The Russellville Democrat., 1889-03-21

lishment of State Normal School.
 The bill proposing continuance of the geological survey of the State was called up and made the special order for Thursday.
 THURSDAY, MARCH l4TH.
 There was lively time in the sen ate this morning, and for while it was feared that personal altercation would take place between Senators Barker and Ti,lman. relative to the reports of the speech of Tillman that appeared in the Arkansas Gazette. Barker said that the report contained language refccting on himself which was not uttered by Tillman in debate, and he demanded an explanation from Tillman. Tillman, who is the youngest member in the Senate, said that while the report was not literal ly correct, it was in substance, and he was responsible both in and out of the Senate for what he did or did not say. This in.uriated the Sena- tor from Drew county (Barker) and hot words followed. Points of order were made on the gentlemen, which was done to bring the discussion to a close, and finally the lrate mem bers took their seats and the busi ness of the session was commenced.
 With the debate between Senators Barker and Tillman, and that which followed, the third and last reading of the bill to regulate railroad pass enger rates in this State, which fail ed to pass, was all that was accom- plished before noon. At the after noon session number of bills on second reading were read and refer red.
 The House this morning took up a number of bills, which were read the second time and referred. In this way large amount of business was disposed Of. The same order was taken up in the afternoon ees sion and the House is catching up with its work and that of the Senate long delayed.
 The only important blll that pass ed the House today was pill intro duced by MT. Hicks of Lonoke coun ty requiring railroad companies to fence their tracks on both sides and to make cattle gaps one mile distant. The bill was the occasion of consid erable discussion and finally passed by close vote.
 FRIDAY, MARCH 10TH.
 The Senate at it's morning session disposed of number of House bills on first and second, reading, after which House bill No. 194, known as the telephone bill, was taken up and passed. The object of the bill is to prohibit telephone companies from charging more than $15 per year as rent for the use of each telephone. It also provides that any company, corporation or person having exclu sive right to sell or rent telephone instruments, who shall refuse to per. nit any other company organized un der the laws of this State to use or rent their instruments, shall forfeit to the company making the appli. cation to rent the sum of $500.
 There is considerable opposition to the bill in the Senate, and mo. tion to reconsider the vote by which it passed is pending Senator Clarke of Phillips County introduced 8 new bill similar to the election bill pend. ing Tn the house, which was read twice and set down for further con sideration Tuesday.
 A resolution was adopted requ;r ing the committee on penitentiary to make report of what they have done before the close of the session. It seems that this commission has failed to report on bills and resolu tions referred to them, and the mem bers who want to see the present lease system abolished are anxious to have report. Hon. Chas. Coffin of Lawrence County is chairman of the committee, and he stated that nearly all the matters have been re- ferred to the committee have been considered and reported.
 Mir. Meek of Craighead County, a member of the penitentiary com mittce, said that there had been no meeting of the committee since it's organization, which was delayed four weeks after the session conven. ed, and if there was he had never been notified of the meeting. Some 20 days ago he said resolution was adopted by the House requesting the committee to confer with the lessees and ascertain upon what terms, if any, they would surrender the con- tract with the State. Nothing has beeh heard of the committee since, and he was anxious to meet the com inittee and make report if they could get together. He said the con wet question was of grave import ance to the whole people of the State, and they demand of this Legislature that 1t take some action in the mat ter before the expiration of the ses- sion. The matter was discussed at length, and was the most important business transacted at the morning session.
 A bill reported by the Senate rall- road committee for an act to regulate the purchase and consolidation of railroads in this State, passed. This bill was drawn by J. M. Rose, at torney for the bonholders of the Lit