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Show LEGISLATIVE NOTES. House bill 74, Introduced by tho committee on private corporations, seems a reasonable and a good measure. meas-ure. Tho gist of it is Hint corpointions organized under tho laws of this state may, (not shall) Instead of electing Its entire board of directors annually as now required by lav, elect one-third of tho number of Its directors for a term of ono year, one-third for a term of ;two years and one-third for a torm of three years, and thereafter at each succeeding annual meeting of tho stockholders, one-third of tho directors direct-ors for a term of throe years. Tho bill introduced under the name of houso bill 23 is perhaps the silliest of all tho bills that havo been introduced intro-duced at this session of the legislature, with tho possible exception of tho bill which in damage suits sought to place tho burden of proof on tho defendants. That Is that tho defendant would have to prove that tho plaintiff was not damaged In placo of tho plaintiff proving prov-ing that ho was damaged. House bill 23 In substance provides that if an employe Is injured and accepts ac-cepts damages from his employer for tho injuries and gives a full discharge, leaves the employ ho was In, gooa to work somowhero else, meets with an nccidont ngaln and dlos from his injuries, in-juries, his heirs may suo tho person, firm or corporation in whose employ ho was when ho received his first injuries in-juries and from whom ho received compensation and gave a full and complete com-plete discharge. It is not only propei but Imperative that employes bo giveii protection by law, but there Is no reason rea-son In such legislation ns suggested by tho two bills referred to. These bills were doubtless aimed particularly at tho railroads. Tho public should jbo protected from the rapacity of rall-'roads rall-'roads and other corporations, but thero is no use in harrasslng either railroads or any other corporations which play so necessary ex part In the development of tho country. On this subject Governor Sparks of Nevada said somo very good things in his message mes-sage to tho legislature of that state. Among other things he said: "For the first time in tho history of Nevada prospective railroad building begins to meet general favor with the great magnates engaged In transportation, and it is not beyond reasonable expectation expec-tation to predict tho construction of railroads., not only ns trans-continental extensions, but that will radiate in all directions, thus connecting hitherto hith-erto romoto districts and completing a system of transportation long hoped for by our people. This is an ago ot enterprise and progress, but it requires re-quires facilities for intercourse to accommodate ac-commodate business. Our natural ana undeveloped wealth will bring railroads, rail-roads, and busines will follow. "It Is, therefore, highly Important thnt encouragement bo given to tho promotion of this enterprise, by adopting adopt-ing a fair and liberal policy of taxation, taxa-tion, and also by enacting laws giving full and safo protection. This accomplished, accom-plished, taxnblo property will Increase, cities will bo built which will become terminals, and, naturally, transportation transporta-tion charges will bo reduced. More main linos will produce more branches ronching undeveloped regions in our stnto. It Is a fact thnt rnilronds nro tho developers of nil now countries, nnd ospocinlly contributo to tho success suc-cess of mining districts. "Tho Inst two meetings of the State board of nsscssors have shown a very conservative disposition in favor of railroad assessments, and other classes of property throughout the state. "As an illustration, tho San Pedro & Los Angeles railroad, running through Lincoln county for a distance of about 200 miles, will so benefit tho county ns to ennble it, in n few years, to be relieved from a very burdensome bonded debt now hanging over it." & J The houso does not propose to pass any appropriation for tho St. Louis exposition ex-position commission until it has determined deter-mined where tho skulduggery in tho handling of tho funds was done and who did it. It wants all tho vouchers, checks and receipts for examination, and has issued several subpoenas, re turnable right away, for people who ought to know. All those in a position posi-tion to know anything about tho business busi-ness will bo called before this commit-teo commit-teo to testify. Somo of the subpoenas havo been issued. Ono for General John Q. Cannon, the secretary, was not served on Thursday, for the reason that the hero of tho field of Scofleld, Sunnyslde and other gory fields was said to "have gone north." Tho houso is to be commended for its action. Every one interested in tho good of the stato wants to Know what monkeying was done and why. Every ono desires information as to tho manner and method of disposing of tho exhibits and who got tho money and how much was paid for what was disposed of. Everybody hopes the houso will go right to tho bottom of things and produce the evidence. Then if anything has been wrong everybody hopes the guilty parties will bo brought to justice. Nor should tho houso stop at this. That Carbon county war should be exploited. Let the warrants and the vouchers bo produced, and let us know whether all these charges were proper. Let us havo a complete report. In other states, reports of this sort contain con-tain nn itemized statement of every bit of expense, no matter how small. It is time that Utah adopted more thorough methods of finance. This "generalizing" is getting too common and should bo checked. Gentlemen of tho house of representatives, represent-atives, the people are with you in this matter. Go to the bottom of things. Lot there bo no efforts at concealment, but let every transaction have tho light turned upon it. If there has been criminal negligence or criminal transactions, trans-actions, let the guilty ones be brought to book. |