Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-03-13
MINNESOTA LEGlSuATuRE,

MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.
Senator Day has become tired of the
ninety days session ana accordingly on
the "a ne introduced a b II proposing a
constitutional amendment which will re-
store the old system of sixty days session.
mere IS a strong opinion among some of
the Senators that the work can be done in
sixty days as we'll as the ninety. Senator
ocheHer introduced bill prohibiting the
sale OF unwholesome meat meat products,
tlsh and game 1t is copied after the
Kansas law and strikes boldly at oleo-
margarine or any form of bull butter.
The house bill proposing constitutional
amendment declaring that three-fourths
OF a jury in a civil action may render a
verdict, was amended to five-sixths, passed
and returned to the house. The house i'm
mediately concurred in the amendments
and the bill goes to the Governor. A mo-.
ton to adjourn until 1880 p. m. prevailed.
When the hour arrived, contrary to ex-
pectation, a quorum was present and at
once went into a committee of the whole,
cleared up general orders and adjourned
until $3.50 p. m. of the 4th.
The Sevatson bill to reduce interest
again came up for consideration, with q
substitute by II. +. Stevens The substi-
tute provided that loan agents might
charge commission of per cent This
was voted down, but it is safe to say that
not a dozen in the house understood the
intent or purport of the substitute, and for
that reason a number refused to vote.
The main question or original bill
then appeared and was passed by
vote of IS yeas to 81 nays
Several members who voted in the neg
alive took occasion to explain their votes
Mr.. Smith of Henuep and Estes of Wata-
wan voiced the sentiment by saying that
they would heartily support Section one
of the bill which provided for reduction
of interest and would favor strong pen
atty for usury, but they coul not vote for
measure whereby if an agent should
charge commission that would practical
ly raise the rate of interest ABOVE the legal
rate. the parties who owned the money
and for whom the agent was acting should
forfeit both principal and interest. Sec-
ton 2 reads as follows:
Provided further, That it is the intent and
purpose of this act that no PEI son shall claim
or collect, either by himself or his attorney
or agent or any person or persons, in the
form of commissions for making any loan or
security therefor, or by any other device, any
greater sum, including interest and commits
sion, than per centum per annum on the
amount actually received by the borrower
from the date of such loan; and all bonds,
notes, billie, assurances, conveyances, chattel
mortgages, and all other contracts, where
a. NV nv ra VINO Of
any Indebtedness is contracted or paid in ex-
cess of said per centum per annum in the
OF fha or for services in
other device, shall be void, as herein provid-
ed But nothing herein contained shall be
any pra,. icing attorney or notary public for
examining the title to any real estate and
drawing vs the necessary bond, mortgage. or
loan; provided, that the said charges are usu-
al and reasonable, and are not intended as
cover for usury. Provided, that the payment
of interest tor one year in advance at 5 per
cent shall not be considered usury.
The uebate on the bill was very warm
and st times was exceedingly personal
The chances for this bill to become a law
are very meagre, as byl almost Identical
in purport has already been killed in the
Senate. Capser's bill to protect bridges
from Injury from steam engines was lost
Eastnan's bill amending the law of civil
actions. changing the period of possession
from 20 years to 10 years was passed, also
Ell sons bill Authorizing the for
nation of town insurance companies.
Mcrgan's II to prevent the black listing
of discharged empl eyes was also favorably
considered. Hays bill changing the
grand jury from q members to eleven,
nine and seven was passed with but few
dissenting votes. Shoemaker's bill re-
curing railway companies to maintain
highway crossings and Stevens bill COM
pelling employers of females to furnish
seats were passed. Rep. Heideman pre-
sented "a petitions from citizens protest
ing the submission of constitutional
prohibitory amendment.
In the Senate on the 9TH, Mr.. Scheffer's
bill to punish drunkenness gave rise to
second discussion. Senator Kellor op-
posed the bill strongly Senator Day sup
ported the bill upon the ground that it was
measure in the interest of practical tenn
perance. The bill was finally recommend
ed for passage. In it's present form it
provides fine or Imprisonment for the first
two DRINKS, and for subsequent sprees
Imprisonment without discretion. DAYS
bill regulating oil inspection and placing
the inspector on salary of $4,000 was al
so recommended for passage. No other
business of Importance was transacted.
+ II. F. Stevens had to call his jury bill
back from the enrolling committee for
correction. 1t was so ordered and the bill
was then passed and sent to the Senate.
Diment moved that the vote whereby
Flemings bill regulating admission to the
practice of law was lost The motion pre-
vailed and the bill was reinstated upon
the calendar. There being AZ bills upon
general orders the house as soon
as the presentation of petit ons and
memorials was finished the house went into
committee of the whole for the considera-
ton of general orders. Crossfield's bill
amending the school laws was the prin-
cipal object Of interest and the discussion
was general. A dozen or more amend
.ments were offered only to be voted down.
The committee finally recommended the
bill to pass. The measure is Of direct in