Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-01
MANY new
STATE LAWS
Wisdom and UnWiSdOm of
Legislation Soon to
Be Tested
Special to Evening Teller.

WASHINGTON, d. c., July L.
Numerous acts passed by the legisla-
lures of the various states during the
past winter and spring are to go into
effect today. A number of them are of
more or less radical character, and
many are directed against the opera
ton 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 half a dozen states the 2-cent
| passenger 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 expect
ed to close hundreds of saloons, espe-
cially in the rural districts.
In South Carolina an anti-bucket-
shop law becomes effective. The new
law is patterned after the Georgia law
and is expected to result in the clos
ing up of all exchanges dealing in flu
| lures.
In South Carolina, also, a new ten
into ojeration. For the present the
mills will be permitted to maintain a
schedule of 62 hours a week, but jan
uary l, the 60-honr schedule will go
into effect.
The measures enacted by the last
session of the Texas legislature are
not to come iQto 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 companies
doing business in the state to invest
rs per cent of the reserve on Texas
business in Texas securities and de-
post them with the state treasurer
A number of the big insurance COM
panies have decide dto withdraw from
Texas rather than comply with the
new law. Another measure passed by
J the last Texas Legislature entities 6
traveller to have a top sheet of {
minimum length" of nine feet, anC
any innholder lodging house keeper o.
q Slc6plIS Gal proprietor WIZ ldliS u
comply with the law is liable to a fine
The so-called public utilities bill
which becomes a law in New Yorl
today, is one of the most far-reach
ing reform measures ever passed b
4 an American legislature. 1t puts un
= der direct state control every publ
II service corporation, great or small
y with the exception of the telephon
and the telegraph Under the me-
= law, four of the most important stat
2 commissions pass out of existence. l
their place are to be two boards of fiV
members each, all of whom are az
pointed by the governor, and thes
boards are to have complete control {
the regulations governing the trans
Il portation and lighting facilities of II
state. 1t will be for them to comp
all corporations to give safe and ado
quate service at just and reasonab
rates; to prevent all rebates and di!
u examinations; to compel all comma
- carriers to have sufficient cars ar
motive power and to see that the
[ are held specifically liable for loss
| damage due to delay caused by negl
gence.
The same law prohibits the givil
of free passes except in a few limit
instances 1t provides alo that
franchise shall be capitalized in e.
- cess of the amount az 4ally paid
- the state as consideration for t
grant of the franchise; that the car
tai stock of a corporation formed
the merger or consolidation of two
more corporations shall not exec
the sum of the capital stock of
corporations so consolidated at tn
par value, or such sums and any a
ditional sums actually paid in cas-
NOR shall any contract for conso
dalton or lease be capitalized In
capital stock of any corporation wri
ever; nor shall any corporation hel
I after issue any bonds against OF as
lien upon any contract for consJi"
ton or merger" 1t is provided a
that no corporation shall purchase
hold stock in another such corp"l
ton or common carrier unless auth
. izad nv the commission