The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
WITH THE LAWMAKERS.

A bill for the execution of death sem
tences by electricity has been introduced
In the West Virginia legislature.
The South Dakota senate has passed the
resubmission bill by vote Of 2G to Z.
which assures the wiping out of prohb.-
tion in that state.
In the lower house of the New Mexico
legislative assembly the other day a bill
to grant the right of suffrage to women
was defeated by a vote of 16 to Z.
A member of the New Hampshire legis-
lature Is to introduce bill which makes
1t an offense to knowingly give libelous
or raise information to a newspaper man.
The first important step has been taken
In the Indiana Legislature toward releas-
ing Jeffersonvile of its notoriety as a
Gretna Green. For years past loving
couples from Kentucky have taken a ferry
boat 10 Louisville and on an elopement
journey costing two 5-cent fares have
fund a haven from irate parents. The
justices of the peace at Jeffersonville have
thrived on fees from these eloping couples
and hack drivers and hotel runners have
been paid regular salaries by the magis-
trates for bringing in the young people.
The joint legislative committee of New
York, composed of the finance commit
tee of the senate and the ways and means
committee of the assembly, which was
authorized by the last legislature to in
vestigate the administration OF the New
York state commission and the necessity
Tor their continuance, report that the va
rious commissions, which cost less than
$1,000 in 1885, received appropriations last
year of over 81 lVyO,OOO
A petition is being circulated in the
Hartford, Conn, shops where women are
employed praying that the general as
sembly enact a statute requiring that un-
married women be given the preference
in shops and factories where women are
smployAd. The legislation is desired to
prevent married women, whose husbands
earn good wages, from working in shops
TO the exclusion of single women who have
TO support themselves and frequently rela-
tives, also.
Among some of the bills before the Ala
bama legislature are the following: To
prohibit the granting of free railroad
passes to members of the Legislature; 10
prohibit persons from secreting them.
selves on railway trains to avoid paying
fare; to require railroads carrying pas
sengers to build depots and waiting rooms
and keep agents in all towns of over 800
inhabitants; TO authorize the use of auto
matte ballot machine in municipal elec-
tons.
A Minnesota senator has drafted a bill
for the state protection of forests and for
the preventioE of forest fires. 1t provides
for the appointment of a forest commits
sioner, who shall take measures TO mini
mze the danger of fires and shall report
annually TO the governor the different
methods of numbering and the effects upon
the timber supply, water power, ETC., of
the state; making at the same time rec
concentrations as to legislation for the
preservation of the forests.
A member of the house of the Wyoming
legislature has introduced a measure 10
prohibit gambling of every description in
the state of Wyoming. The power 10
regulate gambling in any form will be
taken awey from all municipal corpora
tions. Should this bill be come a law the
owner of property in which gambling is
conducted is made liable to the Same
punishment as the owner of the game.
At present gambling of every form is
licensed in Wyoming. The business men
are urging the passage of the bill and It
will very likely become law.
The Fusionists in the North Carolina
senate refused to adopt a resolution pro-
posing that the legislature should adjourn
on General Lees birthday This, OF
course has fired the Bourbon Democrats,
who are aghast at the idea that any south
erner should ignore Lee. one newspaper
took a lit over the matter ana wonders
what explanation the alleged Demo-
cratic members of the Fusion party can
make to their constituents for refusing to
honor the anniversary of the birth of one
of the most heroic soldiers and hristians
this age has prduced?"
Senator w. II. Austin has introduced a
bill in the Wisconsin senate relating TO
street railway corporations. The meas
ure provides that in lieu of taxes street
railway corporations shall pay TO the
municipality from which they derive their
franchises a graduated portion of their
gross earnings. Speaking of his bill Sem
ator Austin said:. You cannot fix the
value of street railway franchise except
by its earning power. One year the same
| franchise may earn lots of money and an
other year 1t may earn only little. BY
taking the gross earnings you do JUS
| tice TO the company N''-Philadelphia Press.