
state grows older, but legislation seem neces-
sary to bring the change. The maximum rate
ern states place it at per cent. Illinois is 7,
and Iowa 8. Minnesota has now reached the /
point where pei cent is enough.
Shall Minnesota celebrate the ffteth an
niversary of her admission into the union of
states by semi-centennial exposition next year
at the state fair grounds? It depends on the
legislature. If the Solons fit to to authorize
cultural society for this purpose, the exposition