St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-24
PROTECT THE GIRLS
Age Of Consent Bill Recon-
mended to Pass After q
Warm Debate. n. }
CULKIN WON HIS FIGHT
For the Bill to Stop UsMry
by Building Associa-
lions. =, :
cULKIN WON HIS FIGHT
CR0NKHITE'S BILL A LAW.
Hard-Fiber Machinery Will
Be Added to the Peniten-
'iary Plant.

The age of consent bill was taken
up in the senate yesterday afternoon
and recommended for passage after
being amended so as to make it not
applicable in cases where the female
has been of previous unchaste char
acter Dr. Martha Ripley, a large
number of other ladies and goodly
number of gentlemen interested in
the bill were on the floor of the SEN
ate to watch the senate in deliberat-
ing upon the measure they have
worked for, and were edited by the
warm debate that was precipitated
when Senator Wyman moved its
consideration.
Senator Howard offered an amend
ment to the effect that the bill shall
not apply to female of the age of
sixteen or over who had previously
led an immoral life or been of I'M
chaste character.
Senator Stevens asked the author
of the bill what states had adopted
such law. He thought he had seen
chart with black lines some place
to show immortality.
Senator Howard replied by nam
ing Colorado and Wyoming.
Senator Stevens said that Mime
sofa had been the leader in raising
the age of consent from ten to four
teen years. He thought the state
should hesitate to make further
change to the extent proposed.
Senator Wyman thought the moral
rights should be considered. He con-
tended such a law is necessary in
this state. He asked the passage of
a law to protect girls against such a
man as Sumner, about whom he had
read in a newspaper. He wanted a
law to hang such men.
Senator, Stevens asked if the vic
tim of Sumner was under the age of
consent. u
DR.. Martha Ripley spoke UP and
said the girl was under fifteen.
senator Pottgieser suggested de-
lay in action until some timeswhen
more senator's should be present,
and moved to make it special orr
der Monday afternoon. s.
Senator .Wyman opposed de1av
and President Day said Justice I'd
the ladies present demanded imfne+
dlate attention. The ladies had come
IN the name of common humanity
to ask the passage of the bill. Ole
Favored favorable action, and said
his wife had appealed to him in the
name of his own children to urge the
passage of the bill. 60 ~
senator Wyman took exception to
an inference that snap Judgment had
been taken by calling the matter up
at a time when many were absent.
Senator Pottgieser said he had not
intended to apply that construction
to the motion of Senator Wyman.
what he meant was that it was de-
slfaole to have larger attendance.
The motion to postpone was lost.
senator Stevens sent to the secre-
tary's desk and had read an opin-
ion OF the supreme court of Kansas
upon the subject under considera-
ton. This was a case in which a
BOY was prosecuted where the girl
was under sixteen and the boy under
nineteen years of age.
Senator Stevens said the substance
of the decision was that the court
had pronounced such law an out
rage upon civilization.
Senator Morgan said: 81 have seen
thousands of good women who have
become mothers when under eigh-
teen years of age" He would like
Senator Howard to state what would
be the legal effect by the passage OF
the bill upon such cases in case of
marriage. Proceeding to argue the
bill Senator Morgan said he wanted
to see his boy as we'll as his girl pro-
tected. Such law he regarded as
legislation against the boys and the
homes, and as father he proposed
to vote against the bill.
Senator McHale, speaking against
the amendment to exempt females
OF unchaste character from the pro-
visions of the bill, claimed it was