St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-24
The Senate Opposed to a
Change and Refuses to Re-
peal the Statute.
One of the Mortgage Taxation
Bills Laid Away by Post
ponement.
Yesterdays Sessions Short,
But Pregnant With Bills
Of Interest.
Two New Subjects Bob Up in
Committee--The Henne--
pin Array.

Yesterday afternoons session of the
state senate was quite a lively one, wit
Messing the defeat of the Tawney bill to
prevent double taxation, as we'll as Sen-
ator Donnelly's measure repeating the
libel law of 1887. Immediately after the
opening exercises President Pro TEN.
Hompe announced that the special or
der, the Tawney bill and the proposed
railroad and warehouse amendment to
the constitution, were before the senate.
This. however. on the motion of the
Sage. was deferred for an hour and the
regular order was taken up, number
of important bills being introduced.
among which was one by Senator S. d.
Peterson, reducing the charges of eX-
press companies doing business over
railroad lines in this state. The reduc-
ton amounts to about One-third and ap-
plies to farm products and agricultural
machinery.
When the reception of petitions was
declared in order Senator Donnelly sent
up several bundles from GoOdhue and
Sherburne counties favoring the pas
sage of the Currier bill. Senator O'Brien
offered resolution thanking the Wis
consin Central fer courtesieS extended
to the legislature on the recent trip of
the sOlons TO Saltwater, which was
adopted. Resolutions adopted by the
st. Paul chamber of commerce protest
ing against the interest bill were pre-
sented by Mr.. Dean, and then the intro
duction of bills commenced, the follow
ing being read and referred:
New Bills.
Mr.. Dean. S. F. 7O7-Amending the penal
code.
Mr.. Dean. s. F. 7OS Amending penal
code.
Mr. Dean, s. F. 7O9-Amending the penal
code.
Mr.. Peterson, s. D., s. F. 71O-Regulating
charges OF express companies doing business
Mr.. Lommen, S. F. n1-Appropriating
money for bridge across Red Lake river in
Polk county.
Mr.. Lienau, S. F. 712-Requiring foreign
fire insurance companies to deposit funds in
Minnesota.
Mr. Lienau, S. F. 713-Requiring insurance
companies to deposit per cent of insur
anee.
Mr.. sevatson, S. F. 7I4-Appropriating
money Tor bridge across Des Moines river.
( MIR. Seyatson. 5. F. 715-Providing for uni
form fire insurance policies.
Mr.. Morse, S T. 116-Providing for penal
ties for delinquent taxes.
: Mr.. O'BIien, s. F. 717-Authorizing sheriffs
and eX-sherItfs to execute certificates of sale
IN case of errors.
=
legal instruments and making them evidence.
Committee Reports
came next and proceeded with few Interrupt
tions for some time. the only intermissions
being for the suspension of the rules and the
passage of few local bills. A communica-
don inviting the president of the senate to
attend the first session Of the Wester; States
Commercial congress, which will meet in
Kansas City April 10, was read. The follow
ing local bills passed:
S. F. 653-Amending charter of Minneapo
lis.
s. F. 634-Making villages Of Brown county
separate election districts.
Ii. +. S41-Authorizing the city of st. Paul
TO issue certificates of Indebtedness.
The Libel Law.
The calendar was taken up shortly before
4 o'clock, and after passing over Senator
Bells pharmacy bill. Mr.. Donnelly's measure
to repeal the present libel law was taken up,
and the Sage took the floor and made
strong speech in favor of the bill Under
the present law. he claimed there was no re-
/. lief for an innocent man slandered by the
papers. He wanted the law so fixed that a
retracton printed in an obscure part of
paper could not shield the wrong doer The
speech was magnificent effort filed with
so many beautiful figures of speech that it
fairly enchanted his auditors.
Il dislike to disagree with my esteemed
friend from Dakota said Senator Stevens.
'and l cannot say that blame him at this
time for feeling as he does, and l am eX-
tremely sorry that the occasion has arisen
for the drawing of this bill. have at times
felt that the newspapers have abused their
privileges, but l can now say that, as a rule,
| the newspapers have been managed with
great conservatism"
The wonderful. progress of the state and
the more rapid Improvement of its news
papers since 1857, when the constitution OF
The state was adopted. is a matter of history.
The citizens OF the Twin Cities, as we'll as the
entire state, felt great pride in the magnifi-
visions of the libel law of 1887 were taken up
and analyZed, showing that under that law
damages can be collected unless the paper
can prove that the publication was made in
good faith. The present law covers onlv
those cases where the publication was made
in good faith and to withdraw it would be to
seriously cripple the press
1.-The senator from Dakota concluded
Mr. Stevens, has spoken truly when he said
that slaDders published in regard to a good
man cannot harm him. | think that the
passage of this measure cannot fail to be a
great injury to the state and must op pose
Senator Donnelly took the floor TO answer
Senator Stevens argument and detailed his
connection with the passage of the present
law IN 1887. He had voted for II at the re-
/ quest of the proprietOrs of the St. Paul daily
| papers. who had been opposed to him and
| oUtot mis- magnanimity he had agreed to its
| passage. The damage done by papers to
| public men was enlarged upon and the case
! brought down to each of the senators. From
! this ne turned to his enemies and castigated
one of them i'll the following manner:
why we have s. newspaper in this city
| whose venaliIy is notorious. The Democrats
know it because they have bought it and
| the Republican know it because they have
seen il in the heat Of battle give aid and as
sistance to the enemies. This is the paper,
this the living exponent of Judas that for
its thirty pieces of silver would sell itself to
anything-I say down with It. This is the
kind of a paper that would shield itself
| under the present law"
Gen. Sanborn made a clean and convinc-
ing speech against the measure. now and
| from Dakota had been engaged in great
conflicts for thirty years, and it would be
strange indeed If he had not some wounds
that cried out for revenge. The present law
should not be repealed without con-
sidering its effect. Under the present
law the question for the jury was
not as to whether a retraction had been
made, but whether the article had been pub
lished in good faith or not. To the common
sion, allowing the fact that retraction had
been published to be submitted to the Jury
In my opinion this law is good one and it
ought not to be repealed. We live in diff
ferent period from the time OF the common
law
Senator Keller referred to the attempts
made i'll 1889 TO repeal the present law. and
referred to some of the humorous earicatures
published on him in late years. He was OPP
posed TO the German way of regulating
pGpers.and thought the press ought to be
free. He declared ne was the friend Of all
papers, and especially those published in the
country What would we do without theISs
They advertise rs and do world of good,
said ne in conclusion.