The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-05-06

partially realized is due to q combi-
nation of circumstances to certain
extent unpreyentable. Nevertheless,
much good Legislation was enacted,
while several meritoriOus measures
failed to pass either one or both
bodies. The issues which gave rise
to the most acrimonious debates were
reappOrtiOnment, rum and incident
ally. railroad rate legislation. These
were the rocks upon which the legis-
lature split and went to pieces. Re-
appOrtionment was the main bone of
contention in the senate, while rum
was the cause of nine-tenths of all
the trouble in the house.
There never was legislature freer
from the charge of undue influence
than the thirty-seventh, and that fact
was widely commented on by intelli-
gent and impartial observers. True,
it is charged, that certain interests
had expended considerable money in
electing members of both branches
who would oppose the enactment of
any radical temperance legislation.
AS to the truth or falsity of these
charges cannot say. But do be-
lieve that not dollar was expended
by any individual or interest to pro-
mote or defeat legislation after the
legislature had convened. -.
OF Speaker Dunn, the Princeton
editor says: $751;. "
A fairer presiding officer never &C.
cupied the speakers chair than H. H.
sometimes he was so fair as
to even disregard the rules of the
house to favor the minority. But
despite his eminent fairness the radi-
cal element never missed an oppor-
tunity to make trouble for him. At
times had it not been for the support
accorded him by the democratic men,
bers the bushes of the house would
have been seriously impeded and he
would have been forced to resign the
speakership. The Klemer incident
proves the truth of this assertion.
Concluding Mr.. Dunn has this to
say:
1t has been charged that the ses-
sion was the most expensive in the
history of the state, that it cost $10;-
600 more than the previous session.
1t must be remembered that several
important and costly investigations
were conducted, and the expense of
several contested elections was heavy.
Heretofore it had been the custom to
rent desks and other furniture; at
the last session several thousand dol
lars worth of furniture was pur-
chased and is the property of the
state. This furniture will be used
for many years to come and there
will be no rent to pay on it. The
session in reality was no more eXpen-
sive than any OF the previous ses-
sions. If one-tenth of the appli-
cants for places had been provided
for the expenses would have been
much higher, and yet many of those
who clamored for places for them
selves or their friends are loudest in
denOuncing the legislature for it's ex-
travagance. 4, .....*
OF course, 1 was deeply :dissap-
pointed at the failure of certain bills
to pass, notably the county assessor
bill and several other important tax
measures, and I especially regret the
defeat in the senate of my bill pro-
hibiting county commissioners from
issuing liquor licenses save in ham,
lets of 100 or more population.
l have no regret or excuse to offer
for any measure, motion or resolu-
tion espoused or opposed during the
37th session of the Minnesota legis-
lature
There is no denying but, that the
House was frequently in tumult and
that Speaker Dunn exceeded the
speed limit when he delivered his
farewell jolly to the members, 81 am
proud of you" The fact remains,
however, that the good things done
by the legislature have been lost in
the noise Of the squabbles.