508 



MINNESOTA. 



reflating of commission merchants under the 

 supervision of the Railroad and Warehouse Com- 

 mission. 



In cases of redemption after foreclosure ti 

 rate of interest from the time of sale shall be 

 as on the mortgage, if that be less than 7 per 

 cent. 



An antitrust law defines and prohibits such 

 combinations, and makes violation of the law a 

 felony. The charter is forfeited and contracts 

 can not be enforced. 



The laws in regard to liens were revised. It 

 was provided that, in order for a mechanic's lien, 

 the contractor must furnish the owner on de- 

 mand, within fifteen days after the work is done, 

 statements of the amounts and persons to whom 

 pavment is due. 



Changes in taxation laws made the State tax 

 on express companies -U instead of 3 per cent. 

 of gross receipts. Minerals and standing timber 

 are to be reckoned as real estate for purposes 

 of taxation, and their removal before payment 

 of taxes is a crime. 



Citie^ of more than 50,000 inhabitants may 

 issue bonds to pay existing floating debts, and 

 may issue certificates of indebtedness in anticipa- 

 tion of taxes for any use named in the estimate. 

 Villages may bond themselves for present floating 

 debt over $3,000. 



Jt was made a misdemeanor to sell baking 

 powder containing injurious substances, and the 

 ingredients must be named on the label. It is 

 also a misdemeanor to add antiseptics to milk, 

 cream, butter, or cheese. 



A law was made to prevent adulteration of 

 white lead and mixed paints. 



Acts affecting railroads provided that foreign 

 corporations in control of roads in the State are 

 to be subject to State laws; that parallel lines 

 must not consolidate; that on orders from the 

 Railroad and Warehouse Commission companies 

 must built platforms for loading cars; that they 

 must furnish free transportation for shippers of 

 car loads of live stock; that when live stock is 

 delayed in a journey over two roads the owner 

 may sue them jointly if uncertain which is re- 

 sponsible; that after rates on lumber, live stock, 

 coal, flax, or grain have been established sixty 

 days they may not be raised except with consent 

 of the commission. The commission may require 

 a uniform gauge. Stealing rides on railroad trains 

 and on street cars is prohibited. The right to 

 operate street railroads outside of cities and vil- 

 lages on public roads may be granted by county 

 commissioners for terms not exceeding twenty- 

 five years, and such roads may exercise eminent 

 domain outside of cities. 



The act providing for bounty on beet sugar 

 was amended. The limit of $40,000 a year was 

 fixed, and beets containing 12 per cent/of sugar 

 must be paid for at the rate of $4.25 a ton. The 

 Governor vetoed a bill appropriating $19,975 to 

 pay sugar bounties due under the act of 1895, 

 but the House repassed it by a vote of 84 to 22. 



The school laws were amended so as to fix 

 State aid to rural schools at $35,000 annually, 

 instead of $20,000. Not more than 30 instead of 

 JO per cent, of districts in a county may be aided 

 in one year. Schools of two rooms, with one 

 teacher holding a first-grade certificate and at 

 least one holding a second grade, will be entitled 

 to $100 a year, instead of $50. School districts 

 of more than 50,000 inhabitants may levy an ad- 

 ditional school tax of \\ mill, and the special dis- 

 trict tax in cities under 10,000 is not to exceed 

 15 mills instead of 9, as heretofore, for support 

 of schools. 



MISSISSIPPI. 



A university certificate is made valid two years 

 from its date. The Governor is authorized to 

 appoint arbor and bird days. 



A compulsory school law was passed, requir- 

 ing attendance of children from eight to sixteen 

 for the entire session in all districts and cities. 



Cities of 50,000 population may spend $50,000 

 a year for park land of over 15 acres. Laws per- 

 mitting road and bridge improvement were en- 

 acted. 



The office of probation officer was created. 

 These officers are to be appointed by the State 

 Board of Corrections and Charities in counties 

 of 50,000. It is their duty to attend trials of 

 juvenile dilinquents, and when sentence is sus- 

 pended to have oversight of the child and make 

 reports. Another new office is that of custodian 

 of documents and supplies. 



It is made unlawful to bring dependent children 

 into the State without the consent of the State 

 Board of Corrections and Charities. The inherit- 

 ance of an adopted child dying a minor and un- 

 married must go to the heirs of the person from 

 whom the property was received. 



Several acts refer to soldiers of the Spanish 

 war. Students enlisted for that war are entitled 

 to free tuition at the university. The Soldiers' 

 Home is open to indigent soldiers of the war. 

 The will of a soldier or sailor who died in the 

 Spanish war is valid without witnesses if it is 

 entirely in the handwriting of the testator. The 

 law regarding the burial of soldiers at public 

 expense was extended so as to include soldiers 

 of the Spanish war and all dying in the United 

 States service and brought into the State for 

 burial. 



Provision was made for a naval reserve of eight 

 companies. 



Other provisions were : 



Making records of foreign countries admissible 

 as evidence. 



Making it unlawful to deface the United States 

 or the State flag, or to use them for advertising. 



That no title to public ground may be acquired 

 by occupancy. 



Exempting bicycles and watches from execu- 

 tion. 



To protect side paths from injury. 



Making necessaries furnished to a family 

 chargeable to the property of the husband and 

 wife, or of either. 



Legalizing instruments without seals and abol- 

 ishing private seals. 



That all saloons shall be closed from ten to 

 three on Decoration Day in places where memorial 

 exercises are held. 



Increasing the bounty on wolves. 



Prohibiting the docking of horses' tails. 



Declaring Jan. 1, Dec. 25, and Feb. 12 public 

 holidays. 



Raising the age of consent from fourteen to 

 sixteen years. 



MISSISSIPPI, a Southern State, admitted to 

 the Union Dec. 10, 1817; area, 46.810 square miles.- 

 The population, according to each decennial cen- 

 sus since admission, was 75,448 in 1820; 136,621 

 in 1830; 375,651 in 1840; 606,526 in 1850; 791,305 

 in 1860; 827,922 in 1870; 1,131,597 in 1880; and 

 1,289,600 in 1890. Capital, Jackson. 



Government. The following were the State 

 officers during the year: Governor, A. J. Mc- 

 Laurin ; Lieutenant Governor, J. H. Jones ; Secre- 

 tary of State, J. L. Power; Treasurer, A. Q. May; 

 Auditor, W. D. Holder; Superintendent of Edu- 

 cation. A. A. Kincannon; Attorney-General, W. 

 N. Nash; Adjutant General, William Henry; 

 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Thomas H. 



