The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-06

was not ready to vote for it's repeal.
He asked that it be referred to thf4
printing committee This was lost.
Senator Culkin urged that any action
taken by the senate be deliberate and
not hasty. 1t was the duty of the
press to serve the public, and it's duty
to the public demanded that it expose
rottenness, especially in public places.
No newspaper could seriously damage
any man of good reputation, so far as
his observation had gore. Men whose
characters were ruined by hbelS were.
largely assistants in that ruin them
selves. Senator Keller made an earnest
plea for defenseless womanhood despite
the fact that hbels on women were
expressly excepted from the bill pro-
posed to be repealed. Senator Culkin
called his attention to this but Senator
Keller could not see it.
Senator Roverud said every re-
putab1e newspaper would stand
ready to have malicious libel
made a felony, and not a misde-
meanor. but the French bill wouli
place them on level with the black
maflefs" and would remove the pro-
lection that the editors now had
against impoSitionS made upon them
Senator Sperry said that the repeal
would only remove the provision that
a retractien should be a complete de-
Tense. The truth would still be COM
plete defense; justification and mitI-
eating circumstances could still be
shown as now.
Senator Culkin corrected a statement
by Senator Sperry that public officers
were liable. Legislators, judges, wit
nesses and others were exempt. The
newspapers were doing good, but there
were harpteS In these cities who spent
n a RS
against the papers.
These men were a DEGRADATION to
the profession he represented The re-
peal of the bill would give them full
swing. The papers should be protected
In the gathering of news, but not in
malicious SANDER or libel
Senator Keller roasted Editor Me-
Donald, of St Cloud, with a number Of
scurrilous epithets, which seemed to
Tense of the bill.
Senator Miller asked for further time,
and Senator French consented that it
go over without losing it's place
ii. f. PSI, for aid of libaries in incor-
porated villages, which was recon-
mended for indefinite postpOnement by
the finance committee, was discussed
at some length. An amendment to add
townships was lost. 1t was also
sought to amend to include the small
Ter cities, and a clash between the
rural and city members ensued. Sem
ator IltiS moved to amend by reducing
the library limit from 5000 to $50, but
this was also lost. The bill was then
recommended for passage.
The bill giving Frank Dufresne the
contract for printing the Minnesota
reports, was amended so as to make
the minimum volume of 700 pages to be
sold for $3.50 per volume. the bill as
drawn, specifying 600 pages and 81 per
volume
Senator Spencer had it amended by
adding a provision that all work
should be done in the state The 100
page amendment was not adopted.
Senator Greer then moved that the bill
be amended to authorize the secretary
of state to advertise for bids. 1t was
charged in the debate that this was a
scheme of the West Publishing COM
pany to crowd it's rivals off the earth
1t also developed that a New York
concern was the lowest bidder before
the committee, and not Dufresne The
amendment was lost, and the bill was
finally recommended to pass.
The POttgieser bill, which was recon-
mended to pass, requires druggists to
furnish prescription patrons with copies