The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-03-30
Record Of the Late Legislature.

Advertiser: Inc missouri
legislature that has Just adjourned did
not accomplish rs much rs it should
have done, but rs much, perhaps, rs
could have been expected, considering
that the house was republican and the
senate democratic by only a few votes.
The general character of the proposed
legislation differed materially, in many
respects, from that OF any preceding
legislature in this state. Nearly every
thiog subject 10 enactment was tackled,
but very few of the many bills pre-
sented even reached the governors
desk.
In all, 1,23S bills were introduced.
Of this number 400 are credited to the
senate and 1923 TO the house. Altogether
2l5 bills passed both houses. A great
many of the measures passed are to
amend existing laws, and not a few OF
them are yet to be approved by the
governor. The house was in the
clutches of a powerful lobby, which
strangled some Of the most merltorious
bills presented. Not only did proposed
legislation concerning railroads receive
the supervising care and attention OF
these salaried m~anipulators, kept at
the capital for the benefit of special
interests, but measures relatieg to the
State University, the textbook CON-
mission, revenue laws, and even ap-
preparation bills for the maintenance
of public institutions felt its baneful
influence.
Prominent among the laws passed
was q bill empowering TIE secretary OF
the state to appoint two state bank
examiners whose duty it shall be to
examine every state bank once q year;
also, a bill authorizing the state treas
user to appoint = deputy supervisor 10
examine building and loan associations.
There was a complete revision Of the
game laws, the purpose being to make
the laws more rigid for the better pro-
lection of all kinds Of game. A bill
prohibiting the use of any coloring
matter in any product used as q substi-
tute for butter was passed; also, q bill
making it a misdemeanor to open bar
Der shops and run them On Sunday.
Among other bills of special interest
passed were;
An act appropriating $12, 900 to
erect statues of Thos. II. Benton and
Frank p. Blair in National Memorial
Hall.
Authorizing cities to prohibit by or
dinance the sale of cigarettes and
cigarette wrappers to minors.
Providing for the commitment of
boys under eighteen years of age to the
reform school, and authorizing the
governor to commute the sentences of
prisoners under twenty-one years of
age in The penitentiary to the reform
school.
Providing for the creation and main
tenance of a fund for pension,ng fire.
men,
Making it o felony for officers and
directors Of banks and trust companies
to receive money on deposit after
definite knowledge that the institution
il in an insolvent condition.
Raising the age of consent to eigh-
teen years.
Giving prisoners convicted the
second time of q criminal offense the
maximum punishment for the crime.
When tho legislature convened, the
press and people Of the state loudly
demanded the enactment of some law
or laws providing for u reduction OF
criminal costs. Several bills were in
troduced looking to that end, and n
few of them were passed, but it is
generally conceded that the assembly
did very little along that line.