The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-31

laws nave been passed .Ds
H. the legislatures of the vaii-
Gus states, according to the
comparative summary and index pre-
pared by the New York state ibrar!.
or these. ,.i22 are general in their
scope and have therefore been ;nclld-
cd in the lbrary's digest, During the
year 60 state enactmcntS have been
declared unconstitutional ana loi cor
stitlltiOnal amendments have been pro-
posed by the legislatures or voted on
by the people. Some of the more iii-
terestmg features of these various
laws are worth noting.
In order to facilitate voting ON con-
stitutional amendments. Nebraska has
provided that the state convention of
any political party may declare for or
against II constitutional amendment
and such declarat ion shall be consid-
cred a portion OF the party ticket \
straight vote for the ticket of II party
declaring in favor of an amendment
will be counted as II vote for tie
amendment. lnasmuch as it takes Il
n!ajority of all the votes cast ut IN
Election in Nebraska to validate Il con-
ritutional amendment. this act is en-
rected to prevent good amendments
from failing, by default.
In the nature of political legislation.
the extension of the direct primary
system in Wisconsin throughout the
entire state: the passing of laws hy
Kansas and South Dakota providin&
that no person may accept the nomina
zion OF more than one party for the
same office and can be placed on the
official ballot as the candidate of but
one party: the adoption by sin states
of legislation looking to the employ
mcnt of voting machines: the enact
mont in California of a law making i,
Il misuemeanor to write, print or dis
tribute an unsigned circular or ramph-
let intended to injure or defeat any
candidate for nomination or election
To any public Office by rehectin" on his
personal character or political action:
the educational restrictions OH
suffrage imposed in Alabama and
Maryland: and the appointment by the
legislature of Pennsylvania. Georgia
and Arkansas of committees to confer
with similar committees representing
other states with a View to having
United States senators elected BY di-
rect vote of the people present points
of general interest.
Perhaps The most interesting act Of
the year was that in Illinois, whi"!.
provides that on petition of - pni
cent of the voters of Il locality or of
10 per cent. Of the voters of the state
any question of public policy is to hc
submitted to the people. Steps 10
submit Il constitutional amendment
providing for the initiative in rcferen-
dunn have been taken in OREGON, and
Nevada has referred this matter to the
legislature of 1903. Last Year I'ta.
adopted II constitutional amendment
authorizing the application of these
principles, but the legislature of this
year refused to enact the laws neceg-
sary to put it into effect.
At one time. most of the legislatures
mechanically. Now only six states have
anpual sessions and Alabama has led
the way for uuadrennial sessions, Il
precedent Virginia Is considering. The
trend of public opinion is manfestly
adverse to frequent legislative ses-
sions. The people want them short,
sweet and long between
In the direction of economies the
years legislative developments are
equally interesting, The decision of
the United States supreme court, sus-
tanning the Illinois progressive tax,
has, had marked effect in bringing
about similar legislation in other
states. During the past year the in
heritance tax has been adopted by
Minnesota, Utah, Arkansas, Washing.
tong Nebraska, North Carolina ana
Coldado The Arkansas law provides
for ahe taxation of collateral Inherit
ancG' only, but the laws of all the
Other states for the taxation of both
direct and collateral inheritances. The
tax imposed is progressive as regards
collateral inheritances I'm Washington
North CAROLINA, Nebraska and Coora-
10. = The new Alabama constitution
contains provision permitting the
legislature to levy a collateral m-
heritance tax. -Four anti-uust laws
We're passed in 1901 as against IL in
1899. All of the laws of the present
year, however, show II tendency to
grapple with what is admittedly the
greatest evil: the driving out OF com.
petition by unfair means, such as
factors agreements and local price
cutting. Free employment bureaus
HAYES been authorized or established