Concurrent resolution requesting Congress to pass an act providing a plan whereby an adequate part of the national funds shall be loaned to resident landowners at a low rate of interest, in view of existing conditions under which agriculturalists must pay an excessive rate of interest on loans. MAINE. Anti-trust act. Public utilities act patterned after Wisconsin statute. MASSACHUSETTS. Various pure food laws. Attendance at school and employment of minors. Extension of existing law concerning maximum hours of women and minors. Mothers' pensions. Reports of industrial accidents, regulation of factories and workshops, occupational diseases, etc. Workmen's compensation law amended. "Uniform child labor law." Construction and alteration of tenement houses. Retirement system for public school teachers. Boards of parole and advisory board of pardons created. Powers of attorney-general extended in the prosecution of trusts, etc. Simplification of legal procedure. Weights and measures. Licensing aviators, inspection of aeroplanes, "law of the road" in flight, etc. Various conservation laws. On application signed by 1200 voters in any senatorial district or by 200 voters in any representative district asking for the submission to the voters of any question of instructions to the senator or representatives, the secretary of the commonwealth shall determine if such question is one of public policy, and if so he shall place such question on the official ballot to be used in that district at the next state election. A proposed amendment providing for the referendum was submitted to the people. Uniform marriage law. One day's rest in seven in certain manufacturing and mercantile employments. Granting of preliminary injunctions and restraining orders restricted. MINNESOTA. Five-sixths of jury may return verdict in civil cases after 12 hours deliberation. Abatement of disorderly houses. Uniform negotiable instruments act. Uniform warehouse receipts act. Blue sky law relating to insurance companies only. Reorganization of state labor department to include bureau of women and children, with a woman superintendent thereof. Workmen's compensation act. Minimum wage commission (women and minors). Ten hours per day and fifty-eight hours per week maximum for employment of women in certain occupations, and nine hours per day and fifty-four hours per week in other occupations. Presidential preference primaries. Non-partisan primary extended to members of legislature. Loan shark-law-1 per cent per month limit on loans of $200 or less. Distance tariff act. Good roads act. Mothers' pensions. Constitutional amendment submitted proposing increase of Supreme Court Justices from 5 to 7 and that no statute shall be declared unconstitutional unless five members concur. Constitutional amendment submitted providing for initiative, referendum and recall of all public officials. MISSISSIPPI. At November, 1912, election a proposed constitutional amendment providing for initiative and referendum failed for lack of a sufficient total vote, although the vote was two to one in favor of the amendment. ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ. Nine-hour day for women in certain employments. Department of labor created. Granting of injunctions in suits growing out of labor disputes restricted. State tax commission created. Anti-trust and anti-discrimination laws. Loan shark law with 12 per cent maximum. All public service corporations subjected to jurisdiction and control of state railroad commission. Blue sky law modeled after Kansas statute. Suspended sentences, parole commissioners, and assistance to paroled convicts in obtaining employment. Party nominations by direct vote, modeled after Oregon law (initiated and passed at November, 1912, election). Presidential preference primary and election of delegates to presidential conventions and nomination of presidential electors by direct vote. (Initiated and passed at November, 1912, election.) Stringent corrupt practices act. (Initiated and passed at November, 1912, election.) Woman suffrage amendment to constitution submitted by legislature. MISSOURI. Blue sky law patterned after Kansas statute. Mothers' Pension law extended. Act prohibiting any railroad, street railway, terminal, transfer or electric railway corporation from operating in intra-state business unless incorporated under the laws of Missouri. White slave act patterned after Mann act. A number of laws relating to safety and hours of labor of employes in various occupations. Public service commission with very broad powers over all public utility corporations and persons. Non-partisan convention for nomination of Circuit Court Judges, delegates to which are selected at general primary elections. Primary election system extended to nomination of all elective city offices in cities having more than 400,000 inhabitants. 66 County Unit Law," which is regarded as practically assuring prohibition throughout the state outside of the large cities. Loan shark law. Drastic statute on subject of pools, trusts, conspiracies and discriminations. One provision is that in any proceeding against an insurance company it shall be prima facie evidence that the company is a member of a conspiracy, etc., if it be shown that it or any agent in writing insurance has used any rate or made use of any schedule of rates prepared or furnished by any person or concern acting on behalf of any other insurance company or association in the making and publishing of insurance rates. This act is said to have caused more than 150 fire insurance companies to suspend writing insurance in Kansas City. The business men are up in arms over the situation and it is expected that the law will be tested by litigation as soon as possible. Constitutional amendment submitted allowing pensions to deserving blind. NEBRASKA. Constitutional amendment providing for initiative and refer endum was adopted at November, 1912, election. (Report on last legislative session not yet received.) NEVADA. Workmen's compensation act. Divorce residence period changed from 6 months to one year. Food and drugs act. Uniform system of public roads. Recall of public officers was adopted at November, 1912, election. Inheritance tax law. Uniform warehouse receipts law. Corrupt practices act limiting candidates to expenditure of 20 per cent of one year's salary. Woman suffrage constitutional amendment submitted. NEW HAMPSHIRE. Public service commission authorized to establish rates on railroads. Legislative reference bureau created for assistance of legislators. Mothers' pensions. Family desertion act. Department of agriculture created. Laws for suppression of tuberculosis. Medical inspection of pupils in public schools. Hours of labor for women and minors limited to 11 per day and 55 per week in certain occupations. Board established for arbitration of labor disputes. Primary election of delegates to presidential conventions. Registration of foreign corporations doing business in state. NEW JERSEY. Employers' liability act amended and supplemented. Anti-trust and anti-discrimination acts. Corporations prohibited from acquiring stock or securities of other corporations. Employers' liability commission created. Laws relating to highways. Laws relating to juvenile courts extended. Eight-hour law for workmen on public works. |