Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, January 13, 1909, Page 4

: THE LEGISLATURE Biennial Message Reviews the Business of State in Com- prehensive Manner. IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS MADE. Taxation, Railroad Regulation and Con- servation of Resources Fully Dealt With. Gov. Johnson’s message to the legislature, giving his views on_mat- ters of general concern to the people, is one of the most comprehensive exec- utive documents that has been present- ed to the lawmakers in recent years. The important subjects of taxation, railroad regulation and the conserva- tion of the state’s natural resources are dealt with at considerable length. The governor points out that it is the duty of the executive as well as the legislature to spe that each and every citizen is protected in every right guaranteed by the constitution. In the enactment of law but one rule should apply—the rule of equal justice. Fortunately for us all, says the gov- ernor, the last legislature did its work so well that the problems confronting you are not so numerous as in other years, Those we have, however, are not less important, and they will necessarily require the best thought and energy of all who contribute of- ficially to the business of the state. State’s Finances. We have much cause for congratu- lation in the general prosperity of the people and of the excellent condition of the affairs of the state particularly. A glance at the financial affairs of the commonwealth is certainly reassuring. The report of the state auditor re- veals the fact that during the past two years there has been added to the permanent school fund, $1,885,248.79; permanent university fund, $24,959.25; internal improvement land fund, $16,- 185.85; swamp land fund, $331,099.97. The permanent school fund had, on July 31, 1908, reached the splendi@ to- tal of $19,709,383.91, and is now ap- proximately $20,000,000, and placing us at the head of all of the states in this particular. The fund is safely invest- ed in state, municipal, schoo] and other lands. This amount will be augment- ed from year to year, and with the proper development of our mineral, timber and other resources’ will in time exceed a hundred million dollars. The permanent university fund has reached the total of $1,413,817.35; the internal improvement land fund, $2,- 939,671.62; and the swamp land fund, $1,243,272.35. The state auditor in his report to you has also given to you his estimate of receipts and expendi- tures for the coming three years. Ac- cording to his estimate, the receipts for 1909 will be $8,265,690.67, with esti- mated disbursements for the same year, $7,735,916.96. For 1910, the in- come is estimated at $6,940,000 with expenses aggregating $6,425,300. For 1911 the receipts are estimated to be $7,040,000 with disbursements of $6,- 808,800. The total estimated revenue for the three years he places at $22,- 245,690.67, and expenditures of $20,- 970,516.85. In providing for these large revenues and correspondingly large expendi- tures, great care will be necessary. Prudence and economy should mark your work, and yet there should not be that rigid economy which would border on stinginess. In the work of caring for the unfortunate wards, in developing our resources} in fact in the transaction of the business of the state, we should, while being economic- al, consider every cause from a view point as broad as the state itself. The year 1908 closes the first half century of Minnesota’s history as a state, and the governor reviews at some length the remarkable progress and development of the commonwealth during that period. But however strong and swift the growth of Minnesota during these first fifty years of its history, he says, the new era of internal and industrial de- velopment which now is to follow can be even more remarkable, Development of Northern Minnesota. Northern Minnesota contains 2,000,- 000 acres of government lands subject to homestead entry, about the same acreage of state school lands open to purchase on easy terms, and a total of something like 15,000,000 acres of virgin agricultural lands which are of- fered to settlers on most reasonable terms. Two-thirds of this northern domain is covered with timber, the chief remnant of the celebrated white and Norway pine of the Lake Superior region, in addition to forests of hard- wood, and the greatest area of spruce and poplar pulp wood for paper manu- facture in this country. The western portion is the world’s greatest center of wheat production, and the north- eastern section is the world’s greatest producer of iron ore. The 200,000,000 tons, of iron ore thus far mined and shipped from Minnesota ranges during the past twenty-five years, represent less than one-fifth of the unmined ore “in sight,” to say nothing of the vast ore deposits still undeveloped, unsur- veyed or yet to be