The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-03-04
THEIR RECORDS SHOWN
Citizens League Submits
its First Report Concerning
s., Present Session 49,,
ROLL CALLS ARE GIVEN
Facts Taken From the legislative
Journals for the Information
of the Voters

The Minnesota Citizens League, or
ganized to watch the legislature and
report, in an impartial manner, the
doings of that body for individuals
and for the newspapers of the state,
the action of the legislature on inn
portant matters of interest to the peo-
pie, has sent out it's first report. The
committee is composed of:
S. NJ. Owen, Minneapolis; w. B.
Douglas, st. Paul; John III. Grass,
Fergus Falls; Chas. 1. Regard, Owa-
tonna; Milton o. Nelson, Minneapolis;
II. j. Knox, Jackson; John G. Apple
gate, Cannon Falls; Hugh t. Halbert,
st. Paul; r. S. Clarke, Royalton; Jas.
A. Peterson, Minneapolis; James Man.
allan, st. Paul. Lynn Haines is secre-
tary, and permanent offices are MAIN
tanned at CAT Endicott Bldg, st. Paul.
Early in the present session the
League applied for position as re-
porter for its secretary, Lynn Haines,
on the floor of the house where other
newspaper reporters sit. The house
ousted Mr.. Haines but when great
outcry was raised he was reinstated.
The League report, which is just,
out, gives roll calls and other matter
from the legislative records showing
the position of the members. The
house rules give committees .uniimit-
ed power as to bills and many meas
ures are quietly killed in committee.
An attempt was made early in the
session to amend the house rules so
that bills should be reported out in
fifteen days unless the house should
grant an extension of time. The
was tabled on motion Of
John G. Lennon of Minneapolis by
vote OF 60 to A. Representative Hen
ry j. Emmel of Melrose voted in the
affirmative. A similar provision was
killed in the senate by vote of IS to g..
w. A. Nolan's bill to place electric
railways under the State Warehouse
commission was amended in commit
tee, the amendment placing the pow
er of regulation with local authorities.
This bill is now on general orders in
the house. The house killed an initi-
ative and referendum bill by vote of
81 to 45. Representative Henry J. En-
mel of MelrOse voting with the ma
jority.
A bill was introduced in the house
providing that copies of the house and
journals and some other inn
portant public documents be mailed
to each Of thenewspaperso of the state,
the papers to pay postage. On Janu-
airy 18th this. bill was killed by a vote
of so to so, sixty votes being necessary
for its passage. Henry j. Emmel of
Melrose voted against the bill.
The county option bill was killed by
the house, debate being shut off by
the adoption of the previous question,
moved by Representative Wells of.
Breckenridge. Henry j. Emmel, OF
Melrose voted in the affirmative on
the previous question, the vote stand
ing sc to 81. A vote to substitute the
report OF the temperance
which recommended the
passage of the county option bill, was
then taken, roll call showing A votes
in the Affirmative and 73 i'm the mega
tive. Representative Henry j. Em-
mel of Melrose voted in the negative.
The above facts are all set forth in
the report of the League. The report
both branches of the legisla-
ture for needless and extravagant ex-
penditure of money on employees. The
case of newspaper reporter is given,
who draws $500 a day as sergeant of {
the press gallery when in fact there
Is no ''press gallery" The position is
q sinecure. The reporter in question
Is on the. staff of the st. Paul Pioneer
Press, thoughthe report of the League
1oes not, say so.
Lovers of the national game at
Long Prairie are busy these days
planning for good base ball team
this season. A meeting is to be cali
er in the near future to organize and
raise funds for the project.