The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-03-18
Certain Senators Are Working on
Bill Which Has Been Promised
Support of Influential Men.
GOVERNOR WILL NOT ACT NOW
1T Would Be Useless to Call Extra
Session" Says Senator A. L. Han
son, of This District.
(By z. A. Wi1son)
Beuidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau

Benidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau
st. Paul, March lS.-There is
much speculation as to whether
Governor Eberhart means to stand
by his promise to call an extra ses-
sion of the legislature to pass a re-
apportionment bill. Some, mostly
opponents of reapportionment
ment, assert that the governors
political future will not per-
nit him to take such a step; as
many, or more, say it is his only
salvation.
In the meantime new move is on
foot to get a reapportionment bill
through the present session. Ger
tain senators are working on a new
draft and they have been promised
support by influential senators who
opposed the Congdon bill.
Speaking of the defeat of the Cong
don bill, Senator A. L. Hanson, in
whose district Beltrami county is To-
Gated, said:
Il regret very much the defeat OF
the measure but hope that something
may yet be done. Should the legis-
lature adjourn without passing a re-
apportionment measure it is my
Judgment that it would be useless
for the governor to call an extra
session.
Representative D. P. O'Neill of
Thief River Falls authorized the fol-
lowing comment:
NO one regrets more than myself
the failure of the bill in the senate
1t seems to me that it is now up to
the governor to make good on his
promise to assemble the legislature in
extraordinary session and force
through a fair measure. l do not
believe that bill can be put through
this session. A measure the senate
might pass. would not, l believe. pass
the house."
Governor Eberhart merely reiter-
ates that he can not properly an
nounce the call of special session
at this time, but everything he says
indicates that he has not changed
his mind on that point when the
time comes when he thinks it prop
er to act.
Secret conferences at the Saint
Paul hotel called by conniving foes
of reapportionment has sealed the
doom of that measure beyond all
hope but its last expiring moments
on the floor of the senate Thursday
afternoon were immortalized by
staunch champions who fought a
losing fight for square deal and
who went down to defeat standing
by their guns and with their colors
flying.
Opponents of reapportionment fol-
lowed the insult of refusing to grant
Governor Eberhart the courtesy Of
their presence at the conference
called by him by brazenly standing
on the floor of the senate, trampling
party pledges beneath their feet
like so much saw dust and glorying
in the knowledge that they welded
the power called upon the members
to kill this bill and kill it now
The Congdon house bill had been
made a special order for Thursday
at 2 p. m. At that hour the COM
plete bill was read by the reading
clerk. after which a few unimportant
amendments were offered and adopt
ed. Then the fight was on. Sena-
tor J. NJ Hackney, the st. Paul bust
ness man, was the one to open fray
inasmuch as he is chairman of the
senate reapportionment committee.
For nearly an hour Senator Hackney
hurled warnings at the senators,
quoting party platforms and the state
constitution and infinitely explaining
the Congdon bill. He quoted the
words of Lincoln, ''this is a govern