The Osceola times., 1885-02-28
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS.
THE LEGISLATURE.

Iv tbe Senate ON the 14th the bill to es-
tablish separate chancery courts WI"
passed also the bill to amend the law gov
erning municipal corporations. The Diii "
regulate the costs in felony cases, aiteI .
long discussion. was defeateu. pli va
| Introduced to provide for the employment
of county convicts. limiting their employ
ment to labor on public works. The DAY pc.
Ing the birthday OF senator Thornton' she
Oldest senator in continuous service, an ~
iournment was taken to celebrate......lnt the
House a resolution was adopted 20 pay tne
House wood ch opper 81 per day instead OF
$3.50 It being contended that he was theoniy
one who really worked. The bill to provide
for the support of the deaf mute INSTITUTE
was passed. number OF bills were passeu
TO the order OF second reading, and without
transacting any other importaht pusihess
the House adjourned.
Nothing of Importance was transacted
by the General Assembly on the 18th, exceps
the fight on the senate joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitution
whereby cities of the first and second class
can levy tax of five mills on the 800, Tor
vote, the Senators from the rural districts
approving IL.
The Senate bill changing the manner OF
letting state contracts was discussed Tor
several hours in the senate on the l1th. IL
has already been read three times, ana
while under discussion the Senate ad-
journed. This bill makes the state lreasnr-
er ex-officio Treasurer OF all the state IN
stituti0ns and has a bitter opposition. III IS
contended in certain quarters that II is re-
fiection on the management OF those ihstitu
tions. The bill also provides. In the way OF
public printing, that the state shall furnish
the paper required for its printing and blank
books; In fact that the state shall operate
paper warehouse......ln the House the sen
ate bill to protect fish by forbidding the use
OF the drag net and the catching OF nsh dur
Ing the spawning seasons. was killed.
In the Senate ON the 18th the bill which
proposes to change the manner OF letting
state contracts, to make the state Treas
urer ex-officio Treasurer OF Stats insttu-
tions, etc, came up for consideration iinre
dately after the convcning OF the Dody;
and after discussion the bill was defeated
by a vote of 8 to y. The Senate bill to ap-
propriate $500 to each military company in
the State was defeated. ....ln the House
large number OF Senate bills were read a
first and second time, but no measures
were passed.
In the Senate on the 10Th the bill to pre-
vent unjust dissemination and excessive
charges by railroads in the State for trans
portation OF freight and passengers. was
called up, and after a long and sharp debate,
was inde eflnitely postponed. Bills were pre-
sented tor the appointment OF Commls-
sioners to improve the public building OF the
state; requiring railroads to build cattle
guards to establish a,state Reform Schooliin
make valid marriages performed by Justices
OF the Peace. A bill was also introduced
trahsferr ng to the holders 70 state aid rail
roai bonds declared void by tine supreme
Court and forbidden payment by the Consti.
tutional amendment, all right and claim
which the state may have by lien or other
wise on the railroads to which bonds were
issued by the act of ls6s. Tho House by .
large majority defcated the bill for calling
Constitutional Convention.
In the Senate on the 10th the most inn
portant matters were the reading and refer
ence of the House bill approprating four
acres of land to the LADIES' Benevolent
Hospital, and the passage of House bill ap-
propriating 5000 to remodel the Supreme
Court room. The House game bill was dis
cussed At length, but no action taken. The
bill to increase the number OF Judges OF the
supreme Court from three to five was over
whelmingly defeated......In the House the
Ways and Means Committee reported n bill
appointing an agent to ascertain all neces.
sary Information concerning the undisputed
state debt, for report to the next General
Assembly The bill also provides for sink
ing fund TO purchase bonds when registered,
whenever 100000 have accrued to that fund.
Representative Fishback presented, as q
minority report, II bill to Immediately com
mence paying interest.