St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-26
SOMEWHAT HEATED.
The Debate on Senator Davis In
surance Bill.

The Debate on Senator Davis In
surance Bill.
When Senator Davis insurance bill
was reached on the calendar, j. W.
Peterson exclaimed that he was suspi-
cious of the object of the bill. He init
mated that the lawyers have penchant
for opposing the Farmers Alliance in
surance project. The author explained
that the present law makes it obligatory
upon the insured, in cases of fire. to get
a certificate of loss from the nearest
magistrate or notary public. He again
= cited the AtWater case, in which mer-
chant had suffered loss by fire, and,
owing to the prejudices that existed
among the competing merchants and
their influence on. the magistrate. the
latter peremptOrily refused to make GER
tifcate. A litigation enSued and the case
went up to the supreme court, where
: it was held that the insured had no
valid claim on the insurance company,
because of the absence Of the certificate
demanded III the policy.
Then ensued one of the most exciting
scenes that has relieved the routine
and even tenor of the senate the pres
ent session. Senator J. D. Smith as
sailed the bill in a drastic way. He was
familiar with the AtWater case. and he
lntimated that it was a notorious in
stance of ineendiaryism.
IL rise to point of order, Mr.. PreSi-
dent" cried Senator Davis.
State your point" said the preSi-
dent.
1.-The senator from Henne pin is not
discussing the merits of the BILL" re-
piled Mr.. Davis. "He is proceeding as
if this were law suit. He has made an
inSidious inSnuation. He has insinu-
ated that the loss | cited in illustration
was incendiary. submit that the SEN
ator has no right to make such remarks.
They are uncalIed for"
1.-The senator from Hennepin has the
floor" said the president. 1.-The point
of order is not well taken"
Senator Smith continued bis caustic
assault upon the bill, and again referred
to the alleged incendiary origin of the
Atwater fire. and he charged that the
man who had been burned out was an
tinerant dealer in secondhand cloth
ing. Twice more Senator Davis raised
the point of order, and twice an adverse
ruling was had.
A Sensation
was then precipitated by an appeal
from the decision Of the chair, and the
debate ran fast and furious for time.
Senator Donnelly could not see that
there had been an infraction of par
liamentary in the startling language
used by Senator Smith. The state con-
stitution protects senator in debates
so that he is given the widest latitude.
and the man referred to by the senator
from Hennepin could not bring action
for SANDER because of anything said in
the senate.
Senator Davis demanded that Senator
Smiths words be taken down, and he
insisted that his point of order had
been we'll taken, FOR the reason that
Senator Smith was proceeding as in a
trial at law. Senator Crandal asserted
that the senator from Nicollet was
lame. Nothing personal to him had
been uttered by the opponent of the
bill, and so the excitement was kept up
until Senator Little moved to adjourn
until Monday afternoon at 3 O'Clock.
This was ruled out of order, because of
the appeal that had been taken. Sena-
tor Stevens and Senator Sanborn coin
clded with Senator Donnelly on the po-
sition that q demand to take down
words can only be made in case of a vio-
lation of parliamentary law, and then
Senator DOnnelly unctiouSly asked Mr..
Davis to withdraw his appeal.
''In conciliatory spirit" began the
latter, mir, President, l will withdraw
my appeal. do not wish to put any
one III an awkward position. As far as
L know, this is the first time in the his
tory of the senate that ali appeal has
been made from the decision of the
president"
1T has been done great many times,
sir, to my personal knowledge, retorted
the president. warmly. The appeal is
withdrawn. What is the pleasure OF
the Senate?'
- had intended to make some re-
marks on this bill" said Senator Holnpe,
'but | think it has been discussed
enough. and | call for the previous
question"
The bill was lost on a vote of "a for
ANA 20 against. Mr.. Davis voted no,
and gave notice that he should move for
Il reconsideration.
The senate then took an adjournment
until Monday afternoon at ) o'clock.
INCEsrU oUS And VOID,
a Siarriage Contract With
Near.r itelatiRe Than Second
Cousin.
Senl.or .juhn Day Smiths bill pro-
nouncing ali marriages When the Con-
tracing plrties are nearer related than
first eu,isiil ii,.,, Itrl III aill void. was the