New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-04
COMPARATIVE LEGISLATION.
A SUMMARY AND INDEX OF LAWS PASSED
BY THE VARIOUS sTATEs-A PUBLICA-
rrIcNr on TILE -.r rrr I-r,
TIoN OF THE STATE LTBRAF


TON OF THE STATE LIBRARY
Albany jan 9 (speciaD-The New-York State
Library has just issued its Tenth Annual Com
paratiye Summary and Index OF Legislation by
States" covering the laws passed in 1899. tn
bulletin digests and organizes the enormous annual
output of legislation 10 render available with
n minimum of labor the most recent experience of
other States, enabling those interested in any spe
eific law find readily what States have recently
passed similar laws. An interesting feature Of the
bulletin is its review OF the important and
distinctive legislation of the year indicating the
trend of legislation by reference to laws of previous
years from which the following notes are taken:
Utah has established a State Institute OF Art
having a governing board of seven members ap-
pointed by the Governor. The object of the insti-
is declared TO be Ito advance the interests OF
the fine arts. develop the influence Of art in educa-
ton and foster the introduction of art in manu-
features. It is the duty of the institute 10 make
art collections. hold annual exhibits and provide
annual lecture courses.
The plan adopted in Kentucky in 1898 for placing
elections in the hands of a State Board elected by
the Legislature has during the last year been fol-
lowed in North Carolina This law creates state
Board of Elections. consisting of seven members
elected bennialy by the General Assembly. The
State Board appoints and has power to remove
county boards Of three members, who in turn ap-
point and may remove the registration and cleo
ton officers.
Wisconsin has adopted an act regulating lobbying.
public register is TO be kept containing the names
mote which they employed and the names OF
the individuals or corporations by whom they are
employed Within thirty days after the adjourn
ment of the Legislature persons or corporations
employing lobbyists must make detailed state
ment of expenditures to the Secretary Of State
A number Of States have provided for the regu-
aton and licensing of private employment agencies
but only few have yet entered the field in
competition with private enterprise During 1899
Illinois has established free employment agencies
in cities of $4,000 be conducted by officers ap-
pointed by the Governor, and Missouri has directed
the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to establish
free employment bureaus in cities of 100000
Delaware has adopted a general corporation law
designed to offer special inducements corpo-
rations to organize Under its laws 1t has reduced
its incorporation fee - for each $1,000 Of
capital, while that of New-Jersey is 20 cents and
that of New-Tork 81 % and hopes to attract many
corporations that would otherwise incorporate IN
i11os1ariHv has broErht about numerous renewed
Attempts to cope With the assumed evil Nine
States have during the present year again taken
up the solution OF the problem. Inc laws OF
Arkansas. Michigan, Missouri and Texas are par
sct fwentV-nine states and Territories now have
laws specially constructed to prohibit trusts
gan, Wisconsin and Missouri The direct inheri-
@ e1abIshe by y Pennsyvania in ISL has been
declared unconstitutional, the 5000 exemption
form on the same class of subjects Inheritance
taxes now exist in some form in twenty States
catures of residents of the State which in any
virtue, reputation or business or political motives
of the person carcatUred, tend TO expose him to
public hatred, ridicule or contempt Not stop
ping with this. however. il is also made 1t mis-
demeanor 10 publish portraits of residents Of the
State except public officers and criminals, without
the written consent of the person concerned Cali
fornia has also enacted that published articles i'm
peaching the reputation exposing the natural
defects any person shall be signed by the author
under penalty Of $1,000 and Florida has followed
with a law requiring the signature Of the author
to articles charging immortality.
a commission has been appointed in Pennsy lvania
investigate the subject OF good roads ana report
TO the Legislature Of 1901. In Vermont the oTtce
of State Highway Commissioner has been created,
while in Rhode Island the office of State Comms-
sioner of Highways has been abolished, and the act
granting State aid TO towns repealed. Wisconsin
has referred TO the next Legislature a constltu-
tional amendment authorizing State taxation 10 I'M
prove highways. .
To obviate the inconvenience caused by the dis
similar bicycle regulations of the various munich
"a Iiries of the State New-York has prescribed
set of ordinances and regulations for the use OF
BICYCLES that must be adopted by cities, towns and
villages wishing 70 have any regulations whatever
New-York and Oregon have passed general laws
for the construction Of sidepaths by counties A
PENNSYLVANIA law provides for the construction OF
sidepaths by townships and in washington cities
have been authorized TO construct paths. Florida.
Illinois Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and
Pennsylvania have passed laws to protect sidepaths
from injury.