discovered. Up to this time the great bulk of Minnesota’s fron ore product has been shipped to furnaces and rolling mills in other states; we are now about to enter upon a new industrial era in which our wealth of iron ore, the greatest in the world, will be converted into commer- |, cial iron, steel, hardware and machin- ery by Minnesota labor and on Min- nesota soil. Iron and steel mills, flouring mills, saw mills, stone quar- ries, agricultural implement works, the various cereal and wood working en- terprises, are only a few of the many industries which will enjoy a great and enduring prosperity by reason of the vast resources of raw materials lying. in this northern domain. Among other notable industrial developments will be that of the wood pulp and pa- industry, which is about to give to Minnesota the greatest paper mills in the world. But, besides the raw materials, northern Minnesota likewise has the power, existing in its endless network of streams, its thousands of lake reservoirs, and its sustained and heavy rainfall, to convert the mate- rials with the minimum of cost {nto the products of commerce. State Administration of Its Natural Resources. One of the obstacles to the highest development of our northern domain is the lack of adequate state admini- stration of its public lands, including their timber and mineral resources and water powers. We have a partial ad- ministration through the state timber board, the forestry board, the drainage commission, te highway commission, and through the state auditor as ex- agony tis Stee he sti i of its development is a thoroughly administrative department devoted to the protection, management and general executive administration forests, lakes and water-powers. There should be a state bureau of lands, mines and forests, and it should be equipped with full executive powers to administer in efficient, equipped of its public lands, mines, a thoroughly business-like, and up-to-date manner all duties per- taining to our public -natural sources. ~ The past thirty years of Minnesota experience in connection with its pub- proves conclusively the value and necessity of which 1 have recommended. During the season lic lands, mines and forests, the administrative bureau just closed the state by lack of suffi- cient worth of timber by fire, when efficient adxninistration of our forestry might have averted the great burden ef such devastation. Our concern is not gnly in the prac- tical development of our resources for today, or the immediate future. We are gradually being reminded that our obligation is for the morrow as well. We can almost see the end of our lumber resources. With the present rate of consumption, based on the na- tural growth of population, the iron resources of the country will be ex- hausted in less than a century. We owe it, therefore, to ourselves to lay plans for the conservation, exploita- tion and economic development of our own resources in Minnesota. To do this, we must discontinue the present policy which is marked by a lack of proper business management. If we are to develop our water powers, hus- band as well as exploit our iron, pro- teet and renew our forest areas, we must plan-an organization along broader lines than has characterized our work in the past. To my mind the establishment of a bureau or de- partment which will give us proper ad- ministration is an imperative neces- sity now. It may be that the expense of such a department will possibly be urged as @ reason for delay or failure to or- ganize such a department of the state government. Let me suggest that parsimony is not economy, but that the best business methods are those which provide the necessary means for ob- taining the widest possible returns. I therefore urge upon the legislature the most careful and earnest consideration of the question which to my mind is the most important with which we have to deal at this period in the his- tory of Minnesota, and which if ac- complished will enable us to have done that which will make us remembered by those who shall come after us. State Immigration. The work of the state immigration commission during less than two years of its existence has been largely experimental, but I am firmly of the belief that progress thus far made con- firms the wisdom of the legislature of 1907 in making an appropriation of $30,000 and creating this commission. A good start has been made and work outlined for the future, and the best thought of leading men of Minnesota is that the state will make a’ good in- vestment by continuing this work, so auspiciously begun, along liberal and progressive Hines. Taxation. No one question for legislative con- sideration is of wider or more con- tinuous interest to the people than that of taxaffon. Where government exists, revenue must be raised for the expenses of government. Agreed that the present revenues must be