The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-19
NORTH STATE LAW
MAKERS ARE BUSY
SOME DRASTIC LEGISLATION IS
BEING PROPOSED AT THIS
SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
LEAVE THE TEETH IN
FIRE INSURANCE, Liquor TRAF-
FIG. WATER POWER AND CON-
vxCTa ARE ALL TO RE
CExvE ATTENTION.

Especial to The Richmond Virgnian.)
RALEIGH. N. c., Jan. 1.-the
North Carolina legislature is just get
ting down tosrthe work of legislation
since the new government and State
administration have been inductou
into office, and a taste of the many
measures OF State wide latitude aud
Importance" has been finished within
the last day or two, through the
formal introduction and proper ref
erence to committees Of the advance
installment of some OF the bills de-
signed to cover some OF the more I'M
portant of these subjects-anti-trus
law with backbone and teeth; more
equitable freight rates; cheaper fire
insurance; more stringent child labor
law: State control OF the water pow
ers OF the State: State supervision OF
control of electric light. and gas and
power platg.
Fire Insurance Rate Agitation.
Among the measures so far dumped
into the legislative hopper there are
several dealing with the subjects
named and several others Of equal
! Importance to many.
Senator Hooks, of Wayne on Fri.
day secured the adoption Of n toint
resolution designed to be the entering
wedge for the hot fight fer more
equabls and cheaper fire insurance in
North Carolina as compared with
rates secured by property owners in
Virginia and some other adjacent
states
BY the terms of this resolution,
James K. Young, insurance commits
sioner Of North Carolina, is instruct
ed to inform the Legislature, by Jam
uary 2tst. or as soon theirs after as
practicable. OF certain information de-
sired and recited in the resolution
concerning the Southeastern Tariff
/ association, the amount OF premiums
on each class Of risks exacted for fire
( Insurance. and the amount OF losses
on each clasa OF rigks during the past
year, etc
1t In claimed that rates are exacted
by the Insurance companies OF that
insurance trust as some lawmakers
are pleased to designate ID on risks
in North Carolina much greater than
are collected on the same classes for
risks In Virginia. Maryland and some
states south of North Carolina. Leg
islation designed to correct that AL
legged injustice will be demanded and
probably passed at the present sixty
day biennial session But there will
be a hot fight put up by the oppo
nentS OF such a measure In the mean
time
State Control Of Water Powers.
Probably no character of legislation
that Is on the program enlists more
attention and interest than that which
is designed ito give the State control
over the natural water powers Of
North Carolina streams" which il Is
asserted in some quarters have OF
o,,I iva
to a large extent by a few capitalists,
natives for the State and some nom
resident investors. some OF the latter,
1t is stated. reside in Richmond and
other Virginia points. in New York
and Washington. The more radical
advocates OF the general proposition
assert that a water power trust IL,
therefore, imminent II it does not
already exist, etc.
More Enforceable Prohibition LegIs-
lation.
Not the least interesting and i'm
portant Of the measures set down as
a. certainty Of enactment, which will
secure amendments to the existing
State prohibition Law. which are tn
tended TO give the police I'm cities)
and the county officers (in country
more authority 10 aid them in efforts
20 enforce tho statute against the sale
or manufacture OF spirituous or malt
liquors OF any kind In North Caro-
line, except on physicians per-
scriptton.
= One Of these amendments will take
the form OF a search and seizure"
provision, which the State law now
lacks, although AshevilIe and few
municipalities have such n focal or
dinance.
But even after that Is done, It will