The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-28
One Years Crop OF
State Legislation

- HE NEW YORK state library has just issued
| its eleventh annual comparative summary
4 and index Of legislation by states, covering
the laws passed in 1900 This bulletin, pre-
| pared by Robert II. Whtten, Ph. d.. sociology
librarian divests and organizes the enormous an
nual output Of legislation so as to render available
with a minimum of labor the most recent expert
of other states, enabling those interested in
| any specific law to find readily what states have
recently passed similar laws. An interesting feat
ure of the bulletin is its review OF the most i'm
portant and distinctive legislation OF the year, in
dcating the trend Of legislation by reference to
laws Of previous years, from which the following
notes are taken:
SUFFRAGE.
The constitutional amendment submitted to vote
in North Carolina to disfranchse the illiteratc
negro was adopted and goes into effect in July,
1902 The proposed plan is similar to that adopt
ed by Louisiana in 1898 and makes ability to read
and write a section OF the constitution qualif.
cation for voting. This provision applies to
whites and blacks alike, but there is proviso
that it shall not apply to any person entitled to
vote in any state prior to Jan. l. 1867, or to
lncal descendant of such person who registers
before Jan. 1, zoos. 1t is in effect an ingenious
device to disfranchise illitcratc negroes without
also dsfranchisng illiterate whites and still keep
within the letter of the fifteenth amendment pro.
viding that the right to vote shall not be denied
on account OF race, color or previous conuitlon OF
servitudc
VOTING MACHINES.
The voting machine is rapidly gaining in public
favor The first state law authorizing its use was
passed by New York in 1892, allowing towns to
use the Myers automatic ballot cabinet at town
elections. During the present year Rhode Island
has created voting machine commission to ex.
anime machines and make regulations for their
Use by cities and towns. Machines are to be
bought by the secretary Of state and furnished
to cities and towns on application. In Iowa the
use Of voting machines has been authorized at all
elections and commission to examine voting
machines created.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
In Iowa a state library commission has been
created whose duty it is to give advice to
libraries and aid in their establishment and to
operate with the state library in the development
OF travelling libraries. New Jersey also has
created library commission. 1t is required to
furnish advice to libraries and may give 500 to
such as eXpend an equal sum for books. Begin
ming with Massachusetts in 1890, special library
commissions or authorities with similar duties
have now been provided in fifteen states.
TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS.
Mississippi was the only state to pass anti
trust legislation in 1900. Trusts and combinations
prohibited by statute or constitutional
provision in twenty-nin states and territories.
TAX INoUIsIToRs.
Iowa has followed the example Of Ohio in pro-
viding for tax inquisitors to discover personality
omitted from tax lists The law authorizes the
county board of supervisors to contract with any
person to assist in the discovery of property not
listed for taxation.
TAXATION OF MORTGAGES.
bn, odo f,1 ituti p6.
mcnt to exempt the amount of the mortgage
in the assessment of morteaged property A
mortgage is deemed and treated as an interest in
the property and the value Of the property less
the value of the mortgage is assessed to the
owner and the value Of the mortgage to the
MORTGAGE
STAMP TAXES
Virginia has provided for the collection OF its
tax of Il on the seals of all courts and notares
by of adhesive stamp to be affixed to the
instrument requiring the seal, which the
seal shall be placed in such way as to cancel
the stamp. So far as known this is the only in
stance OF the of stamps by state for the
collection of tax. In 1915 an act was passed in
Maryland imposing stamp tax on every bond, |
obligation, single bill or promissory note above
the sum OF 500. This law was repealed in 1856.
FRANCHISE TAXEs.
New Jersey has adopted franchise tax law |
similar in some respects to that adopted by New |
York in 1900. Like the New York law it pro. |
Nides for the taxation of persons and corpora
tions using highways, streets and public places,
except railroad and canal companies. The New |
York law, however, provides for the assessment |
of the property and franchises of such corpora.
tions by the state tax commission and for its |
taxation for state and local purposes in the same
manner as other property. The New Jersey law |
provides that the property shall be assessed local.
ly and taxed at local rates heretofore and that
tax OF per cent on gross receipts shall be as.
sessed annually and apportioned by the state
board of assessors to the taxing districts in pro.
portion to the value Of property therein, on
streets, highways and public places.
sIDEPATHs.
Rhode Island has created state commission OF |
five members to build and maintain sidepaths A |
license fee Of from 80 cents to 81 may be imposed
mission has been established in Maryland with |
power to appoint boards in each county to con.
struct and maintain paths.
CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
Mississippi South Carolina and Virginia have
revised their laws providing for pensions for ind-
gent Confederate veterans, and Louisiana has
adopted a constitutional amendment increasing
annual appropriations for PENSIONS
In Iowa the state board of control has been
authorized TO supervise county and private inst-
tuions for the insane. Massachusetts, has followed
the recent example Of New York, Wyoming and
Ohio, in providing for state support and control
of all insane committed to institutions. After
Jan !, 1901, the Massachusetts, state board of
insanity may transfer the insane in almshouses
ar other institutions not controlled by the state
to state institutions Massachusetts, has, also pro-
vided ior establishing state colony for the
chronic insane, for which 1900 to $500 acres OF
land may be bought.
CONVICT LABOR.
On expiration OF the present lease, March 8,
1901, the system of leasing conycts in Louisiana |
will be abolished. A law OF 1900 provides for a
board OF control OF the state pcnitentiary con.
sisting OF three commissioners, The board may
secure land for convict farms and factories and
may bid and contract the same as private ndi-
Nidual for the building by the convicts OF state
and local public works.
PROBATION.
A number OF states has provided probation Off.
GERS who may recommend that convicted Juvenile
offenders be released on probation, and shall ex.
ercisc supervision over those SO released. Massa.
chusets in 1891 was the first state to extend this
system to adult offenders. Vermont followed in
1915 ana New Jersey during the present year
PAROLE. PARDON.
An interesting Kentucky law provides that the
board OF prisons commissioners may parole con. |
yicts in the penitentiary for the first time Pa.
rolled prisoners are not required TO remain in the
state, but il they do SO they are required to re.
port their place Of residence and conduct to the
board OF prison commissioners through the county
judge at least every six months This provision
should be quite electice in diminishing the num- |