Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-27
Routine Report.
BILLS INTRODUCED.


10 authorize the Lumbermen's Transportation
company to maintain locks and dams on the
Mississippi river above Aitkin to its source
BY Senator Wheat-To change name.
by Senator nnelly-Regulating the con-
tract OF insurance companies doing business in
this State.
By Senator Edgerton-AIaking insurance of
exempted property also exempt from attach
ment by creditors. Also to legalize acknowl-
ments made by notaries public.
BY Senator Bonniwell- Making the salaries
of district judges $500.
by Senator misunderstanding the time
for collecting taxes in st. Louis county.
BY Senator age-Appropriating 1874, 1000 for
the payment of interest on State bonds.
By Senator McClure-To legalize the town
plat of Central Point, in the county of Good
hue Rules suspended and bill passed.
BY Senator Morrison-To prevent animals
running at large in Olmsted county.
QUESTION OF ORDER
Senator Donnelly arose to q question of
order in reference to the ruling Of the Presi-
dent last evening in reference to the Brandt
resolution, and read from Cushing's manual
covering the point at issue, which he claimed
fully sustained the parliamentary right of the
Senate to act upon the resolution, the subject
matter of which the resolution treated having
become historical fact.
Mr.President-Does the Senator believe it par
liamentary for the Senate to censure a member
of the House?
Senator Donnelly-No, do not, but in this
case the crime charged was by a person not
mem Der of the House, and against the dignity
and honor of the House and the State
Mr. President-The chair is not fully convinced
by the argument of the Senator, bnt he will
examine the authorities and if convinced of
his error, he will freely reverse his decision.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
At 10 o'clock the Senate went into commit
tee of the whole to consider the bill of Senator
Waite for constitutional convention, and the
Senator spoke to his bill. He said one import
ant reason for holding such convention now
was, that there was less party feeling than for
many years past, or would be for years to come.
Mr.. Jefferson said State constitutions should be
amended once in twenty years. This time had
passed in this State, and that there was neces-
sity for the proposed revision was shown in
the fact that amendments were being offered
to it at every session of the Legislature. An
other important reason for constitutional re-
vision is found in the fact that under the pres
ent instrument two thirds of the time of the
Legislature was spent in considering local mea-
sures. This could be better done by the local
bodies interested in the measures, and author;
ty to that end should be incorporated in the
new constitution. The only objection he heard
urged was the cost. Such convention would
have log members. 1t usually takes six weeks
to perform such service, upon which basis he
did not think the expense would exceed
$50, 900. commission of men learned in the
law, could be appointed by the Governor to
prepare such an instrument, but his opinion
was that such body would be over technical
and over judicial, and that their work would
not be satisfactory to the people. 1t required
a mixed body to form such an instrument.
Another thing the constitution required that
the members to revise the constitution should
be chosen by the people, and it could be done
in no other way.
Senator Mcclure said there was another I'M
portant question, and that was, whether the
amendments recently adopted had been done so
constitutionally. question had been raised
on that point and it seemed to him most es-
sential that no question of that kind should be
left open to distract the courts in the remote
future. constitutional convention could
cure all this-no other remedy can be devised.
On motion of Senator Nelson the bill was re-
commended to pass.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
The bill limiting homestead exemptions to
81 900 in amount, was passed by the following
vote, only the requisite number:
Yeas-Senators Ahrens, Bailey, Clement.
Deuel., Edgerton, Edwards Finseth, Gillian.
John B.. Henry, Hersey, Houlton, Langdon,
Lienau, McHench, McNelly, Mealey, Page,
Pillsbury, Shalleen, Smith, Swanstrom-21.
Nays Senators Armstrong, Donnelly, Doran.
Drew, Gilfllan, G. D., Goodrich, Macdonald,
Mcclure, Moorehouse, Morrison, Nelson, Re-
more Rice, Waite, Wheat-15
The following were absent and not voting;
Senators Bonniwell, Clough, Hall, Morton,
Waldron.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
Relating to judgments for Furnishing abuse
of livery horses; relating to chattel
mortgages; regulating the catching of fish
in Pickeral Lake. Freeborn county; amending
the charter of the city of ST. Charles:
allowing the city of Minneapolis to make an