The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-01-13
Eonomy and Efficiency are the
Watch Words-Rines and Burn
quist Guarding Expenses.
PUBLIC COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Persons Wishing Hearings Now Have
a Chance to Appear-Progres-
sives Are In Control.
Special to The Pioneer.

St. Paul, MIMI, Jan. 13.-The
Minnesota legislature of 1913 has
now been in session four days and
both branches have been organized,
except that the assignment of mem
bers to the various standing commit
tees has not been completed and all
Of the employees have not been
named. The expected happened with
respect to the organization of both
bodies. The widely discussed Senate
Combine" which proposed to take
from Lieut.. GOV. Burnquist the ap-
pointment of the stan.irg commit
toes Of the senate, M: inglorious de-
feat, and Representative Lundeen's
attempt to deprive the speaker of the
house of the same function met the
same fate. 1t is generally conceded
that large number of senators were
favorable to the idea of having the
senate committees appointed by a
committee on committees, but owing
to he fact that the men who took the
lead were rated as reactionaries,
senators of progressive tendencies
refused to be participants in the new
program, however meritorious the
principle involved.
The first important official act of
Mr.. Rines as speaker. Of the house
was the appointment of committee
on rules, which prepares the rules
and regulations Of the house, fixes
the number of appointees and the
compensation of each and, to a GER
tain extent at least, maps out a pro-
gram for the session. Hitherto this
committee has been made up of three
members, but Mr.. Rines increased it
to seven, so as to make it more repre-
sentative. He made w. l.. Nolan, the
brilliant Minneapolis representative,
chairman, the six other members be-
ing ]. T. Johnson of Fergus Falls,
Kerry Conley, of Rochester, G. T.
Knapp of Chisholm, c. N. Orr of St.
Paul. Andrew Davis of Elk River and
A. J. Peterson of Dawson. These are
all experienced Legislators, all in
sympathy with the new speaker, all
anxious to make his administration a
success, measured by results benefic-
ial to the people.
This committee brought in a report
which makes sweeping changes in
the house organization. The number
of committees are reduced by twelve,
some being done away with altogeth-
er and others being consolidated. The
number of employees is reduced by
twenty-five and the pay of some cut
down. The clerks will be on general
assignment in addition to serving
special committees; the door keepers
will have to do other work : when
called upon besides watching. the
doors, and all appointees will have to
make themselves useful, rather than
ornamental. All of these changes
will make for efficiency and economy
and will be appreciated by the state
The election of Henry Rines OF
Mora, as speaker of he house had
been fOregOne conclusion ever since
the conference of progressive repre-.
sentatives at Minneapolis in Novem.
Der, and it is rather surprising that
certain newspapers of the state tried
to create the impression that Repre-
sentative Lundeen and his allies
could succeed. The people of Mime
sofa are decidedly progressive and
the members of the legislature knew
it. and knew that if they refused tt
support the recognized progressive
candidate for speaker trouble and
sorrow would be their lot in future
campaigns for reelection. Mr.. Rines
is admirably qualified for the respons.
ible position to which he has been
called. He served in the regular ses.
sions of 1907, 1909, 1911, and in the
special session Of 1912. He is well
balanced, industrious and studious
and few members in recent years
have acquired greater mastery over
parliamentary rules and regulations
and the manner Of doing things ii
the legislature. He has q III times
been progressive and has been idsn.