Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-12
WORK OF LEGISLATURES.
What Several Of the State Legislative Bodies
Have Been Doing.

The Nebraska Senate has passed a bill
taxing the gross earnings of telegraph
companies j per cent, Il pure-food bill.
and bill to regulate fraternal beneii-
ciary societies. The last named measure
was prepared by Il committee represent
ing the societies.
The Tennessee Senate has passed bill
prohibiting the limitation of the coal out
put in the state and making a combina-
ton to raise prices felony. II has
passed n bill providing for assessing rail-
road telephone. and telegraph companies.
the bill to become operative If the rail-
road commission bill becomes a law. The
latter was passed in concurrence lately.
recreating, if the governor approves. 4
commission abolished twelve years ago.
Two railroad measures urged by Gov
crnor Pingree have been unfavoraby re-
ported in the Michigan House. one pro-
vided for a two cents n mile fare. and
the other would substitute local taxation
for the present general tax. \ bill passed
in concurrence authorizes the use of vot-
ing machines AZ amy election. Another
enactment provides severe penalties for
the sale of oleomargarine or any other
olea ginous product in imitation of yellow
butter.
Because of the selling in Kentucky of
Tennessee coal, mined by convicts, the
Kentucky House has passed bill pro-
viding for the labelling of all cars bring
ing convict coal into the state.
The Massachusetts House has ordered
to Il third reading the bill to abolish the
common council of Boston and to enlarge
the board of aldermen by having one
from each of twenty-five wards and
twelve at large.
The Connecticut Senate has voted to
repeal the law under which a person ar
rested for drunkenness could be COM
PEELED to tell where he obtained his liquor
under penalty of commitment for con-
tempt.
The Massachusetts Senate has passed
the bin providing that messengers en-
ployed by the cities or towns of the
state, or by the state itself If their sal
aries are not more than $500. shall be eX-
empted from the eivil-service classified
ton. When the civil-service laws began
to be extended in Massachusetts several
years ago. messengers were left out of
The CLASSIFIED service because their num-
Der was small that it was not thought
worth while to give attention to them at
that time. But this loop-hole for political
patronage was quickly recognized by Bos-
ton politicians, and the messenger SER
vice began at once to show Il vigorous
growth. without any great change in
general conditions. In 1890 there were in
the employ of the city of Boston nineteen
persons classed as messengers. This
number has grown 10 ll3. Most OF these
come under the provisions of the bill just
passed.
The Wisconsin House has concurred
with the Senate in the passage of an anti
trust bill and of a bill to exempt beet
sugar factories from taxation for five
years. The Massachusetts Senate has ia
vored bill to prohibit the employment of
other than citizens on public works. The
bill was adversely reported and its
prompt rejection was expected. A bill re-
ported by the committee on prisons spec
ities the number of convicts who may be
employed in any one industry. and abol-
ishes all labor on the contract or piece
price plan.
The Michigan House has passed pure
food bill. The Senate has passed House
bill providing a penalty for neglect to dis
play the national flag on school buildings,
and has rejected a resolution for a consti-
tutional amendment to increase the SAL
airy of members of the Legislature.