The Southern herald., 1888-01-14
Letter from the State Capital.

4
over the municipal election, which
resulted in aDemocratic victory for
the first time in many years. Every
true Democrat and all lovers of
peace and order were glad to hear
that the McGill faction were de-
feated, for they have certainly
brought reproach and shame npon
the city, and the Capitol and many
of our State institutions being To-
Gated here, every citizen in the
State is interested in the admins
triton of the city government. But
it is believed by many that the res
olutions adopted and published to
the world by the Democrats just
before the election, were altogether
wrong and impolitic, and are cal
culated to do the party much harm
abroad. The Legislature was con-
vened promptly at y o'clock noon,
in the presence of a large assembly
of people. The Senate was organ
lied by the election of all the old
officers, but theHouse latter a heated
contest, made a new deal entirely,
and the "Wool Hat" men claim
victory, Gon.Sharp Gas very SAN
guine Of reelection, and is severe
in his criticism on the Prohibition
lists and "Wool Hat" men, believ-
ing that they were the cause of his
defeat. A logician OF the House,
who it seems is very loquacious, had
never metGen.S. and did not know
him from other men, after the cleo
ton for Speaker was over, remarked
in the presence of the General that
he was sorry he could not vote for
Sharp, and the General, desirous
of drawing him out, asked why.
because I am reliably informed
that Sharp owns $4,000 worth of
stock in the l. !. e G. at Columbus,
which is now worth premium, and
should he be electedSpeaker, would
shape his committees so as to make
a big haul on theState treasury, ,and
as soon as the Legislature adjourns
the stockholders will strike a divi-
dend and divide the spoils. y
eyes" says Sharp, "they have got
big thing of it up there, and are
getting rich fast" "Then you
know all about it, do you?" asked
the lawmaker, rather exultingly.
"Of course | do, for l am the d.
rascal that owns all that stock you
referred to-" answered Sharp. You
may imagine the chagrin of the poor
fellow as he absconded. The Sem
ate committees have been appoint
ed, and are well up with their work
There are more young men in the
Senate than ever before, and judg-
ing from appearances will render
the State good service. TheHouse,
being large and unweildy, is pro-
crossing slowly, the committees
have not yet been appointed, and
most of the members are inexperi-
enced, but we have never seen a
more sober or orderly body assem-
BILE in the Capitol. A bill has al
ready passed the Senate repeating
what is generally known as the pig
law, which made it a penitentiary
offense to steal a hog or COW of any
value. The bill makes it an i'm
prisonment in the county Jail for
not more than six months, unless
the valne of the stock stolen
amounts to more than $25. A big
fight is expected over the effort to
reduce the rate of interest on the
Chickasaw school fund, which at
the present rate amounts to more
than $65, ,0O0in interest per annum.
The Chickasaw counties, which are
thirteen in number, will oppose
every step towards reduction, and
their representatives are among the
stronger men in the Legislature. A
strong effort will also be made to
establish q State board of equaliz-
ors, to increase the valuation ol
property and make it more uniform
which will be difficult task tc
perform The penitentiary ques,
ton is also being discussed, and the
prevailing opinion seems to be
against the lease system. But the
Ship Island R. r. Co.'S lease does
not expire until 1892, and unless
they are willing to relinquish thu
penitentiary, nothing will perhaps
be done with it this session. Tht
absorbing question now, however
| - A. oo1I;,,r &C n oc, cI;I,,k,