raised that the proper ex- penses may be met, the only question is that of a fair distribution of the burdens. It is conceded, I think, first, that taxes should be imposed in pro- portion to the benefits derived and in proportion to the ability of these taxed to pay; and second, that this is not the condition obtaining now, but on the contrary, the burden is earried too frequently by those who can ill afford te be laden with it. I am not of those who believe that a man should be pen- alized because of his industrial ac- tivity, his thrift or his genius. Neither do I believe it to be a wise policy to frame drastic tax laws which attack business interests, to the .end that capital be either driven out of the state, or impose such conditions as would keep capital from the state which might seek otherwise invest- ment here. Realizing that money must be raised for the public needs, our ob- ject ought to be that of so adjusting assessments that all classes of prop- erty should bear their just and only just share. The creation of a tax commission was a long step in the right direction. That body has undertaken to work out a scientific assessment value of prop- erty, and, as time proceeds, is due to make much progregs in the direction of equitable taxation. I am agreed with them in the declaration that the work must be evolutionary rather than rev- olutionary, and that to reach the best results some modification must be made in the present tax laws. These are set forth in the report of the tax commission at some length, and I would respectfully urge upon each rparaler a careful reading of the re- port. Railway Regulation. Especial attention should be given by the legislature to the subject of regulating public service corporations, especially railroads and the securing of equal and just railroad rates to the people of this state. The so-ealled 2- cent passenger rate has now been in operation for about a year and eight months and I have no hesitation in saying that it has been demonstrated during that period that such rate :s sufficiently high and that no reason exists why the state should not persist in its demand that the maximum be fixed at that sum. The sufficiency of the rate appears quite fully and in de- tail from the report of the railroad and warehouse commission which you will have before you. The governor gives the history of the suits brought against the state to pre- vent enforcement of the 2-cent pas- senger rate law and the commodities rate law. He calls the attention of the legislature to tge report of the attor- ney general on that subject, and heart- ily indorses the recommendations made by that official. He says the special report of the attorney general, as well as the report of the railroad and ware- house commission, indicate very clear- ly that the rates allowed upon com- modities are fair and reasonable. The governor suggests that the attention of the legislature need not be diverted to any discussion of the reasonable- ness of the rates, but that their ef- forts should be directed to strength- ening the position taken by the last legislature in its demand for their en- forcement. The attorney general ad- vises that this can best be done by striking out the penalty clause found in each of the acts, and the governor urges the legislature to take such ac- tion. In connection with the question of fixing railroad rates the governor sug- gests that it would be entirely feasible to enact a law providing that where a rate had been established either by the legislature or a commission and com- pliance with such rate was refused by a carrier, that during the period in which such rate was being tested the |keep a re- administrative action has lost thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars laws poe report the amounts of the 1 ed rates, so that in prescribed event that the rate should be upheld the carrier could) be required to refund the excess amounts received in an ac- tion to be brought by the, railroad commission. Labor Legislation. previously made by me to the legisla- ture of 1905, and again to the legisla- ture of 1907, for legislation upon a subject which, to my mind, is of the greatest importance to all classeseof the laboring people of this state, and which is generally described as the common law doctrine as to the non- liability of a master to a servant for injuries occurring through the negli- gence of a fellow-servant. Whatever may have been proper in the past as to this common law doctrine, the pres: ent law is certainly ill] suited to th present time. It seems to me that the time certainly has come when the fel- low-servant rule should be abolished in every class of industry. The governor reviews the work of the labor department and makes sev- eral recommendations for amendments in the laws relating to that depart- ment, The free employment bureaus in the three large