The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-11

The monotony of the house session Of
five hours yesterday, devoted largely
to general orders. Was broken by some
sharp discussion between the mem
bers. +a4.4e.e.,
In the committee of the whole, with
Mr.. Dunn CRepD, of Ramsey, in the
chair, II. f. 1S2, by Mr.. Fosnes (Union),
of Chippewa, was being considered,
The bill amended the present law by
allowing a husband to sue for dam
ages for the death of his wife, where
the death was caused by the negIi-
gence or carelessness of any person
or corporation.
Mr.. Wheaton Rep.), of Henne pin.
offered an amendment increasing the
amount from $4,000 to $4,000. Mr..
Dwinnell moved that the amendment
be indefinitely postponed, saying that
Mr.. Wheaton was endeavoring to do
indirectly what he had failed to ac-
complish directly, referring to the bill
prepared by Mr.. Wheaton extending
the liability from $4,000 to SIC. .OOO which
was indefinitely postponed a few days
ago.
| Mr.. Wheaton made spread eagle
speech, in which he charged that the
law had been amended some years ago
by the corporations, so that only SIS, 900
would have to be paid in case of a
was in the interests of the laboring
| man, and he said he was not surprised
at his brother" from Hennepin talk
ing sides with the corporations
Mr.. Dwirnell said in reply that it
| was impossible to place a value in
money upon human life. The amend
ment would open the way for persons
to mulct corporations out of heavy
damages, to which they were not en-
titled. Mr.. Wheaton's bill had been
| recommended for indefinite postpone
ment by the judiciary committee, and
the house had accepted the report Now
Mr.. Wheaton was endeavoring to have
an amendment made which practical
ly embodied his former bill
Mr.. Wheaton-Was not that bill dis
posed Of during nay absence?
Mr.. Dwinnell-Lf do not know as to
that. think, however, the judicial
committee could dispose of it intelli-
gently without your presence. l stand
by my record in the house and outside,
and anticipate that 1 will not be mis-
judged.
Mr.. Wheaton took position in the
center aisle leading to the speakers
desk and was about to commence his
! argument when MIR. Yale Rep0, of
! Winona, called attention to the rule
that members must speak from their
desks. Mr.. Wheaton asked for and re-
|
from the point of vantage which he
had taken. He apologized by saying
! that he had no intention of Offering
offense to my brother from Hennepin.
and, II my remarks have offended his
sensitive nature, 1 am man enough to
apologize publicly here and now"
MI. O-Neill (uniom. Of Big Stone,
| stated that the corporations had not
been instrumental in amending the law
by reducing the amount to $1,000 The
| amendment had been made by the
legislature in 1891 at the demands of
the Farmers alliance. The change had
been made so that a poor switchman's
FAMILY could get as much as the family
of wealthy man.
Mr.. Yale protested against the cry
that this law should be passed for
the laboring man, and that law for the
farmers. He favored the amendment
being voted down.
Mr.. Hennessy Oem), Of Ramsey,
offered an amendment striking out the
| amount from the law and allowing
juries to determine the amount to be
paid. He offered this amendment on
the broad proposition that the legis-
lature could not fix the price Of a hu-
| man life
The amendments of Mr.. Wheaton
and the bill then recommended for
| passage.
FOSS AND JACOBSON, TOO.
| Mr.. Foss Rep.), of Grant, had an
| other clash with Mr.. Jacobson (Repo.
Of Lac qui Parle, over H. F. 12S Mr.
Jacobson, who is pleased when alluded
/ to as the leader of the house, won his
point, but it was by the very narrow
margin Of one vote. During the early
part of the present session Mr.. Plow-
man Pop), of Otter Tail, introduced
a bill providing for the taxing, of mort
cages. This bill was Indefinitely post
poned and day or SO afterward Mr.
Foss reintroduced the same measure
The committee on taxes and tax laws
recommended the bill of Mr.. Foss to the
same pigeon hole as the first measure
Notwithstanding . this recommenda-
tion Mr.. Foss, after. a spirited discus
sion, succeeded in having the bill print
ed and placed on general orders de-
spite the objections of Mr.. Jacobson.
When the bill was reached yesterday
morning Mr.. Foss asked that it be
| made special order for Wednesday
at o'clock. No objection was made
| at the time, but when the committee
arose the action taken was excepted
| from the report. This was just before
| the noon recess, and when the house
reconvened at o'clock, Mr.. Foss made
another effort to get his bill set for
| a special order.
Mr.. Grondahl Rep), of Goodhue
| too, sides with Mr.. Foss and said be-
| cause he was not as good at parlia-
mentary practice as the member from
| Lac qut Parle was no reason why he
| should not be accorded the privilege
he asked for. He characterized the
proceedings as 'rtomfoolery'' on the
part of Mr.. jacobson.
Mr.. Jacobson took exception to this,
and Mr.. Grondahl changed the remark
and declared the actions of the men,
Der from Lac qui Parle were parlia-
mentary proceedings of the highest
| order"
On the roll call to make the bill a
special order but seventy nine voted
for 1T, seventeen against, and twenty
two members lodged. The speaker de-
cided that it took a two-thirds vote to
carry the motion, and Mr.. Foss glared
at Mr.. Jacobson and said nothing.
Later in the session Mr.. Foss stated
that he was not ready to take up his
bill and 1t went to the head of general
orders zra
The house adjourned at o'clock to
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock
TO PROTECT GRAIN GROWERS.
Mr.. Plowman Pop), of Otter Tail.
followed his banking bill of Thursday
with another Of the same series yester-
day. The latest effort of the Populis-
tic member is directed5acccrding to the
title toward the protection Of the grain
growers Of the state. 1t will cost
| something over a,-auarter of a million
| dollars to make the bill effective should
1t become law w.gaThk measure reads