Year: 1878

TWO NEEDED L4WS.


Our religious contemporary, the SUNDAY
GLOBE, called attention to the lack of two
very important laws upon our statute books
"a law against bcdy-snatching and bank
rnpt law. 1t is matter Of surprise that
these subjects have been SO long neglected
by the Legislature. The general bankrupt
law which has been in force all over the
country for many years, has supplied the
want of State law covering cases of COM
mercial distress, and its existence has, per-
haps, been an excuse for neglect to provide
for the adjustment of difficulties between
debtor and creditor. But the repeal of that
law leaves the business men of Minnesota
absolutely without protection against their
creditors if they happen to have them. It
will not do to neglect the matter much long
er, for our interests are liable to suffer seri-
ously because of the injustice that may be
wrought by arbitrary seizures of goods and
property by remorseless and short-sighted
creditors.


Under the law as it now stands it lies in the
power of any creditor of firm to pounce
down upon the goods of the debtor and
practically confiscate them, to the injury
and loss of all other creditors, and the fear
lest some person shall adopt such tactics
has much to DO towards influencing busi-
ness men in giving credit and adopting
arbitrary measures for the enforcement of
obligations. A single and minor creditor
has it in his power to stop the business of q
responsible firm at his convenience OF
caprice, and to practically defraud the other
creditors of their just dues. We need and
must have, at as early day as possible, a
we'll digested honest bankrupt law which
shall work no hardship to debtor or creditor.
The faults of the national bankrupt act
ought to prove OF value in the framing of
such law. That act was in many respects
wise and just, but it was found to be very
convenient agency through which men who
were wilfully dishonest could escape legal
responsibility for acts which, without it,,
would have consigned them to the peniten-
tiary. Provisions which shall affori
loop-holes through which roguss
can escape, must be avoid
ed in the law which the legislature must pass
at the coming session. It must also be
borne in mind that the debtor has rights as
we'll aa the creditor, and that the latter must
not possess the power to oppress or defraud
the former. We want law based upon
common sense principles law framed in
the interests of business mon, not of law
yers. well-considered bankrupt law need
not work hardship to either the debtor or
the creditor, while it would be advantageous
to both. It should be framed by business
men with view to avoiding legal complica-
tions, and when so framed should be prompt
ly acted upon by the legislature.


The fact that under the law of Minnesota
body dysnatching is no crime-not even a
misdemeanor-will perhaps be surprise to
many. Nevertheless it is fact that the re-
surrectlonlst can carry on his
infamous traffic in the full
light CT day, conscious that he is commit
ting no act which places him under the ban
of the law. The recent exposure of the fact
that bodies are gathered in hundreds at the
medical colleges, and that in their procure
ment no respect is paid to age, race or condi-
ton, has caused thrill of horror to run
through the country. Some of the bodies
found in the picking vat at Ann Arbor may
have been procured in this State-may have
been all that remained of form once loved
or revered-a wife, sister, husband or broth
er-but yet the ghouls who tore them from
their shroud were committing no offense
against the laws of Minnesota when they dug
them from their peaceful resting place in
Oakland or Calvary. The sacredness of the
grave is not recognized by our statutes, and
he who finds that the grave of near and
dear relative has been despoiled by sacre-
igious hands has no resort at law
against the vandals, even thoughsthey may be
known and notorious. It may be mere sen
timent, but yet the sentiment is worthy of
respect. The feelings of the living-their
love Oh reverence for the dead ARE entitled
to respectful attention, and the cemetery, 50
long regarded as sacred ground in whose
precincts no unhallowed thought should find
utterance, should be protected by law just
as much as the individual property of the
citizen is protected.


It ought to be the first duty of the legis-
lature to supply these two deficiencies in our
laws. Although the subjects are dissimiIar,
they concern every resident of the State. and
the GLOBE may be pardoned for grouping
them. The business men demand bank
rupt law that shall be equitable and compre-
hensive; every citizen who has affections for
those who surround him demands that the
sanctity OF the cemetery shall be protected