The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-07-01
PEOPLE
WILL TEST
NEW LAWS
s--a
ENACTED BY VARIOUS
STATE LEGISLATURES
LAST WINTER
SOME ARE DECIDEDLY
ON THE FREAK ORDER
Illinois Local Option Law
Expected TO Close Hun
dredS of Saloons :

Washington. y. c. Jnly 1-Numer.
Gus acts passed by the legislatures Of
the various states during the past win
ter and spring are 10 so into effect
today A number Of them are of more
or less radical chara ter, and many
are directed against the operation of
trusts and bucket-shops, while others
provide for the regulation of railways
and insurance companies. Still others
are decidedly OF the freak order.
In halfn dozen states the 2-cent pas
senger rate and maximum freight
rate laws come into operation today.
In Iowa an anti-pass law goes into
force.
The new local option law of Illinois,
which goes into force today. is eN-
pected to close hundreds OF saloons,
especially in the rural districts.
IN South Carolina an anti-bucket
shop law becomes elective The law
Is patterned after the Georgia law and
is expected to result In the closing up
of all exchanges dealing in futupres.
In South Carolina also new ten
hour labor law affecting cotton mills
goes into operation. For the present
the mills will be permitted to main
tain a schedule of 62 hours a week
but on January I the 60hour schedule
Will so into effect
The measures enacted by the last
session of the Texas legislature are
not To come into force until July II.
The most important of the new laws
in the Lone Star State, or the one
OF most general interest is that
which requires the life insurance com
psnies doing business In the sta5n to
invest rs per cent. OF the reserve on
Texas business I'M Texas securities
and deposit them with the state treas
urer A number of the big insurance
companies have decided 10 withdraw
from Texas rather hfan comply with
the new law Another measure pas
sed by the last Texas legislature en-
titles a traveller TO have top sheet
Of minimum length of nine feet,
and any innholder, lodging-house keep
or, or sleeping car proprietor who fails
to comply with the law is liable to a
fine.
The so-called Pubic Utilities bill,
which becomes law in New York
today nlaces under direct state con
troll every public service corporation,
J great or small with the exception of
the telephone and the telegraph. I'm.
der the new law four of the most inn
portant state commissions pass out of
existen7e In their place are TO be
two boards of five members each all
of whom are appointed by the Cover
nor, and these boards are 10 have com
plete control of the regulations govern
ing the transportation and lighting
facilities OF the State. II will be for
them to compel all corporations to
| give safe and adequate service at just
and reasonable rates; ~ prevent all
rebates and determinations, to compel
an common carriers to have sufficient
cars and motive power, and to see
that they be held specifically Liable
for loss or damage due to delay oc
! casioned by negligence
The same law prohibits the giving
of free passes except in few limited
! instances. n provides also that nc
franchise shall be capitalized ia ex
cess OF the amount actually paid tC
The state as consideration Tor ths
grant of the FRANCHISE; tnat the capita
stock Of a corporation formed by th'
merger or consolidation of two o
more corporations shall not exceed The
aum OF the capital stock Of the cor
porati0ns so consolidated ai their pa
value. or such sgms nd any addition
al sums aciuly paid In cash 'nG
shall amy contract for consolidation o
lease be capitalized In the capita
stock of any corporation whatever
nor shall amy corporation hcreafte
issue auy bonds against or as licl
upon any contract for consolidation
or merecr' II Is provided also tina
no orpowtion shall purchase or hol
stock In another such corporation O
common carrier unless authorized b