Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-06
FAR-REAcHlNo LAWS.

An Epitonae of Recent Additions to Amer.
lean Statutory Legislation.
The changes in statute law of the diff
ferent States during the present year as
affecting commercial and industrial con-
ditions are noteworthy and significant.
The student of comparative legislation.
the thoughtful citizen and the man Of
business are all more or less interested
in the issues involved in the recent adj
diticns to our statutory legislation.
Legislation affecting commercial and
industrial relationships has been OF
more than ordinary significance and
volume. Corporations have been han
died with some severity, and the posi-
bilities of mischief from huge aggre-
gates of capital have been considerably
reduced. Thirteen States provide for
the regulations of railroads, some en-
larging the scope of power already pos
sessed by railroad commissions, and
others including such important factors
as the rates of transportation, speed OF
trains, accommodations for shipment,
precaut tons against collisions and i'm
proved switch and signal system. New
Hampshire authorizes the consolidation
of important trunk lines, Massachusetts,
and Rhode Island promote the abolition
of crossings at grade. Michigan and
Maryland require safe heating appli-
ances to replace the old stove. and Iowa
forbids the construction of new cars, or
the repairing of old cars to be used after
a specified time unless provided with
automatic safety couplings and power
brakes. The antitrust legislation has
distinguished Iowa. Kentucky, Michi-
gan, Mi sissippi, North Dakota, South
Dakota and Washington. In the regula-
ton of corporations. Georgia authorizes
security companies to become securities
in the bonds of public officers; Michigan
gives organizations the right to execute
personal trusts, and hold real or per-
sonal property in any trust whatever.
and North Dakota prescribes regula-
tions for the protection of the public
storing grain with corporations author
lied to construct and operate ware
houses. AS affecting the rate of COM
mercial interest, Iowa reduces its legal
rate from to per cent. North Dakota
fixes it at Z, with the option OF paying
IL when so secured by special contract
South Carolina places its standard at z
per cent. or by express agreement per
cent, all interest forfeited on proof of
usury. Enactments affecting trade are
rigidly prohibitory of adulteration and
abuse. Georgia, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, Ohio, North Dakota, Rhode
Island, and South Dakota have executed
acts regulating the sale of drugs and
making the adulteration of these articles
a criminal offense. Ohio, Michigan, and
Washington prevent the sale of de-
leterious milk and butter; Michigan,
Kentucky and Virginia protect the in
terests of vinegar, and Massachusetts,
DEGREES against option contracts, when
there is no intention to receive or de-
liver property pretended to be sold. In
| direct labor legislation. Georgia places
eleven hours as the limit of days
work in cotton and wooden manufac-
tories, Massachusetts, makes it nine
hours in municipal and State employ
| ment. Wyoming in like work and in
| mining establishes eight hours as rule,
| and Ohio fixes it at ten hours for rail-
way employees, and prohibits continual
ton of work without rest, and twenty
! four hours of consecutive duty.-Age OF
| Steel