Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-18
Sieber Double Taxation Bill Is a
Law.
Especial Correspondence.l

acted into laws of more or less virtue
the total Of 556 bills. or this number
407 were House bills, and the remain
ing 140 emanated from the Senate. or
trust legislation there was absolutely
none worthy the name. When Gov.
Nash runs again for the Gubernatorinl
chair it Will embarrass him TO explain
why his Legislature was so remiss in
Its duty to party and platform, ana
predictions are made that an answer
that does not satisfy will be sufficient
cause for failure to elect.
There would have been trust legisla.
tion II the venerable Republican from
Grosyenor's district, Judge Russell,
had been able to cope successfully
against the Administration Republi-
cans on the floor. His bill compelling
witnesses to testify before trust inves-
| legations, pronounced by the agents
of the largest corporation In the state
as sure death to their existence under
Ohi0-laws, though the simplest meas
ure introduced during the entire ses-
sion, was too certain a cure, and his
colleagues killed 1t. Afterward the
Price bill and other political make
| shifts were introduced, with no in
tent Of being made laws, and the Leg
islaturc adjourned without having done
the first thing to satisfy the demands
for antitrust legislation.
Four important corporation bills
were passed. Senator Dunham's bill
putting foreign stockholders In Ohio
concerns under the double liability
law, and Senator Sieber's bill relieving
Ohio holders of stock In foreign cor.
pora tlons from double taxation, were
both considered excellent measures
and did not conflict with the ideas OF
Gov. Nash, so they were allowed to be-
come laws. Considerable criticism has
been passed upon the bin introduced
by Representative Griffin, allowing
lighting companies to consolidate. The
Governors secretary lobbied for this
KIN ,,ai,., ,oh',, AZ, ,,a A., uAo,,,.a ,,ntae
The bill passed both Houses, and per-
mits the formation OF lighting mono-
poles In every city IN the state.
Another important incorporation bill
that became law was introduced by
Representative Stacey Rankin. It re-
Qulrcs all private banking institutions
to list their property for taxation in
the same manner as Incorporated and
national banks.
Many bills affecting insurance were
introduced, but few came TO be laws.
Senator Mnrchant was the author Of
a measure requiring all insurance com.
panics formed on a stock plan, whether
life, fire or accident, to have capital
stock of not less than 100000. Scna.
tor Middleton's bill providing that no
part of Il fire risk shall be renewed In
n company not authorized to do busi-
ness In Ohio was passed, after con-
siderable opposition. BY the bill in
troduced by Stacey Rankin all con
tracts for reinsurance for state pro-
perty must be examined by q commits
sion composed Of the governor the at-
torney general and the insurance com
missioner. The Painter bill will stop
u recent attempt TO break up the agen-
cies In Ohio by supplementing the
antl.compact act so ms to prevent COM
panles combining for purpose of con
trolling agents rates.
The building and loan associations Of
the state were not molested to any
great extent. Tho only bill OF much
importance affecting their business was
that requiring debenture companies to
make their state deposits from their
capital stock, rather than from their
premiums.
Perhaps the business interests to suf'
fer less in proportion TO their import.
ance were the railways. The only
bills PASSED regarding the steam rail
ways we're those of Willis, requiring
the construction of suitable waiting
rooms at all stations; the bill by Davis,
permitting the construction OF bridges
less than 20 feet in The clear, and that
OF senator Roger, compelling litlgan,s