St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-12
VOTERS TO DECIDE
Whether or Not q Constitu-
tional Convention Shall
Be Called.
SENATOR WYMAM STANDS
AS Stepfather to the sBill
Codifying the Insurance
- : Laws.
FRIGHT TO VOTE DEMANDED.
DR.. Martha Ripley Complains
to the Senate of Sex
Tyranny.
FRIGHT TO VOTE DEMANDED.


pie as to whether or not a constitu-
tional convention should be called.
| senator Stevens said the constitution
/ is tattered and torn and fringed. A
generation has come and gone since
a new constitution has been framed.
The matter has been discussed in
the paparS and on the stump. and
he thought a new constitution ought
! to be framed.
President Day asked the senator
to point out defects in the present
constitution.
Senator Stevens, complying, said
there are large quantities of property
escaping tax. There is a need Of
change of banking regulations He
also alluded to other needed changes.
f, He then said there are thirty-four
/ amendments to the constitution, and
assented to the statement made by
| Senator Sperry that nearly as many
more amendments are proposed in
! bills of the present session of the
| legislature
Senator Ozmun differed from his
/ OOAA~e@5 SC III IlAC View VI ueeulIlS a
| convention.
r.. Senator Greer said the people had
opposed such convention two years
ago. He believed the people are
| radically opposed to a constitutional
| convention
Senator Wyman asserted that the
| state is too young to revise it's con-
itrrifi l.
take to adopt the amendment pro-
| hibiting special legislation He want
| ed to delay any further changes for
the present.
Senator Schaller said there have
| been so many amendments that the
| constitution is almost gone, and he
i thought it time to have a new one,
: Several senators asking questions,
| Senator SchaIler said he was ready
| to instruct any ignorant gentleman
| on the floor, and created laughter
by his retort and by answering ques-
| tions
Senator Sperry said it was thirty
eight years since the constitution
was framed, and there is urgent
ineed of a new one. He thought it
well to allow people to say whether
/ or not they want a change. He
7 stated that nearly every senator on
J the floor had proposed amendments.
In answer to a question, he said that
/. the growth of the constitution by
amendments has been a deformed
growth. He felt sure the people could
| be trusted in voting for a conven-
ton.
| Senator Stevens explained that the
call by the people for a convention
must be by majority of all the
voters. The present constitution
was framed in the panic times of
1857 and prior to the civil war.
There has been a marvellous change
in all conditions since then. The
country was then in its swaddling
! clothes, when compared with the
magnitude Of the country and it's
business methods today. The old
constitution is a patched quilt made
up of amendments passed without
| due consideration, or under biased
| conditions There are radical con-
| ditions to be changed. He believed
the people would come out Of the
contest in way worthy of the high
/ destiny of the state. The vote upon
the recommendation to pass carried
| by close vote.
| BILL WITH A STEPFATHER.
Senator Morgan graced the chair
while the senate, in committee OF
| the whole, considered special Or
| der, Senator Wyman's bill to revise
and codify the insurance laws. Sen
ator Wyman, explaining the gen.
eral purposes of the bill, said it was
drawn by the insurance commits
sioner under the instruction of the
committee on insurance. In re-
Spouse to questions as to being IA
miliar with the provisions of the
| bill, Senator Wyman said he had
not followed it through it's course
in committees, and was not pre-
pared to say whether or not any
"woodchucks" had crept in. He
was not it's author, but bore the re-
lation of stepfather to the measure.
Senator Stebbins observed that
the bill might as we'll come from
insurance men as to be drawn by
the insurance commissioner.
! Several senators making such re-
tquest, the bill was read and dis
cussed by sections.
/. Section 4 was amended so as to
Eereduce the salary of the insurance
Ia No
d was amended so as to reduce the
r. salary of the deputy commissioner
d9to s., 500, and by reducing the salary
f of the clerk TO S720 and striking out
the provision for additional clerk
| hire.
When Senator Spencer proposed
a lengthy amendment to section 26,
I Senator Greer suggested it might do
/ to add to the bill all the laws of
states in broadcast way and then
kill the bill, as there seemed to be a
determination to impose heavy ex-
penses upon insurance companies.
which would result in higher rates.
| Senator Howard hoped the bill
would not be loaded down with OBJ
| jectionable features.
| Senator McHale asked that amend
ments be made that would improve
the insurance law even at the ex-
pense Of higher rates, if that should
result in driving out wild cat COM
panies. The Spencer amendment
was lost. A number of amendments
were made to the several sections.
and, after reading forty-three sec
tons, 1T was determined to take the
Dill up again as a special order at
an evening session today.
PINE LAND BILLS.
The committee on public lands ra-
ported back both the bills relating to
pine lands. The Staples bill. H. +. 359,
was recommended to pass as amended