The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-12-18
EARNEST Meeting OF LEAGUE AT ST.PETER
RECOMMENDS LEGISLATION.
Asked Start the Work Making
Impossbe Lobbying Committee Naed Other Action
o Results


would begin at once after the bills
passed, and the work would not begin
at Mendoza and work up, but would
begin up stream and work down.
! Mr.. Lossow said that he was indf
ferent as to that. 1t would have to
strike North Mankato either going up
or coming down.
100000 Year.
The appropriation bill was then tax
en- up, and A. l.. Poehler of Henderson
asked why 100000 could not be APP
/ propriated for each of the coming two.
| years.
| Senator johnson said that he thought
that the legislature would stand for
this.
Nh. Poehler then moved to amend
the bill SO that it would provide for an
| appropriation of 100000 in 1909 and
| 100000 in 1910.
NJ A. Ostrander of Kasota asked
what it wass expected to accomplish
| with 100000.
O. Rosendahl of Jordan suggested
that the bill read 100000 or more if
necessary. There would be found
VI NOIh 10 40.
Senator johnson said that the Rush
river contractor had estimated that
the Minnesota river could be dreged for
not to exceed six cents a cubic ward.
and this would mean that 1866 600
yards could be moved for 100000.
Mr.. Benson said that If the work
was done that was provided for in
4 fol of I,,i
extreme floods, and would remedy the
situation for the time being. The
work would be progressing and con-
ditions would be becoming better from
year to year. The state has many
expenditures to make, and while $780,
600 may seem small. it would be well
to be modest to commence with.
Received With Applause.
Lieutenant Governor Everhart was
called upon at this juncture for re-
marks, and was received with applause.
He said that he feared that the es-
innate for doing the work was too low,
as he did not think that dirt could be
moved for six cents yard. The
legislature would first want careful
estimate of the cost of the work
made by competent engineer. Person
ally, he did not think that enough
money had been asked for. He dis
agreed with Congressman Davis and
thought that something could be got
ten from congress. The move would
have some friends in the legislature,
!, and as for himself if he could aid
the general purpose of the work he
would be glad to do so. The league
might not get as much money this
wear as it expected, but he thought
that it would find the legislature fair
" friendly. and would get start
made on the work Mr.. Eberhart. as
usual. told few good stories, and
made and excellent impression.
The report of the committee was
adopted without further discussion.
F. B. Miller of MINNEAPOLIS said that
half a loaf was better than none. ii.
did not think that those who had met
losses would be reimbursed for past
losses but something might be done to
prevent future damage. He suggested
that the work start at Pigseye instead
of Mendoza and the sandbars be re
moved that back up both the Missis-
sippi and Minnesota rivers.
Lobbying Committee Appointed.
Frank C. Irwin of Belle Plaine, at
torney for the league, explained that
| it would not do to mention the Min
nesota river alone in the bills, as that
would be special legislation. Probably
the amount asked would run short,
L,,4 hp 0Ottpn
| for one or two years, more could be
gotten in the future, to complete the
work 1t would be like the APP
preparation for the state capitol The
Legislature was asked for only $1,000
600 to start with, but the plans con-
| templated an expenditure of a much
greater sum, and in all $4O00,OO0 or
more was secured, for the work began
had to be completed. In order that the
wishes of the league might be car
ried out, he offered resolution that a
committee of nine be appointed to at
! tend the session of the legislation and
take all lawful steps to secure the
passage of the bills, with power to
attend meetings, present data, and to
incur reasonable expense, the expenses
OF the committee 10 De pdlQ Dy Une
league. The following were named as
! the committee: Fred Fritchie of New
Ulm, Capt. Jacob Hinderman of Ridge
ley, A. L. Poehler of Sibley, HI. n.
Benson of ST. Peter. C. N. Cosgrove of
lie Sueur, J. H. Diers of Blakeley,
!! Daniel L. Williams of Cambria, Frank
C. Irwin of Belle Plaine, and NJ. w.
Savage of Hennepin county.
Mr.. Irwin stated that he had received
nearly 300 reports as result of let
tiers sent to residents in the bottom
lands whose land had been overlooked,
and the reports covered $4,000 to $4,000
acres. 1t would surprise the league to
hear of the damage that the reports
show had been done in the river bot
toms. He did not believe that any
legislature in the United States could
resist the evidence that would be
presented.
| A. j. Eckstein of New Ulm, chair
man of the Brown county board. offered
an amendment to provide that where
! any member cannot attend he NAV
send substitute. This was accepted
and the resolution was adopted.
Delegates to St. Paul Meeting.
Mr.. Irwin states that he had re-