cities, says the governor, have been of great benefit to those seeking work in the cities, as well as an assistance to employers wanting help. ~Complaints have been received from those who allege that they are defrauded by private employment bu- reaus. The governor recommends that some additional check be placed upon those establishments to prevent such practices. State Prison. At this particular time the policy of the state with regard to the future of the Minnesota state prison is a matter of great import. In addition to the function of the state in the care and detention of the criminal population confined within the prison, there has come the added feature of the business of one of the greatest commercial en- terprises of the state. In the first in- stance, it is sufficient to say that the methods employed at the Minnesota state prison are in keeping with the best reform methods adopted anywhere in the country, and the only reason that it is not equal in every way to any other prison in the United States is because of old buildings and in- adequate facilities. = As you doubtless know, steps have been taken looking toward the estab- lishment of a new prison. This, in my judgment, is very important and merits the most earnest consideration of the legislature at this time. The institu- tion in its manufacture of shoes, twine, and the future of farm machinery, has made it necessary that the best busi- ness methods obtain, and that there should be no handicap in denying to the institution, and those in charge of it, every opportunity to work out the very best results from a state stand- point. The twine plant has been expanded from year to year, and during the past year the increase of output was more than one and one-half million pounds. By autlHority of a law enacted by the last legislature, a farm machinery plant has been undertaken at the pris- on as well, and the development in this department has been exceptional- ly gratifying> State Banking Department. The governor recommends to the se- rious consideration of the legislature the resolutions adopted at the last con- vention of the bankers of Minnesota in which the belief is expressed that the banking interests of the state will we best conserved, by reason of the large growth of state banking in re- cent years, by a division of the work et the public examiner’s department and the creation of a state banking de- Lartment, Live Stock Sanitary Board. The state live stock sanitary board bas done effective work during the last biennial period in efforts to rid the state of contagious diseases effecting horses, cattle and swine. The board in its report to me has made a num- ber of recommendations which I here- ith transmit to your body, and in which I heartily concur. Regulation of Public Utilities. Minnesota is one of the states that have not yet taken up the subject of state regulation of public utility cor- porations, like street and suburban electric railways, telephone, telegraph, power and lighting companie There is no question that a public utility law like that of Wisconsin would be of great service to this state and its mu- nicipalities in securing efficient serv- ice ‘and just rates in settling disputes and grievances, and adding to the se- curity and attractiveness of invest- ments in such enterprises; and I trust this legislature will give this subject its early and earnest attention. Initiative and Referendum. I desire to renew the recommenda- tion made by me to the last legislature in the matter of the enactment of a law covering what is generally known as the advisory initiative and referen- dum which would permit the people of the state, county, city, village or town to express their views upon questions affecting their organization, Primary Election Law. While there are doubtless some mi- nor defects in our present primary election law, and because of these de- fects the law in its operation is not just what the framers of it anticipated it might be, and because of these de- fects, some modifications of the law as it stands now may be necessary. It is urged, and with much reason, that the law in its present form’ per- mits perjury, fraud, deceit and mis- representation and a total disregard for the entire electoral system. Citi- zens called upon to declare their po- litical affiliations feel that election judges trespass upon their constitu- tional rights. They feel also that no one has the right to deny to them the fullest and most complete? participa- tion in public affairs. Whatever crit- icism may have been made, just or un- just, I am more than ever convinced of the correctness of the principle of the law underlying the system, and I feel this so strongly’ that I earnestly urge upon this body the necessity of making the necessary modifications in the law as applied to present condi- tions, and I desire to go over further than that and say that