The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-02-27

4
| was announced. there was the loud.
est cheering heard in the House
chamber for many day. The range
country had again been saved from
the 'Cross of unjust taxation.
The reapportionment fight, which,
began Thursday morning and con.
tinued all day, was the most acrimon-
ons so far witnessed in the House
this session. The bill reported out
by the committee provides for l26
Representatives and 63 senators. The
members from Southern Minnesota,
especially from the first congressional
district, protested against it on the
ground that it gives too large rep
resentation to the big cities. III. FL.
Dunn of Albeit Lea and Thomas
Frankson OF Spring Valley. both from
the first district. led the attack. upon
the bill, but over reached themselves.
They brought in substitute giving
their congressional district ten seRa-
tors, the same as it now has. and CIV
ing the twin cities two more senators
and four more representatives than
they now have. Mr.. Dunn made q
dramatic speech in support of the
substitute, seeking to impress upon
the House the necessity of limiting
the representation OF the cities in the
interest Of the state rs whole. He
cited the case of Illinois as an ex-
ample of the danger to which repre-
sentative government is exposed by
allowing the great congested centers
Of population To gain the upper hand
in the legislature. He appealed to
Northern Minnesota, which was al
lowed the same representation that
the Warner Tor committee biil) con-
coded, to clasp hands with Southern
Minnesota and restrain the cities
from gaining the mastery in the
Minnesota legislature. He m AIN
tanned that the people OF the state
had plainly registered their approval!
of this sort Of a program by the large
majority the gave the "Seyen Sena-
tor" amendment in the last election.
Then the storm broke. In quick
succession the leading twin city MEM
beers stood up and denounced Mr..
Dunn i'm the bitterest of terms. In.
deed, seldom, if ever, has member
of the House been so fiercely flayed
by his associates, but the gentleman
from Albert Lea seemed to enjoy it.
Finally the adoption Of the substitute
was put to vote and defeated 81 to
33. Its authors made the mistake Of
asking too much for the first district
and allowing too little to the rest of
Southern Minnesota. Had the sub
stitute been fairer measure, it
would probably have been adopted.
The committee bill was then passed
by large majority, the bottom of
the opposition having dropped out.
But the Warner bill is still far
from being law. The Senate is the
same Senate that swatted the Cong
don bill two years ago, and as the
Warner bill is not very much differ
ent. being in fact less generous to
Southern Minnesota than was the
Congdon bill~-it will be surprising if
it escapes rough treatment in the up
per branch. The chances are that a
bill embodying the principle of the
Seven Senator" amendment will be
substituted by the senators for the
Warner bill.
The Senate was very quiet last
week, most of the public attention
centering in the House. The CASH
man distance tariff was to have come
up on Thursday, but with the consent
of Mr.. eastman action was deferred
till March 9Th. One reason for this
is the fact that the Senate recently
asked the railroad and warehouse
for information as to
rates, and the commission has not
yet complied with the request; and
another reason is that some of the
still hope for a decision of
the United States supreme court in