The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-03
GIVES MURDERER
ANOTHER CHANCE
Senate Passes Bill Permitting
Jury to Make Penalty Life ,
Imprisonment


degrees was passed by the senate yes
terday, with only four dissenting
votes. The bill changes the present
law in two particulars.
In case the verdict is guilty of muir
der in the first degree the jury may in
its discretion prescribe Imprisonment
for life. In case the jury does not
specify the penalty, it shall be death,
unless the court certifies its opinion
that the exceptional circumstances do
not warrant in the infiiction of the
death penalty and imposes a life SEN
tence.
The section prescribing the penalty
for murder in the second degree may
give the bill rough shedding in the
house. At present the court has no
discretion, as the penalty is iimprison-
ment for life, and for no less a term.
The Alley bill provides for fmprison-'
ment for term of not less than ten.
years. The bill is silent on the ques-
ton of the maximum penalty, but ii is.
presumed that a life sentence could
be imposed undes this section. A spe-
cific amendment to that effect is ex-
pected.
Senator Peterson offered bill that,
if it becomes a law, will materially
affect suteties on a liquor dealers
bond. 1t makes them liable equally
with the saloonkeeper for any injuries
resulting to the wife or children of a
man by reason of the principals vio-
lation of the conditions of the bond
The bill was referred TO the temper
ance committee.
Voting Machine Commission
Senator Gjertsen is the author of a
voting machine bill that goes further
than Senator Dunns II creates a
voting machine commission" whose
function il shall be to test the merits
of voting machines submitted to any
county for use. The commission is TO
consist of three members, the attorney
general and two men-one a Repub-
lican and the other a Democratic be
selected by the governor. The bill re-
stricts the commission by providing
certain requirements that any voting
machine submitted must possess. The
Zee Tor examining voting machines is
fixed at 5000 for every applicant.
The bill was referred to the commit
tee on elections.
Senator Lord introduced wide
open" tax bill which proposes amend
ments to the constitution. A like bill
passed the house two years ago, but
was killed in the senate. The sections
OF the constitution, as proposed, would
read:
Section >. All taxes shall be uniform
upon the same class OF subjects within
the territorial limits of the authority
leyylng the tax. and shall be levied and
collected for public purposes only.
Sec B. Public burying grounds. public
school houses. public hospitals, academies.
of learning, all churches. church property
used Tor religious purposes. and houses of
worship, institutions of purely public
cIhar,ts cIneiUssjy ana fnG pubic property used eX-
alton.
Sec. A. The legislature may, by a gen.
eral law or special act authorize munic-
ipal corporations to levy assessments for
local improvements. or upon the property
TO be benefited by such improvements or
both, without regard to cash valuation,
and in such manner as the legislature
may prescribe.
Would Increase Liability s,e-..e
A bill by Senator Johnson increases
from $4,000 to $4,000 the maximum
amount that can be recovered against
any person or corporation for causing
the death of another. Au,ee.ov
Senator Benson's bill authorizing
school boards to hire teachers for a
term of five years, instead of only
from year to year, was killed by
fOtC VI 20 nays " 10 yeas. In6- ma
jority thought that the existing law
was much safer.
The house bill of Representative
Fraser forbidding the careless distri-
button of medicines and drugs was
passed, as was Senator Hardy's meas
ure giving cities absolute title to land
condemned for water works purposes.
The senate adjourned until 10 a. IN.
today.
New Senate Bills
S. F. No. 253: BY Gjertsen-Autbor;z-
ing the use of voting machines and pro-
Viding for a voting machine commjssion
3 r: No. 254: By Peterson-Relating to
sale of intoxicating liquors. Temperance
.. r. No. 255: By Thorpe-Appropria
ting money to build bridge across Ha wi,
creek. in Kandiyohi county Roads and
bridges. 'iiu '1
S. F. No. 256: BY Thorpe-Apnronr,a-
ting money to build bridge across Crow
river. Roads and bridges
). f. No. 257: BY Johnson-Relatinp N
acts OF executors, administrators and
S. F. No. 25s: BY Du Toit-Autborizinp
county auditor to give public notices per-
tanning to drainage. Drainage.
5. F. No. 260: BY Lord-Proposing
amendment to state constitution providing
Tor wlde-open tax law.
5. F. No. 261: BY Mausten-Appro-
prlating money for experimental school of
agriculture at Grand Rapids, Mimi. FL
S. F. No 2s2: BY schain-Legalizinp
acts OF county commissioners who have
purchased property for poor persons. Ju-
S. F. No. 2ss: By Brower-Providins
:I Ior the organization of cooperative asso-
Citations. judiciary.
s; f. No: 264: BY Morgan-Fixine Iia-
plilty OF dealers in Intoxicating Ii6uors