The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-04-25


journed was the capital punishment
measure, bill introduced in the
house by Representative Mckenzie
and passed in the senate on the last
day OF the session. This bill abol-
ished ca pitsl punishment in the state
of Minnesota It had special and di-
rect application to the case of Martin
O'Malley OF lie Sueur county, con-
victed of the murder CT his stepchil-
dren and sentenced to be hanged. The
governor had refused &c sign the death
warrant and the grand jury of LIE
Sueur county had asked the legisla-
ture to inquire of the governor why
he did not do his duty. O'Malley's
sentence has been committed by the
board of pardons to a life term of i'm
prisonment.
In reviewing the work of the ses-
sion the general impression prevails
that it accomplished little. Probably
about the only constructive bit of leg
islation passed was the R. G. Dunn
good roads bill reorganizing the high
way commission. This bill appropri-
ates $4,000 for immediate use and
proposes a constitutional amendment
for the levying of 1-mill tax for the
permanent support of good roads in
the state. Many reform measures
were suggested, like the direct pri-
mary, the initiative and referendum,
the recall, a bill to prevent the issu-
ance of watered stocks by railroads,
but all were killed, most of them in
the senate 1t appears that the one
trouble with the legislature was, in
both houses, that there were no lead
ers and every one wanted to be a
leader. This was not true of the Dem
ocrats In the house they acted as a
unit under the direction of Represen-
tative Pfaender of New Ulm, while in
the senate, with Senator Works as
the nominal leader, and with men like
Schaller, Moonan, WeIs and Collier al
ways on the job, they were able to
hold the balance of power in both
bodies.
Trouble has arisen over the passage
of the "seven senator" bill. A restrain
ing order may be asked from the
courts by Representative Wash5urn
OF Hennepin county on the ground
/ of irregularity in the passage of the
amended bill. In the earlier part Of
the session Speaker Dunn used all his
influence to secure the passage of the
| Congdon reapportionment bill, but in
the latter part of the session, follow.
ing the filing of the Klemer charges,
he underwent a change of heart. He
| used all his influence to secure the
| passage of the seven senator" bill.
The amended measure was passed in
the house amid scenes of wild tumult,
in which Representative O'Neill and
i Frankson engaged in a personal en-
counter and the speaker threatened
to ask the governor to call out the
militia. Representative Minnette of
Stearns county moved to reconsider
the vote. While this motion was
pending a motion to adjourn was
. made and carried. The senate held a
session that evening and the bill was
mysteriously rushed from one house
to the other Chief Clerk Oscar Arne-
son explains that he was instructed
to send it over by the speaker. The
next day the senate passed the bill.
The house journal shows that a mo-
ton to reconsider was pending before
the bill went out of the possession OF
the house and the contention is made
that a bill could not properly go out
of the possession of the house While
a motion upon it was pending.
: Both Speaker Dunn and Lieutenant
Y Governor Gordon changed front dur
y ing the closing hours Of the session
/ The rulings of the lieutenant governor
e had been made in favor of his senate
S organization and in opposition to re
Y apportionment During the last weei
Y he made one definite ruling in favor
e of the reapportionists and had he stoo,
e pat on his decision that it required
Il two-thirds of the senate to lift cal
y of the house the seven senator" bill
r. would never have been passed, but b.
threatened to reverse his ruling tn
. next day, fact that resulted in
>. surrender on the part of the opposi
). ton to the seven senator" bill.
e !. :. !.
e One of the most dramatic incident
p Of the session was the defeat of tn
y recall bill by fluke in the last hour
i of the session The bill had bee
e amended and reamended so as to il
le clude the judiciary and later to e.
ID clude them. On the last night TO
ID passing bills a vigorous fight We
at made for and against in the senate
r. The clock had been turned back tim
ut and again to avoid the constitutions
r requirement that the passage OF bill
n should cease at midnight A vigorou
re filihuctor AGAINST the hill was led n