The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-04-28
Minnesota Legislature
Proceedings at the Minnesota State Capitol for the
Past Week.
Past Week.


st. Paul, April 1S.-Rfotous scenes
marked the adjournment of the lower
house of the Minnesota legislature al
ter three months session noted prin-
"ipally for its lack of accomplishment.
The scene was a fitting ending 10
the session of the lower branch In It's
disorganized state. Wild scenes mad
become almost daily occurrences but
that which brought about adjournment
riValed them all. In the midst OF the
excitement, L. c. Spooner, OF MOTIFS
angered by the forced adjournment at
tackled an alleged representative OF the
brewing interests and ordered MIN
from the Soor.
Belliqerent Attitude Assumed.
You d scoundrel," he ragged.
you leopard. 1t is you and the
breweries who have tied up legisla-
ton and disgraced the state OF Min
nesota" The man hurried from the
assembly room while Mr.. Spooner was
held back by a number of house mem
berS.
AS a result Of the adjournment, near
S~>~~
important ones, passed into oblivion.
1t killed the extension Of the local op-
ton law to cities of the fourth class,
the statewide primary law and other
reform measures which had been sent
over from the senate.
During the morning session AFFAIRS
in the house reached such condition
that Speaker Dunn threatened to call
out the militia.
Pandemonium reigned. and SEM
blance of order had been lost and a-fist
fight on the floor had been averted
only BY a score of members separat-
Ing the combatants. The house was
in an uproar. Few If any of the mem
bers were in their seats. The sound
of the speakers gavel echoed through
the hall.
It was all part Of the debate on the
bill to limit senatorial representation
to not more than seven from one coun-
ty.
Representatives Dan O'Neill of Thief
River Falls and Thomas Frankson of
Spring Valley were the actors in an
alteration and personal encounter
such as has not occurred in the Min
nesota legislature for years.
Bad blood between the two men de-
veloped during the debate on the six
senator" bill, in which ONeill came to
the rescue of the cities, and was inter-
rupted by Frankson. They had words
at several times. Frankson kept tell
ing O'Neill that he was making mis-
hr, Ino
he refused to stand for limiting city
representation.
During the tendency of w. I. Nolan's
motion to recall the bill from the SEN
ate, Frankson walked over into the
aisle to where O'Neill was sitting.
'Tll send you to political oblivion,
old fellow he said.
O'Neill, who is excitable and remark
ably strong for his years, jumped up
and made for Frankson. Selling him
by the coat collar, he began rushing
him down the aisle and back toward
his own side of the house.
I've stood enough Of that from
you," he ragged. "You can't give me
any more of your talk"
Twenty members were on the spot in
an instant, and several of them had
hard work in releasing O'Neill's grip
from Frankson's coat. The man from
Spring Valley was white and O'Neill
was shaking as though palsied when
he was finally induced to take his
seat
All this time the speaker was ham,
mering with his gavel. and it was sew
eral minutes after the men were sep
arated before he got order and could
speak. Then he began reading the
house a lecture on preserving order.
AS he talked he began to get excited
himself, until he came to the climax
and threatened to call out the militia
There was applause from a part of the
house, but not from the northern and
city members, with whom the speaker
is decidedly unpopular.
Thomas Frankson, who according to
the blue book is AZ years old and a
sturdy fellow Of 100 pounds or more,
strutted around after the incident and
said, 81 wish he had come out in the
corridor a few minutes and I'd fix
him." Mr.. O'Neill is So years old.
In the senate the disorder was al
most as great, although there was no
personal encounter.
The deadlock which was kept up all
night Friday in the Senate was final
ly broken. The body adjourned at 8
a. m, to meet again at nine and the
ex-senator" bill went through with
little opposition.
The senate passed the Mckenzie
bftt, abolishing capital punishment, by
a vote of 35 to 10. The life of Pat
rick O'Malley, the LIE Sueur wife MUIR
derer, is thus saved. But he will go
to the penitentiary for life.
The bill turning over from the
state to the city of st. Paul new land
created by the change of the bed of
the Mississippi river was passed. St.
Paul, according to its senators, hopes
to sell part of this land for about
S750,000 to railroads for terminal IA
PATE ADVANCE SIISDENnEn