Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-03-19
MUCH FRICTION
IN LEGISLATURE
Session Grows More Strenuous
as End Draws Neat.

STORM BREAKS IN SENATE
Democrats Denounce Bill Alleged to
Have Been Passed for the Purpose
Of Tying the Governors Hands.
Party Arguments in House Broken
on Bill Giving Railroad Commission
Control CT Electric Railroads.
St. Paul, March l5-The session
grows more strenuous as it progresses.
It had been hoped at one time that
the programme mapped out by those
III control would be carried out with.
out friction and that there would be
an early adjournment. But those who
thus peereel into the future overlooked
the complications incident to our
methods Of laWnlaking and they now
find themselves near the close Of the
session with practically no laws of
general public interest enacted and
both branches all torn up by factional
strife. Heretofore it has been the
house where Reorganization was most
apparent, but recent developments in.
dictate that the apparent calm which
had settled over the senate only pre-.
saged the storm which was to shatter
senatorial courtesy into fragments.
= \ :.
The storm broke the latter part Of
the week and was melted by tho pas
sage under suspension Of the rules,
On the motion Of Senator Peterson, OF
what appears On its face to be just
and good bill. We have already a
law on the statute books which pro-
vides that veterans of the Civil var
be given preference in employment in
public office, although it is good
deal more Of a dead letter than it
should Dc. Mr.. Peterson proposed to
amend the law so as to secure vet
Grams in Positions given them and pre-.
Vent their discharge *or political re2a-
sons or TOR 10 reason at all. Under
the terms of his bill III order to GUST
O. veteran fro; office Or to deny him
reappointmeH5 At IL y close Of his term
ci2arG.2s Of intniciency, dishonesty or
inc2r2city would have to be preferred
against him and submitted to the de
cis3on Of tribunal composed Of the
governor, the lieutenant governor and
the attorney general. On its face this
seems to be measure of just protec-
ton for old soldiers holding political
positions.
:. !. !.
Now l know nothing about what
Senator Peterson's real purpose was
in introducing this bill, but it didn't
take the Democrats in the senate lone
to discover that if the bill became law
it might be invoked to retain MI.
Leavitt in his position on the board OF
control. Mr.. Leavitt is an old soldier.
The governor has let it become known
that he does not intend to reappoint
him when his term expires. He has
served or the board since it was Gre
ated and until he had two Democrats
for his colleagues there was no init
nation that he did not serve the state
we'll. It can readily be understood
how the proposed law would tie the
governors hands, as under the Peter
son bill. which merely extends civil
service rules to such public positions
as are held by veterans, the governor
would be compelled to retain him.
:. = !.
Hence we have a fine show of in
dignation when the Democrats in the
senate have fathomed the effect of the
bill. Senator Works declared the
method of its passage the rankest at
tempt at railroading that had been
made. during the session and others
were equally indignant But the SEN
ate stood by Peterson and the Demo
Gratis for once voted by their lone
some There was quite a complete
disruption of the entente cordiale
which has hitherto prevailed when
senatorial courtesy was everything
and party affiliations didn't count.
!. !. !.
Another measure which is working
havoc with alignments, in the house
this time, is the Nolan bill to put cleo
trio railroads under the control of the
board of railroad and warehouse COM
missioners. Just what the animus of
this bill is it is difficult to determine.
It is said to be favored by the Twin
City Rapid Transit company, which is
tired Of both the persistent conflicts
with the local authorities and Of be-
ing held up. by Twin City political
bosses. The company would, it is said,
like to have its ifficulties adjudicated
by an impartial and upright tribunal.
The bill is opposed by the mayor Oh
Minneapolis and members of the board
of aldermen and many of the residents
of the Twin Cities on the ground that
it is taking away the right of the mu-
inequalities to manage their own af-
fairs The Twin City legislative dele
cation is divided and each faction
freely charges the other that its