The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-28
DRASTIC LAWS
Placed on Statute Book By Thirtleth
 Legislature.

From the Dallas Times Herald. At midnight drastic laws of interest to the people will become operative In addition to the Ba six in McGregor liquor law all stock brokers and bucket shops in the state must close. Another prohibits free passes of any description (even newspaper advertis- ing transportation on street cars and street railroads in Texas and also makes 1t unlawful to use a telegraph of telephone frank or receive a half rate; another provides for separate compartments for negroes, not only on steam railroads, but on electric street cars.
 One of the most drastic laws that be- | comes operative on ths date Is the Robertson insurance law, which the in- surance companies declare Is confisca- tory. As a result of the enactment of this law, sixteen life insurance com panies will retire from Texas. All their business has been closed and they are ready to withdraw their agents. The law compels the companies to invest 10 per cent of tn cir reserves on Texas policies In securities within the state ana the OlDCldlS utCialt NitiA aiA 0eeo3 high rates, and the amount of money they oblige themselves to loan on poli- cles, they cannot afford to comply with the law and prefer to give up their profitable business. In leaving the state they deprive 1t of $13S,450 at one clip, which they have been paying annually at state taxes.
 Another measure that hits the rail- roads in addition to the free pass meas ( tlat biaI kQRn full crews on all trains, prohibiting them working employees on the road more than fourteen hours day and prohib the working of telegraph operators more than eight hours a day. All railroads are also compelled to use electric headlights after this date.
 Drinking of liquor of any sort Is prohibited on railroad trains by the new law.
 A fine of $100 is provided for any firm or corporation using the blacklist.
 The alleged theatre trust gets slam in the measure which compels theatri- cal manager to book any attraction ap- plying for an open date, regardless of who its financial packer may be, If the attraction is suitable for hrst-class theatre.
 The new anti-lobbying bill becomes ef- feetive: also the measure repeating occu- nation taxes on certain occupations, in cludng merchants, lawyers, dentists ana professional men of this character.
 The anti-nepotism measure prevents the employment by any public official in Texas of a man related 10 nm even so far off as a second cousin.
 The new state pure food law becomes operative. It Is modelled after the na- tional pure food law and protects goods made in the state and offered for con- sumption in Texas.
 Fire escapes must be put onto all ho- tels, and it is a fine of s25 to $2OO Tor
 every day hotel proprietors neglect 10 comply.
 Cock fights are placed under the ban,
 along with gambling, which is made a felony Even to have in ones possession
 gambling paraphernalia is an offense against the law. It is also an offense to
 rent property for purposes of operating games of chance.
 Non-support of ~vife becomes mis-
 demeanor. punishable by a fine of from $100 to 5000.
 Provision is made for the recovery of usurious interest collected on any loan. A new state game law. rigid in it's pro- visions becomes effective. Birds or game of any kind, cannot be shipped from the state.
 Betting on baseball games is made a misdemeanor, and burglary with eXplo- sives is made a felony.
 The intangible assets bill, the gross
 receipts bill and the franchise tax bill hit the corporati <ls a jolt. An inheritance tax also becomes operative.
 BrotEer P. F. Paige and the Times Herald were worsted in their gallant bat- tie for a law which would exterminate badger fighting in Texas and the cruel, nay, irhuman, persecution of the poor badge will continue for another two NenrS.