in my judg- ment better results would be obtained by extending the primarv election law so that it would include all of the elective officers of the state. Conclusion, In concluding the governor says: In our great co-operative mission, legislative «en your part and executive on mine, there should be, and I have faith to believe there are, no differ- ences or allurements of party, class or section to divert us from the great highway of pubtic duty—the moral, educational, firancial and industrial development of our commonwealth. To your every effort to bring prog- ress and efficiency to the government of Minnesota, I pledge you my most earnest and hearty co-operation, just as I rely with confidence upon your co-operation with my deparjment to promote the highest public’ interest and welfare, : received by it’ in excess I desire at this time most earnestly and seriously to renew the suggestions JOHINSON TAKES. ~ OATH OF OFFICE Inaugurated as Governor of Minnesota for Third Time; Start Officiates. SENATE GETS BATCH OF BILLS Measure to Compel Railroads to Pay _Taxes Semi-annually Is Among the Number. St. Paul, Jan. 7. — John A. Johnson Was yesterday installed as chief ex- ecutive of the State of Minnesota for the third time. The ceremonies at- tending the inauguration were simple. Chief Justice Start administered the oath of office. Both houses met at 10:30 and at 11 o’clock the senate, headed by the Heutenant governor, marched to the house chamber and took seats around the rostrum. At 11:15 the governor’s party was announced. Following the Joint committee was Gov. Johnson, ex-Gov. John Lind, ex-Gov. L. F. Hub- bard and Chief Justice C. M. Start. The assembly arose and remained standing until Justice Start had ad- ministered the oath of office to the governor. Standing on the elevation beneath the speaker’s rostrum, the chief jus- tice pronounced the oath and the governor, his hand raised, answered in distinct words, “I do.” Then he mounted the speaker’s rostrum, from which he read his message. During the reading of the message the floor of the house and the galler- ies were crowded with listeners, Following the reading of the mes- Sage both houses held short sessions. Seventeen Bills in Hopper. Seventeen bills were introduced in the senate. Important among them were bills establishing a state school of agriculture at Waseca; a bill pro- hibiting the use of basement rooms in the public schools, and a bill pro- viding for an amendment to the con- stitution compelling railroads to pay their taxes © semi-annually. The amendment of the constitution is pro- posed that the state deficit each year may be prevented. It will be neces- sary for the people to vote upon the amendment at general election. A bill for the readoption of the tax commission law of two yeurs ago was introduced. By the bill the state board of equalization, which went out of existence the first of the year, is re-established. The bill is a dupli- caté of the law passed two years ago, with the exception that the clause abolishing the board of equtlization does not appear. Fathers of the new bill state that it is their intention to re-establish the board. The first liquor bill to make its ap- pearance came from the pen of Sena- tor Canfield, and provided that no liquor license should be granted to a wholesaler or manufacturer of intoxi- cating beverages, and that such lt- censes should be null and void when applied to any building owned by a manufacturer or wholesaler. Senator Sullivan introduced four bills. The first was for the establish- ment, equipment and maintenance of a factory at the state prison for the manufacture of mowers and harvest- ers and to allow the appropriation of $300,000 from the state binding twine fund. FIRE IN CANNING FACTORY. Portion of Cannon Falls Plant Burns and Canned Goods Are Damaged. Cannon Falls, Minn., Jan. 7.—The Cannon Falls canning factory caught fire in the storage room, where the company had 8,000 cases of corn stored, valued at $10,000. The main part of the plant was saved and the corn was partly saved. There was $5,500 insurance on stock and $700 on the building, but the loss to the com- pany will be considerable. “~LOUIS W. HILL APPOINTED. Placed at Head of State Highway Commission, St. Paul, Jan, 7. — Louis W. Hill, presidert of the Great Northern, was appointed chairman of the state high- way commission yesterday by Gov. Johnson. Mr. Hill succeeds Gustav Scholle, who recently sent in his resignation because of his contemplated removal to Washington. Millers Defy Commissioners. Grand Forks, N. D., Jan. 7.