The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-09-07
SOME QUEER LAWS.
Curious Legislation in Some Of the
Western States.
Statutory En.ctments TO Promote
So5ricty and Morality Which
Arc Peculiar to That POr-
tfGn Of the Country.

For many years the two western
states which have enjoyed generally {
virtual monopoly of peculiar Legislation
are Kansas and Nevada, but there are
few western states which have not, at
some time or other, and do not now
from time to time, adopt statutes which
seem unduly radical in conservative
communities in the east and south.
The "anti-treating" law, a statute de-
signed by the Carson legislature to
abate the evils of intenperance in Ne
vada, did not work we'll in that state
and was repealed.
Recently there has been presented at
the Michigan legislature a proposition
intended to promote the cause of So
briefly in the Wolverine state by a
statutory enactment of somewhat
similar kind. 1t proposes to decrease
the number of customers Of LIQUOR sa-
looms by taxing each individual drink
er. Cities and towns may issue ''tip-
ping licenses" at uniform price of
five dollars head. The name and num-
Der of every license must be published,
so that the thirsty ones in each COM
public if they are not already known.
No dispenser of drinks may sell a man
any spirituous beverage until he pro-
duces his license, and no license is
transferable.
The constitution of Idaho excludes
from the rights of citizenship the per-
cons following: Anyone under guar
dianship, iCiiotic Or insane, or who has,
at any place, been convicted of treason,
felony, embezzlement of the public
funds, bartering or selling or Offering
to barter or sell his vote, or purchasing
Or offering to purchase the vote of an
other, or other Infamous crime, and
who has not been restored to the rights |
OF citizenship, or who, at the time of
such election, is confined in prison on |
conviction of a criminal offense, or who |
is bigamist, or is living what is known |
as patriarchal, plural or celestial mar
riage, or in violation of any law of this
state or Of the United States forbidding
any such crime; or who, in any manner
teaches, advises, counsels, aids or en-
courages any person to enter into big
amy, polygamy, or such partriarcbal,
plural or celestial marriage, or to live
in violation of any such law, or to COM
nit any such crime; or who is mem
DER Of or contributes to the support, aid
or encouragement Of any order, organi-
.at1on, association, corporation or go
'lety which teaches, advises, counsels,
encourages or aids any person to enter
bigamy, polygamy or such patri-
.rchal or plural marriage, or which
caches or advises that the laws of this
tate prescribing rules of civil conduct {
re not the supreme law of the state: |
'or Chinese or persons of Mongolian
escent.' G
In Iowa a license srequired bya house
lovers. In Florida there is license I
ee OF $25 imposed On all persons who ,
re not citizens of the United States I
no engage in the culture of sponges.
Missouri there is a law against the S
Of saloon within 800 feet | 1
any OF the principal parks of St. \
ouis, and also against display of anv t
II painting deemed to be of an immoral c
!laracterin any liquor saloon. In Geor- v
Ia IL was a misdemeanor, under law t
assed III 1897, to shoot any firearms on c
excursion train or at picnic-ex- W
pit III self-defense. In Virginia there ii
as tine imposed for profanity, out n
de OF the cities and Incorporated tt
'wns. In Kansas, prohibition state. S;
Inc or cider from fruits grown by the b
aier for his own use'' Tor that of his p
m1ly) do not come within the fnhibi- fl
On against spirits, since 1888. In fl
aho the sale of liquors within one d
lie OF any camp meeting is prohibited. OF
lder penalty of $500. II
by Virginia law articles for use in
illafds or pool are not to be let or sold
college students under Fl. Under
e idaho constitution three-quarters :,
the jury may render a verdict. and ~
legislature is authorized to provide -
at III cases of misdemeanor Give ~
this of the jury may render a YER -
t.. In civil actions, too, a jury NAV -
INSIST OF any number of jurors less If
IN IL upon which the parties may e.
rec III open court. IN. Y. Sun. 49,