Morris tribune., 1912-12-27
WILL KEEP TAB
ON LEGISLATORS
Several "IntoTmatiOn Bureaus"
Soliciting Clients.
MAY Be OFFICIALLY PROOED
Many Members Wondering What 10
Behind This Eagerness to Watch
Their Every Move.
Especial Correspondence

st. Paul, Dec. 24.-Legislative in
formation and reporting bureaus
which will tell what your house or
senate member had for dinner the
night before, what theater he attend
cd, how, his conduct has been since
he took up temporary city residence
and all details concerning his private
and official life are the latest things
in legislative circles. No less than
three have sprung into existence the
past week and support for each is
being solicited. The country press is
to be the medium of publicity and for
so much per weekly grist of "Legis-
latlve DOings" will be provided, which
the publisher can pay for in lawful
coin of the realm or in advertising.
Of course there will be book at the
close of the session and it will tell
in detail whether the member was q
progressive, a standpatter or just a
common mutt" eve will throw our
searchliGht down all rat holes without
fear or favor" writes one, while an
OCAC1 AO1PG1A 10 LAS tuhL uS
has some interesting things on tap
for those who care to pay the price.
The Law Reporting Company of Min
nesota, Mark A. Herring, manager, is
, the name OF one of the concerns,
while H. A. Guilford, also of st. Paul,
admits sole ownership of another bu-
reau. c. J. Buell., who made an unsuc-
cessful race for congressman at large
on the Democratic ticket, is at the
head of the third bureau, but he says
his labOrS in the interest Of the down
trodden taxpayer will be devoted prin-
will issue at the close of the session.
However, Mr.. Buell. will write red
hot stuff at so much per if it is want
ed. What is behind these bureaus
and why the scramble to put the dear
people wise is interesting quite a few
of the members and it would not be
| surprising il the whole thing was
given n legislative airing and investi-
cation.
j. + X
AAe"AAOOS q VIGIL la IOC 1SVt
house, who was relieved of clerk
ship netting him IS a day for using
the states time in criticising those
members who did not come up to the
legislative standard as fixed by him,
was the originator of the legislative
bureau idea and the profits he is sup
posed to have netted have perhaps in
Spired the latest in this line. Haines
had a half dozen country papers on
his list which he furnished with a
letter which was principally of q
knocking character and this he sup
plemented with a book giving his
tory of all legislation attempted or
passed and his individual opinion of
each member. This book was issued
at the close of each session and was
later sold in lots to legislative aspir-
ants for the purpose of discrediting
the sitting member. Haines, after
doing two sessions, fied himself to
greener fields. A duplicate of the
Haines publication is what Buell. an
nounces he will publish.
\ = +
Biased legislative letters and pub
lications with a standard of conduct
for members fixed by the authors of
such have figured during each session
for the past five years and it would
not be surprising if law was enacted
curbing them. In any event the cor
rupt practices act will undoubtedly
DhA o1nnn1n6 m tho 1F
their circulation impossible during a
campaign. Showing the irresponsible
character of those engaged in the
work, of the three who are making
q bid for business two are unknown
to the newspaper world or even to
those whose business has to do with.
Legislative or official circles. In the
letters sent out by two of the report
ing concerns the managers claim per-
| sonal acquaintance and tenders of
| lelp from the officers in charge of
both branches of the legislature. Both
Speaker Rines and Lieutenant Gov
7rnoT Burnqnist deny that such is the
case. They have become suspicious
nf the whole thing and may make an
lnecstigation On their own hook
= :: i.
Former Speaker H. H. Dunn of AL
bert lea, who comes to the legislature
this time as private, is credited with
congressional aspirations and it is
said his legislative activities will be
devoted entirely to the uplift of the
dairy industry and the passage of
laws protecting It, In the First dis
trict, which is Mr.. Dunn's home, dairy
Ing is one of the chief industries in
the agricultural sections of the dis
rict, which probably accounts for his
Aew line of activity.
+ 1. T.
with the knowledge that the init.