Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-03-19
MUCH FRI ion
IN lECIS AZURE
Session Grows More Strenuous
as End Draws Neal.
STORM BREAKS IN SENATE
Democrats Denounce BilI Alleged to
Have Been Passed for the Purpose
+ Of Tying the Governors Hands.
Party Arguments in House Broken
on Bill Giving Railroad Commission
Control Of Electric Railroads.

+4.ggs a y sSNiiSi!iiiSiSSe III HOUSE 6TOkefl
on Sill Giving Railroad Commission,
Control Of Electric Railroads.
St. Paul, March 15.-The session
grows more strenuous as it progresses,
1t had been hoped at one time that
the programme mapped out by those
in control would be carried out with.
out friction and that there would be
an early adjournment. But those who
thus peered 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.
= !. X
The storm broke the latter part Of
the week and was melted by the 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 war
be given preference in employment in
public Office, although it is good
deal more of a dead letter than it
should be. Mr.. Peterson proposed to
amend the law so as to secure vet
Grams in positions given them and pre-
vent their discharge FOR political rea-
sons or for no reason at all. Under
the terms of his bill in order to GUST
g. veteran fro1.l Office or to deny him
reappointlnent at the close of his term
charsas of ineficiency, dishonesty or
incapacity would have to be preferred
against him and submitted to the de.
cision Of a tribunal composed of the
governor, the lieutenant governor and
the attorney general On its face this
seems to be measure of just protec-
tion for old soldiers holding political
positions Il
!. !. +
Now / know nothing about what
Senator Peterson's real purpose was
in introducing this bill. but it didn't
take the Democrats in the senate long
to discover that if the bill became law
it might be invoked to retain MI.
Le;tvitt 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. 1t 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.
:.
11SuCS we nave a inc SHOW Oh III
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