The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-01
WORK WELL DONE
In Spite Of Errors, Legislature Enacted
Many Important Reforms
Into Laws.
READ A PARTIAL LIST OF THEM
Capital Correspondence ::

Capital Correspondence
I St. Paul, April "a The 1907 ses-
sion of the Minnesota legislature
came to a close at IL o'clock noon
| today. The work of the session,
presided over so successfully by A..
10. Eberhart, as the president Of the
senate, and by Lawrence H. john
son, as speaker of the house, is now
before the people, and when the
Halter, after listening to tales of
extravaganza and legislative bur-
Ilesque and comedy usually follow
| ing in the trial of all legislative ses-
sions, reach the thotful considera-
| ton so characteristic of the Ameri-
can people, they will undoubtedly
j join with the conservative students
of legislative acts, and reach the
conclusion that the session, was worth
many times more than its cost. and
! that measures have been enacted in
to laws that must forever be pointed
to as of material benefit to the whole
people.
Let it be understood that at the
outset no previous Minnesota legis-
lative body was ever confronted
with as many important problems.
And also let it be understood that
but very few previous sessions con-
tanned so many new members, with
varying views. erratic and correc-
tive, and that the handling and unit
ing tof body of men of this char
acter is one of the Ifost difficult
pieces of work in the naattes Of
Legislative reform. In the senate
President Eoerhart found valuable
group Of men, easy to unite on inn
portant problems. but in the house,
where many men were struggling
for leadership, and where leader
ship would not be listened to, Speak
er johnson experienced trials and
] tribulations seldom experienced by
a presiding officer, and that he was
able to entice the members in a
cohesive body on reform matters
must certainly be accepted as a
/ testimonial to his excellent work as
a presiding official, and to his good
judgment in legislative matters.
based on many sessions of actual
Legislative experience.
For years the paramount problem
in Minnesota legislation has been
railroads. A restless feeling among
the people regarding these great
corporations, has everywhere been
noticeable, and it seemed as tho this
discomfort became a cohesive force.
a united demand, on the 1907 SEES
sion. The members and senators
frealized it; the railroads, thru their
legal representatives, took notice of
it. Various measures affecting the
passenger and freight rates were
introduced for consideration during
the early days of the session. The
railroad attorneys were present. But
despite their work it was apparent
that measures were certain of en-
actment, and then three ATTORNEYS
OF three different railroad COM
panies. claiming to have authority
Ito speak for all 6. the Minnesota
lines, authorized statement where
by a compromise might be affected.
The compromise was submitted for
the consideration of the Republican
leaders, and was finally accepted.
Then came the supreme court. deci-
| sion in the Great Northern stock
issue, and as a result, and other un-
fortunate complications, I the rail-
roads refused to verify the compro-
mise proposition. and for several
days all legislation affecting the
railroads and the people seemed to
be out of the question.
Then came the revised two cent
fare bill-not a mere plaything, but
a stern reality positive demand
on the part Of the state that after
May LIST no railroad doing business in
Minnesota should charge passen-