—The North Dakota millers will continue the manufacture of the so-called bleached flour, despite the orders of Commissioner Ladd, it is announced. Mr, Ladd issued orders forbidding the manufacture after Jan. 1. He prom- ises he will prosecute all violators. Want Fourth Judge. Duluth, Jan. 7. — The St. Louis County Bar association yesterday adopted resolutions favoring a Fourth district judge in this county and ap- pointed a committee to draft a bill to be presented to the legislature, NE FRGCE NG HU OG SIG All Over the State STATE MERCHANTS TO MEET. é Prominent Men Will Address Grocers’ and Merchants’ Association. Preparations for the annual conven- tion of the Retail Grocers and General Merchants’ Association of Minnesota are being made at the headquarters of the United Commercial Travelers at St. Paul. The convention opens Feb. 23, to continue three days. While in the city the delegates will be the guests of the commercial travelers. Sercetary J. M. Dresser says that the convention will be largely attend- ed and that a majority of the thou- sand members of the local council will be in the city at the time to provide for the comfort and entertainment of the delegates. The following speakers will address the convention: Chairman James J. Hill of the Great Northern railroad, who will speak on “The Growth of the Mercantile Interests of the North- west;” Gov. John A. Johnson, Mayor D. W. Lawler, \Fred Mason of New York, former secretary of the National Association of Retail Grocers and the Minnesota state association; L. M. Wood, editor of the Seattle Trade Reg- ister; E. L. Miller, editor of the Du- luth Trade News; A. T. Rock, secre- tary of the Wisconsin Retail Mer- chants’ association; G. H. Schulen- burg, president of the Duluth Retail Grocers’ association, on “Collections;” C. W. Gordon, vice president and treasurer of Gordon & Ferguson, St. Paul, “Advertising;” Charles MeMur- dy, managing editor of the Twin City Commercial Bulletin, “The Trade Press;” A. P. Pierce, mayor of Red Wing; H. L. Hjermsted, general mer- chant, Red Wing, “Advertising;” An- drew French, state dairy and food commissioner, “Pure Foods;” J. S. Taylor, Minneapolis, “Insurance H. W. Schwab, treasurer of the National Association of Retail Grocers of the United States, “The National Associa- tion;” Curtis M. Johnson, Rush City; C. W. Meneilley, grocer, Minneapolis, and Julius Reiter, mayor of Roches- ter. COSTS $19 PER TO BE GOVERNED. Total Annual Cost in Minnesota Is $37,000,000. It costs every man, woman and child in Minnesota $18.92 to be governed, ac- cording to figures gathered by the state tax commission. Statistics on this phase of the gov- ernment have never been collected and published before in the state, but the tax commission in its annual re- port, which will be out in a few days, shows that the money expended for the government in the state during 1908 reaches the altitudinous propor- tions of $37,000,000. This includes the expenditures of all towns, villages, cities, counties and the state govern- ment for all purposes during the year. When the state’s share of the federal expenditures is added the cost for this state amounts fo $50,000,000. The report of the commission is in the hands of the printer, but a prelim- inary report has been given to the leg- islature. The commission summarizes its recommendations as follows: “The whole attitude of the commission in the matter of recommendations is to proceed in a careful, orderly manner to the modification of the law, and to that end they have made recommenda- tions for a county assessor system, some changes in the taxation of corpo- rations, and, under the new amend- ment, the special taxation of credits, the extension of the gross earnings tax principle and the enactment of a tonnage tax law.” FARM SCHOOLS THE LODESTONE. Legislative Plans to Keep the Boys in the Country. “In most townships in the country you can’t get enough young people to- gether for a dance,” said Senator Rob- inson of St. Cloud, in speaking about the bill he has introduced for an agri- cultural school at Foley. “We need more small agricultural schools to teach the young people to stay on the farm,” continued the sen- ator. “I believe that money for these schools wil® be spent to better advan- tage than for the university. People who go to the university and the nor- mal schools usually stay in the cities. They don’t live on the farms. “In this state 53 per cent of all the people live in the cities and towns. We need an _ agricultural school, I think, in every congressional district.” Bills have been introduced for agri- ‘cultural schools under the care of the board of regents in Waseca and at Foley. State Oil Inspection, The total barrels inspected by the state oil inspection department last year was 246,175, and the fees receiv- ed were $34,724.45. The out ship- ments amounted to 14,710 barrels, and the net barrels were 231,462. There was a balance due the state on inspec- tions at the end of the year of $5,- 161.30, so that the total reaches $39,- 885.75. Prof. Harry Gouvier Seeley, the well known. geologist and mineralogist, is dead in London. He was born in 1839, Washington, Jan. 6—The business of the