The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-02-22
Measure Passes House only after Thee
Hours of Sharp Exchanges Be-
tween Representatives
CHAMPIONS PLEASED WITH VOTE
Believe It Means That Senate Will Have
to Act Favorably on
Measure.
(By z. A. Wilson)
Bemidji Pioneer Legislative Bures


Bemidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau
St. Paul, Feb. 22.-Northern
Minnesota won a brilliant victory
yesterday afternoon when the HOUSE
of Representatives passed the reap
portionment bill IS to 81 and took
her first great stride toward the goal
which means increased representa-
ton in the legislature.
The splendid vote given the
measure by the House," said C. A
Congdon of Duluth, chairman of the
reapportionment committee which
had the drawing of the bill, means
that the measure is going to the
Senate with such power behind it
that it must receive the serious con-
sideration of that body"
Governor Eberhart was much
pleased with the vote in the House
as are practically all the champions
of more proper representation
than is at preeent the case.
The reapportionment bill now
goes to the Senate and if it we're to
take its regular course it would not
be taken up for consideration by
that body for several days but it is
more than likely that it will be made
a special order, probably for some
day next week:
The passage of the bill was pre-
coded by shafts of oratory which
were for the most part delivered in
behalf of the measure but some of
the southern representatives made
bold to deliver objection to the
measure. The bill came up as a
special order at l. a. m. yesterday,
and it was after p. m. before the
vote was taken.
Representative Congdon explain.
ed that the bill came as near a fair
readjustment Of the present repre-
sentative as, he believed, could be
had. He offered one amendment
which was Encouragement of
districts numbers 9 and 10, joining
Martin and Jackson, cutting off
Watonwan and putting it in the
tenth.
Joseph Davies of St. James oppos.
ed the amendment and later the en-.
tire bill, because the committee, he
said, had failed to consult him in the
matter. On roll call the amend.
ment was adopted 70 to SO.
Despite this vote, Representative
Davies wanted the amendment re.
considered and w. l. Nolan made a
motion to this effect. Davies again
began his story of not having his
wishes considered which reused the
ire of Chairman Congdon, who
jumped to his feet and shouted:
If the few dissatisfied southern
representatives can get an idea ano
hold it for 4S hours and put it ir
writing, we'll try to amend the bill
as they suggest"
The motion to reconsider wa:
lost by an overwhelming majority
Representative +. l.. Klemmer o
Faribault read a prepared speech il
which he proposed that both thu
senate. and house be reduced, a.
purely a business proposition, :
reduction to half the present sizes o
both houses, would be desirable ane
would save the state the expense o
operating t h e legislature fro n
$4,000 to $150,OO0 and probabl!
would improve the intellectual
standard of both"
C.. Warner of Aitkin made one o
the strongest pleas in behalf of re-
apportionment and be looked upo1
the question as the overshadow
ing issue of the campaign in GU
district" He dwelt upon the in
creased population in the north an,
chatting under the injustice of th
present under representation of til
north, said: Who are these people
They are the sons and daughter