New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-24
A, REVIEW OF LEGISLATION.
SUMMARY OF GENERAL
LAWS PASSED BY STATE LEG1s-
LATtRES DURING 1898

LATtRES III RlNb i'''
Albany. Jan @-The annual Legislative Bulle-
tin" which has been compiled and published oy
the New-York State Library for the last nine
wears is nearly ready for distribution. In addition
to It's presentation Of q comparative summary ana
index OF the genera laws passed by all Legislatures
during 1896 the bulletin this year has new feature
In that 1t gives interesting review or the most
important and distinctive legislation OF the year
In this review the general trend OF legislauon u
indicated by references TO passed In previous
years Some Of the topics reviewed deserve speciai
notice ,,.,vn
The movement to place on more satisfactory
basis the existing white supremacy throughout
the black belt OF the South has made consideraple
progress during the last year. Mississippi adopted
an educational qualification for Suffrage In leS anu
South Carolina provided an alternative edncauohh
or property qualification in 1925 The new Consu-
tuition OF Louisiana Is A much more tanicaI move
rnent In the same direction. The Acknowledged ann
has been 10 secure nearly as possible Inc as
frenchisement OF the negro while retaining uhi'ei-
sal. manhood suffrage for the white race ABOUT
one-hfth OF the native whites IN louisiana arg
illiterate. Some scheme seemed desirap'e 70 aso'u
the Acknowledgement OF this large number OF whte
voters BY an ingenious contrvance the ne" 'oi'-
stitutlon virtually establishes an alternative educa
tionsl or property qualification for all negroes out
for those whites only who did not AT the ''ne u
the adoption Of the constitution possess 'he run
chise The example set by these states seems Hhc''
10 be followed by Alabama. the LEGISLATURE having
nroyided for the submission OF the question OF noio
ing constitutional convention to the people
Delaware IL the first state 10 10 back TO the OLD
system o. voting after having adopted 'he Aus
tralian ballot. constitutional Amendment anoP'e'
by South Dakota provides for the initiative ana
referendum in State and municipal legislation rms
Is the first general application Of the principle IN
any State and its operation will be watched WIN
great interest only New-York New-Jersey. Mas
sachusetts Rhode Island. Georgia ana south 'a'"-
lima now have annual sessions OF the i<gsia'ure
and the Ncw-York Legislature of 1888 adopted
resolution referring 70 the Legislature OF lSs'
constitutional amendment browning lot "'e"''"
sessions
In 1895 the National conference Of commissioners
on uniform legislation recommended for adoption
by the various States uniform negotaole lhstru-
ments law This act was adopted by New ork'
Connecticut Florida and Colorado in 1897. and dur
ing 1895 by Virginia Maryland and MASSACHUSETTS
The adoption Of this law by the rect OF the STATES
would work reform OF great value 10 business
interests.
Massachusetts, and Illinois have made serious at
tempts To reform the present unsatisfactory system
Of assessing the general property tax In MasFa-
chusetts the State Tax Commissioner mas been au-
,horized 10 appoint A deputy. who may visit any
citv or town and inspect the work 81 It's assessors
and require OF them such action as VIII tend 70
secure uniformity In assessments throughout the
Common wealth. Illinois has thoroughly revised Jus
very unsatisfactory system Of assessments
Massachusetts has empowered cities and towns
to lay out bicycle paths In Ohio county commits
sioners have been authorized to levy license tax
Of 81 year bicycles. and with the proceeds
construct and MAINTAIN bicycle paths In ms
snaipkIinS Streets IN cities Of the rs class dry
strip three feet wide shall be left in which bIey,
sts IN ths TEH'
AfaHt n
GENERALIZATION OF EDUCATION.
The review states that one Of the most marked
features Of recent educational legislation Is the
general centralzlns movement. The weaker schools
are being consolidated, the unit Of local admins
ration enlarged and the local authorities subjected
10 Increased central supervision The movement IN
the direction Of library extension through the estan
aRen by IL the NewYork state Library in 1874 has
s s1S d sPFssd 1853 &c M 10 ''
south Dakota. has decided to adopt tn. 81, sou'l,
Carolina plan of dealing with the liquor trar1c' =
constitutional amendment provl ding for me manu- ,,
facture and sale q liquors exclusively nnder state
The new Constitution Of LCnls2na seaboa
sion consisting Of three members. elected by ne
rates ana regulations. determine complaints and
make Investigations
THE TORRENS SYSTEM
The Torrens system OF land registration has been
adopted in Massachusetts, This system oeslsneu
% simplify transfers Of real estate through an
official registration and State guarantee or ute
was first adopted in the United States ~ Illinois
4, ,sa5 This lao, was declared unconstitutional In
the following year and in 1887 new Jaw was
passed the constitutionality Of which mas recen,y
been upheld by the Supreme Court. In OHIO the
Torrens system was adopted in 1896. The law was
declared unconstitutional in 1881. and was repeaied
nv the Legislature In 1893 California adopted the
system in 1897 . - =,
The marked development OF government by IN,
junction" since the labor troubles or 1894 mas led
10 several attempts to restrict the power OF courts
to punish for contempt. In 1897 law passed me
Kansas Legislature dividing contempts into Two
classes direct and indirect. and providing tris+
by fury in case OF indirect contempts: similar
law was adopted in Virginia in 1895 1t has been
declared unconstitutional by one OF the circuit
Courts and ,s now before the Supreme Court
There is steadily growing appreciation OF me
practical value Of this bulletin by ALL interested IN
subjects affected by State legisa ton. and by all
who desire to keep themselves informed as 10 I'M
portant political and economic legslatio
A NEW DE EOTEN AND SMITH OPERETTA.