senate yesterday consumed less than an hour, nearly half of which was devoted to the consideration of nominations in executive session, of which a large number were confirmed. A motion by Senator Gore of Okla- homa to print the inaugural address- es and the proclamation of emancipa- tion by President Lincoln in the Con- gressional Record in celebration of the centenary year of Lincoln’s birth brought Senator Bailey of Texas to his feet with an objection to the print- ing of the proclamation of emancipa- tion. Further discussion was stopped by a reference of the entire matter to the committee on printing. Transacting business without even the semblance of a quorum, the house of representatives yesterday passed several bills of a miscellaneous char- acter, but of little general public im- portance, Washington, Jan. 8. — The postal savings bank bill was before the sen- ate yesterday and many amendments were proposed to it, some of them requiring the deposit of postal sav- ings funds in state as well as nation- al banks. It is expected that the vot- ing on amendments and a further dis- cussion of the measure will be re- newed today. The only incident worthy of note in the house, and which caused a good deal of amusement, was a brief discussion of the forthcoming African hunting trip of the president. Inci- dentally there was a reference to the famous so-called Ananias club. The whole debate hinged upon a news- paper story stating that Maj. Edgar O. Kearns of the army was to accom- pany the president, and that in order to do so he had been put on the re- tired list with increased rank. The matter was brought up by Mr. Mann of Illinois in connection with the con- sideration of a bill authorizing the is- suance of commissions to officers who retire with increased rank. The re- mainder of the day was devoted to the consideration of a number of mis- cellaneous bills and resolutions. Washington, Jan. 9.—Characterizing the action of the president in directing the attorney general not to prosecute the United Steel corporation for the absorption of the Tennessee Steel and Iron corporation as another “arbitrary and lawless act of the chief magis- trate,” Senator Culberson of Texas in- troduced a resolution in the senate yesterday instructing the committee on the judiciary to report at as early day as possible whether, in the opin- ion of that committee, the president was authorized to permit such absorp- tion. Mr. Culberson at considerable length discussed the president and insisted that congress had the right to give di- rections to a head of an executive de- partment under certain conditions. Senator Hopkins declared that the Texas senator was not properly, repre- senting the president and said that Mr. Roosevelt had not approved the action of the steel corporation, but that he had merely “not felt it his duty to oppose such action.” Although technically under consid- eration in the house of representa- tives, the District of Columbia appro- priation bill was sidetracked while the members indulged in general debate. This took a wide range, the proceed- ings opening with a defense of the rules of the house by Mr. Olmstead of Pennsylvania. His remarks stirred up the subject and gave the insur- gents, under the leadership of Mr. Gardner of Massachusetts, an oppor- tunity to air their grievances. Washington, Jan. 10.—After having made him the target all day for criti- cism, with here and there words of commendation, the house of represent- atives last night, by a vote of 212 to 35, rebuked the president by tabling so much of his messages as reflected on members of congress in connection with his recommendations regarding the secret service detectives, and also declaring it to be the sense of the house that they shall decline to con- sider any communications from any source which is not in its own judg- ment respectful. Chamber Is Packed. In anticipation of the report, the effect of which was to administer a rebuke to the president, there was one of the largest attendances of members of this session, while the galleries at all times were filled to their capacity. In a forceful speech, Representative Tawney of Minnesota, who was charg- ed by the president with being mainly responsible for the legislation limiting the operations of the secret service, replied to the allegations. He de- clared that he had been unfairly rep- resented in the president’s message, and read extracts to show that, whether intentionally or not, he had been misquoted. In the Senate. The senate yesterday passed a bill providing conditions under which the thirteenth census will be taken. Senator Culberson’s resolution in- structing the committee on the judi- ciary to report whether the president had authority to permit the absorp- tion of the Tennessee Coal and Iron company by the United States Steel corporation was adopted. The senate at 5:28 adjourned. ines