The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-06

strong measure. If there are only $500
now it's because they have shrank, and
I'm not responsible for that. Did you
think I was working miracles, or only
selling lumber specialties?
81 was so dumfounded that he had
time to get away before I could an
swer him. and I've not had the courage
to pursue the matter any further. I've
charged my loss UP to fool tax, and
only wish to let the sharper know in
some way that I do not believe these
shingles evaporated."
PRIVILEGED CLASS LEGISLATION.
BUSINESS Men of Minnesota Organ
ixe to Secure Restrictive Changes
In the Existing Credit Laws.
To The st. Paul Globe:
According to current reports, the retail
dealers and other business men Of the prin-
cpal cities and towns of Minnesota have or
gained an influential association for the
purpose of inducing the legislature to enact
radically exacting changes In the existing
credit laws of the state-such revisions OF
these statutes as will materially curtatl the
exemption rights which the present laws al
low for the protection of needy debtors. TIE
privileged class legislative measures devised
by the association for the especial benefit OF
the mercantile and other specified creditors
while highly advantageous to them. would,
if enacted as proposed be very detrimental to
the industrial classes, the announced pur-
pose being to substitute for the present credit
laws stringent restriction enactments which
largely cut down the reasonable exemptions
now allowed for the protection of needy
creditors So as to enable certain classes OF
creditors to seize the wages. earnings and
property OF consumers for debts contracted
for the necessities of life. If working men,
farmers employees and consumers generally
would retain the beneficent homestead and
various other exemptions which the laws now
J grant they should earnestly oppose any re-
trogre ssive legislation relating to the existing
| credit and exemption laws of the state.
If the association of business men sue
| ceeds in securing the passage of these exact
| ing laws as planned the enforcement Of the
| proposed measures by arbitrary creditors
| agar st consumers who in debt to them
| for supplies would cause much anxiety and
| bring distress to the homes of large num-
| Der of families and individual citizens belong
| ing to the industrial and producing classes.
! The citizens who would be exposed to the
| possibility of being harassed from time to
| time. by harsh legal proceedings under the
proposed laws include more thar twO-thirds
| of the men, women and children of the COM
! monw ealth. When 1t is considered, that 1t
| IS from the combined trade of these that the
| Profits of those engaged in commercial and
| other special business callings are chiefly de-
| rived, it would seem that it would be to the
| interest of mere hants and business men gen.
orally to advocate and maintain liberal credit
| laws. such as will amply protect the indus
| trial classes from vexatiOus and expensive
! litigation, rather than - favor the enactment
| Of severe legal measures, the practice OF
| which will tend to lIumiliate and discourage
many unfortunate debtors. who, with SUI
| fcient extensions Of time for the payment
! of debts and the protection afforded by gen.
erous laws. would be stimulated TO make
| special efforts to provide ways and means to
| meet their Indebtedness.
The purpose Of the organization known as
the Minnesota Business Mems association, as
| set forth in the official prospectus, which has
been given publicity by the press, is to secure
the repeal of the existing credit laws Of the
state, and replace them by a set of arbitrary
acts to restrict the exemption rights which
the laws in force concede to debtors
Here is synopsis Of the proposed measures
To limit the value of homestead to be ex-
empt To reduce to the smallest possible
sum the value of personal property exempt
from seizure for debt. To make the wife
equally liable with the husband for debt
To make the wages, earnings and property Of
children liable to seizure for the debts con
tracted by either of their parents. To make
the salaries. wages or earnings OF munic.pa
officers and employees attachabe for debt
To amend the existing garnishee process by
minimizing the amount exempt and thereb!
open the way to make this trOuble-breedins
law still more burdensome on multitude O.
smal,-salaried and other wage earne-s, wht
are liable to be subjected to serious los.
through petty exactons under this arbitrary
| ,rOvde that nothing shall ha
enpt as against court or officers fees wher
| creditors see fit TO resort to litigation t.
collect debts. To provide that creditors o.
their assigns shall have a personal propert!
lien by law without any contract between
creditors and debtors to that effect, and max
ing it criminal offense to mortgage O
transfer such property on which lien exist
! without the consent of creditors; but pro
vision is made that such lien is not to appl.
as between creditors and merchants whel
merchandise is bought to be placed on sal
in the mercantile business. TO provide law
to protect merchants engaged in special line
of trade against competition by department
! supply houses, auction stores, fire sales an
pedlers.
That these measures are especially directe'
: against small debtors is shown by the pros
pectus which specifies that the proposed law
Y are intended to Apply only to indebtedness
i contracted for the necessaries of life, rem
:, | and medical. surgical and dental services
> ! and that they not to apply betwee
creditors and merchants when merchandise
i is bought to be placed on sale in the mer
: camille trade.
n These drastic measures will probably b
!. introduced in the legislature by separate bill;
: and if any of them pass 1t is CONFIDENT
= hoped that Gov Lind will intervene in be
half of the industrial Classes to save ther
f. ON the less and miseries that natural
: follow the enactment of oppressive laws.
The proposed restrictive credit avs are a
n obnoxious to the populace as are the oppres
j. sve restrictions of trade under the pernicou
Q trust system of business devised by the head
q of the powerful susts and combines to cor
troll trade and prices, and thereby insur
S the further enrichment of a comparative
, few persons.
i The members of the Minnesota Bushes
= Mems association would unquestionably COZ
: suit their best interests, If they would, Ii
: stead of working to secure the passage
: privileged credit laws calculated to embal
q rass the poorer classes, heartily join wit
d the people in advocating effective leg,s,atiy
y measures to break up, root and branch-s
Y far Minnesota is concerned-the NOR
" strous trust methods of trade which are il
sidiously impoverishing the masses and SLOW
e ly but surely impairing the general bushes
d interests of every city, town and rural d
n trict of the state. 1t is generally conceds
q that the absolute power hold by tt
~ odious trust combinations to control all lin,
le of trade and dominate prices is alike 6etr
lie mental to the interests of the industrial ar
4 producing classes and to the local dealers ar
~ business men generally throughout the stat
II