The Ely miner., 1911-03-10
Minnesota Legislature
Proceedings at the Minnesota State Capitol for the
Past Week.
Past Week.


I personal examination of the books OF
the department and charges that the
former commissioner spent money il.
legally in sending experts through the
country examining books of insurance
companies and in personal trips he
made himself while attending the ma
tional convention of insurance COM
| missioners.
| "U" Plumbing Criticised.
| "Fifteen-cent lodging houses in Min
neapolis have better and more sani-
| tary plumbing than the University of
Minnesota, and the plumbing in the
new university building is no better
than in the old ones," declared former
Plumbing Inspector Mullane, of Min
neapOlis, before the senate committee
on public health and pure food. He
called on Senator Froshaug to confirm
| all his statements regarding unsani-
| tary plumbing at the university, and
Senator Froshaug agreed with him.
The senate, III committee of the
| whole, recommended for passage the
| Ruchs bill, permitting street car COM
panies to grant free transportation to
policemen and firemen. The bill was
recommended by vote of 81 to "a.
Senate Debates Primary.
Senate Moonan's statewide primary
bill stirred up as lively an impromptu
debate as the senate had seen this
session. The bill was made special
order two weeks ago, but was sent
back to the elections committee on it's
request. Senator Moonan at the time
charged the committee with doing this
in order to present a like measure Of
its own. Senator. Haycroft has since
drafted such measure which will be
presented to the senate Tuesday.
St. Paul, March 8.-Defending corp
oral punishment as the most humane
method of discipline, expatiating on its
good qualities, and explaining the
work of the state industrial school at
Red Wing, Superintendent Whittier
went on the stand before the legisla-
ture to defend the charges that have
been brought against the school.
The investigation was conducted, as
before, in the house chamber, all Of
the members of the committee being
present, with the exception of R. G.
Dunn.
The scene was intensely interesting.
Grouped about the little table in front
of the desk of the lieutenant governor,
were the members of the Investigating
committee, Senator Sullivan of st.
Cloud conducting the investigation of
the witnesses.
The house chamber, including the
gallaries, were filled with spectators,
who had come to listen to the exposure
of fiogging and whipping brought about
through the statement made at Crooks
ton, short time ago, by former Sena-
tor Stephens.
Several boys took the stand and re-
peated stories of brutal whippings, Of
being kicked and knocked down with
fists, and whipped with thongs on the
back, and finally Superintendent Whit
tier took the stand.
There was a hushed silence as the
superintendent of the school arose and
took his place. He INDUCED in long
narrative, telling of the work of the
school, explaining how he had succeed
ed former Superintendent Brown and
had found discipline gone, the school
in an uproar and of the Necessity of
using strenuous methods to bring ord
er out of the chaos that existed.
Admits Corporal Punishment.
Superintendent Whittier admitted
that corporal punishment exists in the
school, denied the existence of the
electric fiogging machine, but told of
the means that are used, of the barrel
over which the boys are strapped, of
the contrivance utilized for the purpose
of administering flogging, in the man
ner most calculated to bring about the
kind of punishment that mother used
to administer.
'We talk to the boy before he is
spanked" said Mr.. Whittier. 1--WE
talk to him while it is going on and
we talk to him after it is over"
The superintendent of the school
neglected to describe the nature of the
conversation carried on under these
unique conversational circumstances.
"a boy will think of more virtue
and forget more sins in a few minutes
under this treatment" he sententious-
ly remarked, than any other kind of
treatment that l know Of
Spooner Bill Recommended.
The Spooner bill, providing $4,000
for investigation of the feasibility of
a canal system from Lake of the
Woods to Mankato, thence to Duluth
through Minneapolis and ST. Paul, TAX
ing advantage of the Minnesota and
Mississippi rivers, and contemplating
the building of immense dams for wa
ter power purposes, as well as 12-
foot barge channel, was unanimously
recommended for passage by the SEN
ate committee on drainage. The bill
will be referred to the finance COM
mittee Immediately, and the members
OF the drainage committee pledged
themselves to make the bill a special
order Of business as soon as possible.