Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-07-04
MANY new STATE LAWS.
A Brief Summary Of The More I'm
Dortant EnactmentS OF General
Interest That Go Into
Operation To-day.
Special to THE ARGUS.

SpCSLa1 " ~ /
Washington, D. c., July 1.-Numer-
Gus acts passed by the legislatures OF
the various states during the past
winter and spring are to go into eHect
today. A umb OF them are OF a
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
aiIways and insurance companies.
Still others are decidedly of the freak
order.
In half a dozen states the 2-cent pas
senger rate and maximum freight rate
laws come into operation today. In
Iowa an a~nti-pass law goes in>o force.
The new local option law of Illinois,
which goes into force today, is expect
ed to close hundreds of saloons, especi-
ally in the rural districts.
In South Carolina an anti-bucket
shop law becomes effective. The law
is patterned after the Georgia lay and
is expected to result in the closing up
of all exchanges dealing in futures,
In South Carolina also a new ten
hour labor law affecting cotton mills
goes into operation. For the present
the mills will be permitted to maintain
a schedule of 81 hours a week, but on
January 1st, the 60-hour schedule will
GO 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 n of the most
general interest, is that which requires
the life insurance companies doing bus
mess in the State to invest rs per cent.
of the reserve on Texas business in
Texas securities and deposit them with
the State treasurer. A number of the
big insurance companies have decided
to withdraw from Texas rather than
comply with the new law. Another
measure passed by the last Texas leg
islature entities a traveller to have a
top sheet of a minimum length" OF
nine feet, and any ~innholder, lodging
house keeper, or sleeping-car proprie-
tor who fails to comply with the law is
liable to a fine.
The so-called Public Utilities bill
which ecomes a law in New York to.
day, is one of the most far-reachin
measures ever passed by an American
legislature. 1t puts under direct State
control every public service orpor
ton, great or small, with the exception
of the telephone and the telegraph
Under the new law foul of the mos
important State commissions pass GU
OF existence. In their place are to b'
of whom are appointed by the govern
or, and these boards are to have con
plete control OF the regulations govern
ing the transportation and lighting
facilities of the State. 1t will be TO
them to compel all corporations to Civ
safe and adequate service at just anC
reasonable rates; to prevent all rebate
and Determinations; to compel al
common carriers to have sufficient car!
and motive power, and to see that they
be held specifically liable for loss o:
damage due to delay oceasioned b.
negligence.
The same law prohibits the giving o
free passes except in a few limited in
stances. It provides also that no fran
chise shall be capitalized in excess Q
the amount actually paid to the Stat
as consideration for the grant of tn
franchise; thattithe capital stock of
corporation formed by the merger o
consolidation Of two or more corpora
tons shall not exceed the sum of tn
corporations so consolidated at thei
par value, or such sums and any ad
ditional sums actually paid in cAsl
"nor shall any contract FOR consolids
ton or lease be capitalized in the cap.
tai stock Of any corporation whatevel
nor shall any corporation hereafter is
sue any bonds against Or as a lien upo
any contract for consolidation or me-
ger" 1t is provided also that no co
poration shall purchase or hold stoc
in another such corporation or commo
carrier un1essIauthorized by the CON
mission.
Government Cotton ReDOft.