The herald., 1897-02-17
WHAT STATE LEGISLATURES
ARE DOING

Advocates OF q change in the Massa-
chusetts ballot law are aiding to defeat
their purposes by their frankness. One
of them declared before the legislative
committee that the change by which a
man could vote the whole party ticket
by making a single cross would enable
"us' who do the thinking for the COM
munity to know whether the ignorant
voter voted as 1--WE" want him to VOTE
A bill for dispensary system did not
find favor in the West Virginia legisla-
ture.
Amendments to the South Carolina
dispensary law. designed to meet the
preme court, have been introduced in
the legislature. One, known as the ad-
ministration bill, provides for the con-
fiscation of any liquor brought into the
state which does not bear a certificate
from the dispensary, the certificate to
be furnished only after sample has
been proved to be satisfactory. Another
measure provides for a privilege tax of
81 per gallon on all liquor brought into
the state for personal use.
The Kansas senate has passed a bill
to make it unlawful for any company
or corporation to prevent employees from
belonging to labor organizations.
After debate continued over several
days the Alabama legislature rejected n
bill which sought to establish new and
stringent code of railroad laws. The
measure was of a Populist character,
and was earnestly opposed by the news
papers in the state.
A bill has been introduced in the Kan
sas senate by Senator Hanna, Populist.
for letting out each county office to the
highest bidder-that is, to the man who
will accept the lowest salary.
An antitrust bill passed by the Ar
Kansas senate will also pass the house.
according to poll Of that body. The
senate has also passed bill requiring
railroads to carry bicycles as baggage.
and the house has passed bill to regu-
late express rates, which cuts the pres
ent rates in half
A civil service reform bill providing
for state commission and introducing
the merit system into all the state de-
partments, is pending in the Wisconsin
legislature.
An anti high hat bill has been approved
IN the Utah house. 1t makes the pen
atty fine of from 81 to $1O
The Indiana legislature has rejected a
bill providing for the semi-annual pay
ment of taxes.
The South Dakota senate has passed
the bill prohibiting the formation of
monopolies or trusts within the state,
or any corporation or company acting
as agents for trusts. The penalty is a
fine not less than $4,000 nor more than
$4,000 for the first offense, and not less
than $4,000 nor more than SIC, 900 for
the second offense.
The South Carolina Legislature has
Killed bills putting telegraph and ex-
press companies under the control Of
the railroad commission, providing for
labor commission, regulating hours Of
labor on electric roads, and several
others tending to bind the management
of corporations.
The Alabama legislature has passed
an anti trust law identical with the Geor-
gia law. 1t renders void all contracts
made with view to lessen free compe-
tition in the sale, importation or manu-
facture of articles Of domestic growth
or of raw material. A corporation vio-
lating this law will be deprived of it's
charter and an individual violating it
will be subject to fine and Imprisonment.
The legislature has also passed a bill
prohibiting insurance companies doing
business in Alabama from belonging to
any tariff association which seeks to
establish a uniform rate and prevents
competition on insurance rates. A COM
pany violating the act is forced to pay
not only it's full losses but rs per cent ad-
ditional to the insured.
The Rhode Island legislature ad-
journed last week to April 13, after en-
acting a law which provides that per-
sons addicted to the use of chloral or
alcohol may be committed to an asylum
for the insane until their normal condi-
tion has been restored. The bill for the
use of ballot machines in city elecsions
was indefinitely postponed and $4,000
was appropriated for representation
of the states industries at the Tennes-
see exposition.