The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-09-05

ton of the land department and the treas
ury. But equal to this is another issue
and that is to make the poor man equal
before the law to the rich man. which can
De speedily effected by enacting laws to
enforce those provisions of the constitu-
non which provides for exemptions and for
the administration of the law.
Ine rich man can take care of himself.
he needs no protection. The poor man
should have his home or an equivalent in
lieu of home and his household goods and
ms wages exempt from every debt and
haplllty. The homestead exemption as it
now stands will do if the language were
more precise and consolidated but there
should be an exemption of say $500 in lieu
or a homestead which does not now exist.
me constitution provides that "a reason
aple amount of property shall be exempt
from seizure or sale for the payment of
any debt or liability. The amount of such
exemption shall be determined by law
This provision will authorize the enactment
OF such laws 1t is true that the law now
eXempts household furniture to the amount
or $oOO, but this does not extend beyond
household goods. Prior to the passage of
the law OF 1879 $50 of wages We're exempt,
but this amount was reduced by the act of
1889. Oh. 204 to $25. A months wages
should be exempt 1t seems singular that
the law should exempt the homestead and
S5OO dollars of household goods but COM
parat1vely no wages to enjoy these. In
VI uci ioi Tie exemptions TO De complete
ana consistent the poor man should have
his home, his household goods and his
wages, because creditors give him credit
upon his individual responsibility and not
upon his wages or his property
70 The constitution provides that personal
property to an amount not exceeding in
value 5000 for each individual shall by gen
eral laws be exempt from taxation" and
yet this has never been done.
In harmony with this principle that the
poor man should be placed where he will
not be stranded SO far as exemptions are
concerned. is the principle that his heirs
or administrators should recover for his
death by the wrongful act of another any
sum which may be proved as justly COM
him to recover any sum for the loss Of
limb and only 5000 for the loss of his
life. This limitation of the amount had its
origin in the English statute and 10 Wet.
en- ~ abolishing the common law rule as
to this action that personal actions died
with the person and may have some force
in England, where they have the two class
es OF human beings. Que class miScalled roy
atty and the other plebians, but it has no
force in a country of equality. In the
French and civil law there is no limitation.
In addition to this the laws should be
changed SO that a poor man can begin
SUIT IN any court without money or bond
II he has none, and have the right to APP
peal to all the courts without bond, if he
cannot give one. The constitution provides
That every person is entitled to a certain
remedy for all injuries or wrongs which he
may receive in his persons, property or
character and obtain justice freely and
without purchase, completely and without
denial, promptly and without delay
winch is not now the case.
A FARMER.