The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-15
THIS BILL WON /
HURT PUBL|sRERS
Measure for Decen: Advertisin
Brings Up Weak ard Puny Thing
After Newspapers Have Lobbisd
(From 4 stan correspondsnt J

LANSING. Mich. April 15.--Ono
tiny bill, SO shorn that Il includes
only the most obnoxious kind OF noe
trum ads. that public decsncy ha3
long ago banned, Is likely TO be the
amount of the legislatures contribu-
ton toward clean advertising, aaIkod
for by Gov. Osborn In his inaugural
message.
That is the Henry bill. framed orig
inally TO cover all kinds OF indecent
medical advertising. II slipped
through the house fairly early In The
session, and at about the same time
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 1t to be trimmed 10
harmlessness and then showed back
into committee to wait for the Henry
bill to come over. The Henry bin al
SO received surgical treatment. AS it
was signed by the governor q few
days ago. It 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 COMMITTEES in
the house and was passed yesterday.
II too had been manicured till its
nails could not hurt newspapers very
much.
The bill as first introduced, VS.
broad in its scope. Ii came out on the
| floor two months ago, but was driven
back to committee. At II reads now
IL would prevent the publication of
fake stock company advertisements
II II could be shown that the publish
er knew they were fakes, bur cublibh-
ers are guiless as the heather Chi
nee at times. The BIN IL House blu
No. 261. file 100, and reads:
| Section i. 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 az
fairs, financial condition or prop
erty Of any corporation or joint
stock association, not engaged In
| a mercantile business, which said
book, prospectus. notice, report,
L ssNtShiNhts NAhbAt vi otuSE RuUtk-
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 q 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 In
| fact possess, shall be punished by
a 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 ia.
troduced. taking more or less Wis
orous slars at dishonest or immoral
advertising. 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. II was
aimed at fake stock advertising. II
the 0ppenborn bill gets through, II
will cover as much as would have
been left of the Stewart bill.
SANFORD.