The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-04-26
LEGISLATIVE LETTER
BY R. W. HITCHCOCK Representative. Goth District.

had fired this kind of a cannon from
his shoulder few times, his zest for
hunting would likely be somewhat
diminished.
After prolonged discussion of the
bill creating department Of con-
servation and providing for a COM
missioner Of conservation, some one
noticed that the bill provided that
the commissioner should be elected
for six year term every odd num-
bered year" A certain bill was de-
bated by the senate and passed by
that body; it came over to the house
and was discussed at length; as it
was about to be placed on its final
passage it was discovered that both
in the title and in the body of the
bill it was stated to be an act for
the amendment of certain section
"of MaSon's Revised Statutes" just
how any Minnesota legislature can
amend any statutes but Minnesota
statutes is a conundrum.
An Unusual Record.
The legislative session which comes
to an end as this Is published closes
a unique period so far as its presiding
Objects are concerned.
Lieutenant Governor w. 1. Nolan,
who, by virtue of his Office of neuten-
ant governor, has been the President
of the senate, completes his third
term as presiding officer of the SEN
ate and his sixth consecutive term as
presiding officer in the legislature,
for previous to his three terms as
president of the senate he was for
three terms speaker of the house. No
presiding officer in the history of the
Minnesota legislature can even ap-
proach this record. The nearest to it
is the record of Speaker John A. John
son OF the house who this week COM
pletes his third terms as speaker. Mr..
johnson and Mr.. Nolan, also, are the.
only men in the history of the state
to serve three consecutive terms as
speaker of the house.
Why is speaker We have often
wondered. For the speaker of the
Minnesota house of representatives
does not speak at all. He must be
strong of arm to hammer for order.
He Yields a wicked gavel, but if he
has mean tongue he has to keep it
to himself. John A. johnson served
made speaker and in all that time he
never opened his lips to make a
speech. During the three terms that
w. I. Nolan was speaker Of the house
he surrendered the gavel and descend
ed to the floor to talk but once. A
speaker of the house is not one who
speaks, but one who ruleth his ton
que, so we make him greater than the
Nf al hi 10 fhn
sublime position of speeches.
speaker.
Two Strong Men.
The house of representatives of the
Minnesota legislature has been partic-
ularly fortunate in its speakers Many
men who have been speaker of the
house have afterwards gone on to 9TH
er positions Of political advantage and
honor. Among former speakers of the
house who are today prominent in the
affairs of Minnesota are Congressman
Frank Clague, A. j. Rockne, chairman
Of the finance committee of the SEN
ate for many years, and Henry Rines
now one of the big Three and re-
Gently dubbed the greatest tightwad
in the state. But never has the
Is41k1IlC0OOd IlOu0C VI REPRESENTATIVES,
had such popular speakers as 1t has
had the past six years in w. I. Nolan
and John A. Johnson. Mr.. Nolan,
lecturer by profession, is an ideal pre-
siding officer. Quick to decide, learn
ed in parliamentary law, firm of decis-
ion and loud of voice, Mr.. Nolan al
most instantly won the hearts of the
members of the house when he as
sumed the chair. John A. Johnson,
who has equaled the remarkable rec
ord Of Nolan in being three times
elected speaker, is quiet and unasum-
ing, but like another, of that name, he
has most winning personality, he is
fair and firm, and we may truly say
that Johnson rivals Nolan in his pop
ularity with the members. For six
legislatures we have had great speak