The Southern herald., 1886-02-06
Letter from jackson.

| - y NE1~f~N-~
is now spending a few days at home,
| will endeavor to give you brief
synopsis eff Legislative proceed
ings. The Legislature is progress
ing very slowly, and from present
outlook will not be ready to ad-
iourn before 10th or 18th March,
The House is composed principally
Of inexperienced members, and half
at least young men, who are anx-
ious to make n record to further
their political aspirations, and in
stead of method and practical work,
much time is spent in elocution and
bombast. The Senate, being a
much smaller body, and composed
in the main of experienced legis-
islators, and having q most excel
lent presiding officer and efficient
clerk, expedite business more rap
idly and Systematically. I think,
however, that this Legislature COM
pares favorably in general appear
ance and intellect with any that
your humble servant has had the
honor of serving in, save that of
1878; and in sobriety, so far as my
observation goes, it is superior to
any that has assembled in Jackson
for many years. 7 have not seen
a member of our body under the
influence of whisky during this ses-
sion, and / think the saloons Of
Jackson will not get rich from the
patronage of this Legislature
PG1btless this remarkable feature
Of SO large body Of men coming
from all parts of the State, and
representing all classes, is the re-
suit of the great prohibition move
ment of our country, that has swept
like tidal wave over US, causing
men of intemperate habits even,
where they have not lost all self
control and pride Of manhood, to
stop and think of the evils of in
temperance. But few bills of a
general nature have passed both
houses, though there seems to be
no end to the introduction of them,
and especially local bills, that re-
tard general legislation greatly
The House has repealed chapter 81
of the Code, known as the lien law,
by a close vote. Also chapter 27
of the acts of 1884, which prevents
all officers in the State from using
free passes; and has amended chap.
ter % of acts of 1884, known as the
railroad supervision law, by max
ing the office of commissioners cleo
tive by the people every four years,
and reduce their salaries to ten
dollars per day, provided said
amount shall not exceed $500; the
salary now is $2500. | cannot say
what will be the action of the Sen
ate on any of these measures, as
the members are very much divided
in their views. A bill was intro
duced by your correspondent sew
eral days since, to amend chapter
% of the acts of 1884, which bill
provides that the railrod commits
sioners should be constituted and
required to act as State board of
equalization, whose duty it shall
be to equalize the assessment of
taxes between the several counties,
so that each county shall pay taxes
in proportion to the real value Of
all the property therein as nearly
as practicable, hoping to remedy as
much as possible the unequal valu-
alton Of property in the different
counties referred to in the Cover
nor's message. The committee re-
ported substitute, embracing the
main features of the bill, bnt added
additional sections. The bill to
insure better working of public
roads passed its third reading; the
argument on the part of the oppo-
sition being that our road laws are
amply sufficient, and condition of
roads good, which l think / can
safely say is not the case in our por-
ton of the State, The Senate COM
mitteo has reported favorably on
| bill to increase salary of district