The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-15
THIS BILL WON'T
HURT PUBLISHERS
Measure fer Decen: Advertising
Brings Up a Weak ard Puny Thing
After Newspapers Have Lobbied.
(Frcm a staff corresp onden..,

LANSING, Mich, April 15.-One
tiny bill, so shorn that IL includes
only the most obnoxious kind OF nos.
trum ads. that public decency has
long ago banned, is likely to be the
amount OF the legislatures contribu-
ton toward clean advertising, asked
for by Gov. Osborn In his inaugural
message.
That is the Henry bill. framed orig
inally 10 cover all kinds OF indecent
through the house fairly early In the
session, and at about the same time
a bill introduced by Senator Kline
got out OF committee in the upper
house.
Senator Kline got cold feet when his
bill was attacked by the newspapers,
and he allowed IL to be trimmed 20
harmlessness and then showed back
into committee TO wait for the Henry
bill 10 come over. The Henry bill al
so received surgical treatment. As it
was signed by the governor few
days ago, ii prohibits the advertising
OF cures for ills caused by vice.
Another bill, introduced by Rep. OPP
penborn and aimed at dishonesty In
advertising, came out of committee in
the house and was passed yesterday
Ii too had been manicureC till its
nails could not hurt newspapers very
much.
The bill as first introduced, was
broad In its scope. IL came our on the
floor two months ago, but was driven
back TO committee. At IL reads row
II would prevent the publication OF
fake stock company advertisements
II II could be shown that the publish
er knew they were fakes, but publish
ers are guiless as the heather Chi.
nee at times. The bill is House bill
No. 261, file 109, and reads
Section /. Any person who
knowingly makes or publishes,
or causes TO be made or publish
ed in any way whatever, and per-
mits to be made or published, any
book. prospectus. notice. report,
statement, exhibit or other pub
lication of or concerning the af.
fairs, financial condition or prop
erty or any corporation or joint
stock association, not engagede in
mercantile business, which said
book, prospectus, notice, report,
statement. exhibit or other publ
cation shall contain any state
ment which is false or wilfully
exaggerated and which shall have
tendency to give TO the public
generally or to any person a less
or greater apparent value to the
shares. bonds, property or assets
OF said corporation, joint stock
association, partnership or indi-
vidual, than any OF said shares,
bonds, property or assets or any
part thereof shall really and Ia
fact possess, shall be punished by
fine OF not more than five thou.
sand dollars or by imprisonment
for not more than ten years or by
both such fine and Imprisonment
The bill was sent to the senate yes
terday, and so has a chance to get
through.
Several other bills have been IL
troduced. taking more or less vig
orous slars at dishonest or immoral
One was framed by re.
quest of Gov. Osborn and was intro
duced by Rep Stewart by his request.
Ii was referred to the committee on
judiciary, and is still there. 1t was
aimed at fake stock advertising. IL
the Oppenborn bill gets through, II
will cover as much as would have
been left of the Stewart bill.
SANFORD.