Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-03-25
LAWS ADDED TO
STATUTE BOOKS
SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION EN-
ACTED BY MISSOURI GEN.
ERAL ASSEMBLY.
LAND BANK BILL IS PASSED
Over 1900 Bills introduced, but Less
Than 200 Become Laws-con-
tract System at Peniten-
s'ary to Be Abolished.
Jefferson City.

Jefferson City.
Were it not for the fact that the
wet and dry issues were considered
more important by some members of
the forty-eighth Missouri general as
sembly than constructive measures,
the railroads would have been given
fair and equitable legislation regard
ing rates, and the code of Missouri
would have been revised to such an
extent that this state could boast of
having the best statutes in the III
try.
These two measures are the more
important ones that have fallen at
the hands of the obstructionists.
The great majority of the much need
ed legislation was granted, and the
members of the assembly can return
to their homes without having to
blush for their actions.
Prison Bill Passed.
But as to the most important of the
bills considered by the late assembly
there is not much room for argument
as to that place being occupied by
the legislation to abolish the contract
system from the state p~enitentiary
The salient features Of the law as
passed are that no contracts for pris'
on labor can be extended beyond De
cember 81, 1916.
The present contracts will expire
December 81 of this year. The
board of prison inspectors shall be
composed Of the attorney genera.
state auditor and state treasurer
The state-controlled Irvine plant is
to be enlarged and new state-owne6
manufacturing plants are to be in
stalled at once.
The state institutions are required
under the bill to purchase all posi-
BILE supplies from these plants.
A superintendent of industries il
to be employed to supervise tn
work in the state-controlled plant'
and his salary is not to exceed So,
600.
At no time can more than half o
the inmates of the penitentiary b,
leased to outside contractors.
Gardner Land Bank Bill.
The bill for a constitutional amend
ment, known as the Rural Credit Law
sponsored by Col. Fred d. Gardner Q
st. Louis, which passed both houses
is undoubtedly a true specimen of az
vanced legislation. 1t seeks to max
it possible for tillers Of the soil t
become more Independent, by pr,
viding for state aid in making Ion
loans at low rates of interest. 1t wi
have a tendency to send many thou
ands back to the soil" if they desiI
to go, as provision has been mad
for the landless man to at last ow
his W place. Col. Gardner ha
made a study of conditions at HON
and abroad and his plan embodie
THE features found good elsewhe1
and eliminates the objectionabl
During the session 1914 bills wei
introduced in the house and 619 wei
read in the senate. The members
the legislature worked 81 days. I'll
general assembly was to close Tue
day, when the SEVENTEEN day WI
reached, and the lawmakers sine
that time have received but ST. a de
for their compensation.
Major Signs Fire Rating Bill.
The members of the legislature CT
point with pride to the passage
the fire insurance rating bill. 1t W,
one of the important measures adv
Gated by the administration and WI
signed by Gov. Major. For a peri
of more than four years the fire
surance conditions in this state ha:
been chaotic.
The assembly passed what W
known as the Oliver law and this a
caused no end of turbulency in the
surance field. Two years later the O
law was enacted and through this a
the insurance companies retired frc
the state; the insurers declining
write policies under the Orr law.
was only through much diploma
that they consented to renew tn
business relations with the poper
owners of Missouri. The fire insuran
rating law, which is known Is t
Watson bill, is expected to be one
the most equitable rating laws tt
has ever been passed in this count
Insurance commissioners from ma
states have written to State Super
tendent Of Insurance Charles G. r
ellie that in their opinion the Misso
law should be copied in every st;
in the Union.