The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-02-05
STATE LAWMAKERS
STARTING SLOWLY
Takes Several Weeks for Bills
to Be Whipped Into Shape
and Placed on Calendar
CIVIL WAR VET, POWER
S7-Year-Old John B. Hompe,
Fergus Falls, First Elected
AZ Years Ago


the Hibbing Daily Tribune and a
member of the Legislature.
st. Paul, Feb. 2.-The Minnesota
Legislature starts but slowly, like a
steam engine. 1t takes it about
four weeks to get under a full head
or steam, but once it quits wheeling
II roars along at great rate.
AT the end Of the second weel, tho
committees are mulling over
would-be laws. BY the end of the
third week the first General Orders
a appear-a list of bills recon-
mended out by the committees. Be-
ginning the fourth week the frat
calendar, containing bills that hav,
survived the ordeal of General Or
ders In the committee of the whole
mouse, makes 1t appearance, and the
making of laws begins in earnest.
The first General Orders on The
desks of members of lower house
of the Minnesota legislature has
been marked, during recent seq
sions, by a gesture Of respect and
honor for Representative John B.
Honpe, Of Ottertail, the eighty
seven year old Civil War veteran
the only veteran of the Civil War.
1t Is believed who today holds an
elective office in the United States.
When the house resolves itself in
to the committee of the whole" to
consider the bills on General Ord
ers, 1t Is the custom for the speaker
OF the house to vacate his position
and to call some member of the
house to the chair. OF late years
the honor Of presiding over the
first committee of the whole house
in each session has been accorded
to Mr.. Hompe. This year the men,
bers Of the house stood and ap-
plauded as the veteran of war and
the veteran Of legislation briskly
climbed the rostrum and let fall the
chairman's gavel.
He's q Power Still
Despite his eighty-seven years the
gentleman from Ottertail is still
keen Of mind and quick of foot.
The noisy house listens when he
speaks; his voice is strong, his
words have weight, and he can be
eloquent, too, upon occasion. John
b. Hompe stands as firmly for
what he believes to be right today
as he did back in the dark days Of
civil strife, and few members of
the legislature are more highly re-
spected by their fellows.
Mr.. Hompe has seen a long SER
vice In the legislature. He was
first elected to the house AZ years
ago. Then he served one memoir
able term in the senate. That was
the session which landed a foun-
dation for the stirring events of
the opening Of the present session,
when the senate took from Lieu
tenant Governor Arens the privil-
eye Of naming the senate commit
tees. In that senate Of forty years
ago In which John B. Hompe sat.
a combination of democrats and
farmers alliance men took that
same privilege from Lieutenant
Governor Gideon 8. Ives by one
vote, and John B. Hompe's vote
was that one vote. Mr.. Hompe was
again elected to the house in 1918
and has served there ever since.
When his present tern. Is ended
Mr.. Hompe will be SO years old
and will have completed "a years
OF service in the Minnesota legisla-
ture.
The First Calendar
The first calendar Of the forty
seventh session Of the Minnesota
legislature made'its appearance on
Monday Of the fourth week. It
was a modest Calendar, only one
bill, but what a fuss 1t did kick
up. Fear and suspicion those old
familiars Of legislative debate,
stalked through the chamber and
chied their warning against the
bill, but confidence and hope soon
rallied to the rescue. For an hour
and more the verbal battle ragged.
Over what? Over a bill to accept
an offer Of 100000 with which to
make a study Of unemployment in
Minnesota. And such a queer line
up Of contending forces Farmer
labors and republicans struck
hands and joined voices in de-
nouncing the gift. "Progressives'
and ''Reactionaries" rushed should
er to shoulder into the breach to de-
fend the proposal. One defender
Of the bill argued forcefully and
eloquently for 1t and as he conclud-
ed his powerful effort he declared:
1T somebody met me on the street
and offered me half million, I
wouldn't run away from that
money; I'd stuff 1t in my pocket
and cut a few capers." Finally the
tumult and the shouting died down
and the house voted-112 for and z
against. Sometimes it's that way.
When you rush the enemy, you find
there's hardly anybody there. Well.
that's one Of the ways laws are
made.
The Way Of the House
The lower house Of the legisla-
ture Ii a rough and tumble sort Of
place. One hundred thirty-one men
and women from all parts Of
great state. You come from home
chock full of the local point Of
view and firmly convinced that
there II no other. The house takes
that out of you In no time. You
CONTINUES on rage Six,