The Van Buren press., 1871-01-31
ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Little Rock Gazette Rspoft.i
JANUARY 81, 1871
HOUSE.

L 1Ue lliCIl went lhLO
Of the whole on the bill to extend the
time of paying taxes, Mr.. Freddy in the
chair.
CLAYTON renewed his amendment TO
strike out the word State, and insert
tho counties Of Clark, Drew, lDdepend
ence, Sewer, Hampstead, Lafayette and
Little River.
Mr.. Smith said we did not want to ex
cuse one county, and not another. The
whole State should have the benefit of
this extension. 1t is useless TO cavil
about the matter any longer--the people
demand it, and they should have iC. We
cannot consult individual feelings in this
matter, but the interests Of the entire
people. We will have to borrow money
to meet the iaterest on the State debt,
whatever may be the result of this bill.
Mr.. Tankersley insisted that the House
should not, overlook the action of the
Senate on this question. If certain coun-
ties who need this extension were grant.
ed it, he would favor it, but he was op
posed to general extension. The Sen
ate had taken such action rs would pre-
clude it from even raising the question
again in that body. However certain
gentlemen propose to manipulate and
make laws, the Senate must be consulted
The old policy of making the Senate a
check was very applicable in this case.
Mr.. Smith rctorted that when this bill
was sent to the Senate they would be
bound to consider it, lie cared nothing
about their bills or their former action
lie was sorry to hear the gentleman say
that we had better not act because OF
fear Of the Senate. If we could not speak
and be heard here, without awaiting the
action of the Senate, things had come TO
a pretty pass We are responsible for
our action--the Senate is responsible foi
theirs. We come here fresh from the
people---thcy do not.
MIR. Meek agreed with Mr.. Smith. He
was in favor of the passage of the bill,
regardless of the action ofthe Senate.
Mr.. Coha favored the extension, but
defended the Senate. lie did not think
it was the intention Of that Doay to die
tate; if he thought so. he would be
among the first TO resist it. He then read
a letter from the collector Of Woodruff
county, stating that after going all over
the county he had been unable to collect
more than one tenth of the taxes, and
that there would be the largest delinquent
list ever known.
Mr.. Steele was willing for every coun-
ty in the State to have the extension, if
they desired it. II was absolutely nee
essary in his county. He cared nothing
about what the Senate had done. lfcries
come up from the poor people, because
this measure does not become law, let
them go to the Senate, and not to this
House.
Barbour said when this subject was
1rst agitated there were only six counties
that asked this extension. Now there
are fifty five more demanding it. Our
mail facilities are improving, that petit
tions can come from fifty five countiesin
i've days. Ironically He thought
further discussion of this subject useless,
because of the action Of the Senate.
Mr.. Padgett thought that this exten
sion could not be given to one county in
preference to auothor it should bear on
all the people alike. AS to the ironical
remarks Of Mr. Barbour, that ffty-iiye
had been heard from in so short
a time, he implies that some OF us have
lied. OF that, we will be the judges the
is not our conscience Keeper.
Ie admitted that the Senate was check,
but we had better give them something
to check first They must not send their
checks to this House until we go to them.
They are not fresh from The people know
but little Of their wants, and he seriously
doubted if they cared anything about
them. The hasty action of the Senate
on this matter was unparliamentary and
and unprecedented They say the Sen
ate has forestalled our action. Let us try
them on, and if they desire to damn
all right The gentleman
from Lafayette (Barbour) can quail un-
der the Senate il he wants to. 1t is said
that body intends to starve MS QUITO
gag us with resolution to adjourn. a
Senator told him that he would not vote
a cent to pay members until the House
passed resolution for adjournment.
Well propose to drive on. applause J
They can show no precedent for send
ing their threats into this House While
many measures not for the benefit Of the
people have been brought forward, they
lid not originate in this House. The
last Legislature cost over 100000, and
we propose to stand here until epile up
4 larger debt still, before we will submit
10 such dctation. A Senator in his pres
ence asserted that, having accomplished
what they came here for--thc election OF
Governor Clayton as United States Sena-
.or-he was ready to go home. Mr..
Padgett did not come for that purpose,
but to enact laws Tor the benefit of the
whole people.
Mr.. Tankersley did not see why gen
.lemen should be so anxious to display
oratory and versatility in language.
He was in favor of extension, but the
now resolved into one of cxpe
this House could afford
20 sit here and debate n broken down
decided by the Senate
Or pass bill extending the relief to n
Few counties, which really needed it, and
which the Senate would probably pass
lie contended that the action Of the Sen
.te had been fnal--and whether gentle
ren were inclrcd to respect that body
5r not, they should respect their oaths =
md their oaths bound them 10 proper