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his name on the nominating ballot. In case the candidate seeking the nomination is a senator or representative in the legislative assembly, he may state either that he will always vote for that candidate for United States senator who has received the highest number of the people's votes for that position at the general election next preceding the election of a senator in Congress without regard to his individual preference, or he may state that he will consider the vote of the people for United States senator as nothing more than a recommendation which he will be at liberty wholly to disregard if the reason for so doing seem to him sufficient. This petition of the candidate must be signed by a given number of registered members of his political party and qualified electors, asking that his name be printed on the official nominating ballot, and it must be verified by one or more of the signers who shall make oath that he or they personally know the signatures thereon to be genuine, and that the post office address and the residence of the candidate are correctly stated and that he is a qualified elector and a registered member of the political party. The votes of the different political parties are kept distinct, and the official ballots are to be printed-for the Republican party in black ink upon good quality of white paper, for the Democratic party in black ink upon good quality of blue paper, and for any third party in black ink upon good quality of yellow paper. The ballot shall be styled "Official Primary Nominating Election Ballot of

Party," stating the name of the precinct they are intended for and the date the election is to be held. Provision is made for the preservation of the ballots, and for settlement of contests by the courts. In case of a tie the right to the nomination is to be determined by lot after notice by the secretary of state. The governor is required to make official proclamation declaring who are the nominees of the respective parties. At the primary election the committeemen of the different parties are also elected for the term of two years from the date of the first meeting of the committee immediately following their election. Committees are given power to

fill vacancies, also to elect managing or executive committees, and to make rules and regulations for the government of their respective political parties not inconsistent with the law. This act is probably the strongest that has ever been passed in recognizing political parties as legal institutions and their committees as legal bodies.

Inasmuch as at the primary nominating election only those voters who have been duly registered as members of a political party can vote, and then only for the nomination of candidates of the political party of which they are registered members, it is clear that those who are not registered members of the political parties have no voice in the selection of candidates. The voters who are not registered members of the political parties can take their choice at the general election. There seems to be no provision of the law which requires the voter at the following general election to vote for the candidates of the political party of which he is a registered member.

The initiative and referendum experiences in Oregon are especially interesting to Missourians, for the people of this state are at the approaching election to vote on a constitutional amendment permitting that method of legislation.

ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ.

The second extraordinary session in Montana was called by proclamation of the governor, which contains the following "whereases":

"WHEREAS, A large per cent. of the resident taxpayers of the state, and many representatives of organized labor and others, have by petitions and otherwise, represented to me the deplorable industrial condition existing in three of the populous cities of the state, as well as in many other localities within our borders, consequent upon the cessation of operations of many large industries in the state, and

"WHEREAS, They further represent the desirability of general legislation by which the bias and prejudice of district judges be made a disqualification of such judges to try any case that may come before them or either of them, as well as legislation

making suitable provision for the trial of such case or cases in such event, and also the desirability of general legislation conferring upon the supreme court power on appeal to review the facts in equity cases, and

"WHEREAS, I have reason to believe that work will be forthwith resumed in all the suspended operations aforesaid if an extraordinary session of the legislature is called to consider such legislation."

I am advised that the calling of this session arose out of the fierce contentions of rival mining corporations in the state. During their legal controversies one or two of the judges were assailed with great bitterness in the courts and the press and upon the hustings, and the quarrel culminated in one of these corporations suspending its immense operations in the state, throwing many thousands of employees out of work at the commencement of winter. Upon the passage of the legislation called for in the governor's proclamation, these operations were resumed.

The first act passed makes it mandatory upon the Supreme Court, in proceedings of an equitable nature, to review all questions of fact arising upon the evidence presented in the record, whether presented by specifications of particulars or not, and determine the same.

The other act amends the law of Montana so as to provide for the disqualification of the district judge upon the affidavit of either party that he has reason to believe and does believe that he cannot have a fair and impartial hearing or trial by reason of the bias or prejudice of the judge, the affidavit to be made by any party to the action personally or by his attorney or agent at any time before the day appointed for the hearing or trial on any action, motion or proceeding, and upon the filing of the affidavit the judge is to be deprived of all authority to act further, except to order the change of venue or to call in another judge. Five judges can be disqualified for bias or prejudice by each party, plaintiff or defendant.

As there are only fifteen judges in the state, it will be seen that ten of them may be disqualified.

The constitutionality of this law was questioned, and decided in the affirmative by the Supreme Court of Montana in the case of the State ex rel. Anaconda Mining Co. vs. William Clancy, Judge, et al., 77 Pacific Reporter, 312.

LOUISIANA.

In Louisiana the negotiable instruments law, which was fathered by this Association, has been passed. It is now the law of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, twenty-five in all. The Louisiana lawyers congratulate themselves on the gradual adoption of this law by other states, for they claim that it is practically the commercial law of Louisiana as crystallized in its jurisprudence, the only exception being the abolition of the days of grace. The Louisianians regard the adoption of the law by the common law states as a tribute to the code of Louisiana.

An act was also passed to organize a commission to investigate the Torrens system of land registration and adapt the same to Louisiana titles.

An act was also passed, recommended by the Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, relating to the transfer and delivery of stock certificates of corporations.

The passage of these laws was accelerated by the fact that the chairman of the Louisiana Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws was a member of the legislature.

An act provided that the owner of real estate on which a manufacturing or industrial establishment is located may make the machinery and appliances used in such establishment immovable by recording a declaration to that effect.

A tax of three per cent. on direct inheritances and ten per cent. on collateral inheritances is levied for public school purposes, but these taxes are limited to property which has

escaped its just portion of taxes during the lifetime of the deceased owner.

A prohibitive license tax is levied on dealers in trading stamps; and on itinerant peddlers of stoves, lightning rods and clocks.

Birds (other than game birds) and their nests are protected under penalty, in the interest of agriculture.

Bonding and surety companies are required to deposit with the state treasurer a guaranty fund to insure compliance with contracts made in that state.

Fifteen days is fixed as the extreme limit for filing answers in cases, regardless of the distance of the defendant's residence from the court.

Electric street railways are required to equip their cars with screens or vestibules to protect motormen, from November 15th to March 15th of each year.

Municipalities of more than five thousand inhabitants are granted the right to construct and operate electric street railways.

A Department of Forestry is established and provision made for the preservation of the forests of the state.

All turf exchanges and pool rooms are prohibited under severe penalties.

It is made unlawful for any clerk or employee of any judge or court officer to practice law or to appear for another in any court proceeding.

A general militia law was enacted, bringing Louisiana in line with recent federal legislation on the subject.

Retail dealers in cities of more than 50,000 inhabitants are required to give their clerks one hour for luncheon.

Louisiana has submitted fifteen proposed amendments to her constitution. Among them is one making the justices of the Supreme Court elective, instead of appointive, as heretofore; another relating to the selection of the judges of the intermediate Court of Appeals, with jurisdiction from $100 to $2000. Another amendment exempts from all taxation for

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