Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-23
b HUNTER DROPS OUT.
THE 100000 BOND BILL PASSED BY
THE SENATE.
The BelI-Crumbaugh Contested Election
Case stiII Unsettled, But Comes mp
To-morrow-Other Important
state Matters.

surprise of everybody Senator Ogilvie,
of Paducah, who has been too sick to
take part in the extra session, was
brought here this morning on a spec
ial train.
If the Bell mbaugh contest
should be decided ia favor of Bell,
the two parties would then be tied, as
the Republicans would lose Crum-
baugh and the Democrats would gain
Bell, which would be sixty nine for
each-and as Ogiivie is now here
there would once more be full Leg
islature,
Frankfort, Ky, April 21.-If the
Senate doesn't pass the three House
Revenue bills, one of which was bag
gled over for while yesterday, the
State is going to be in the middle OF
the worst fix it has yet known. The
State Board of Equalization has done
and is doing a good work, but it can't
do all that is needed, by any manner
of means. The producing
basis of taxable property that will
pay this years revenue is going to be-.
even when this board gets through
short of last years total assessment
by more than fifty million dollars,
which at the present rate OF taxation,
would make falling of in the reve-
nue. of $4,000.
The board has gone to work to-
equalize these county assessments
OF course it found more counties
put too low than those that were put
too high. 1t fixed increases and de-
creases for all the counties, then be-
fore passing finally on any county,
sent out for representatives of each
county, and set a day for their hear
ing. 1t has now heard the TepTesen-
tatives and finally passed upon IS OF
the ll9 counties. IL has increased
the assessment Of most of them by
good big per cent, but Judging,
from what has been done aud
subtracting the total decreases
, from the increases, it begins to
T, be plain that the total Of increase, less
l the decreases, will not be more than
S25,OOOOOO, and that when the board
is done the total State equalized as
sessment for 1897 will still be fifty
or sixty million dollars short Of the
total equalized assessment UPON
which taxes were paid last wear.
Therefore, it is plain that even were
the tax rate sufficiently large to pay
d running expenses last year, and even
if there was not a big plurality debt.
the tax rate would now have to be in.
creased.
But as it is, nothing but the Sen
ate's speedy passage, without refer
ence to any political intent, of the three
bills already passed by the House,
will result in eifectually lifting the
State out Of the deep financial ruts.
Frankfort, Ky, April 2l-The first
matter of importance in the Senate
this morning was the 100000 Bond
Bill. Mr. Stephens withdrew his ob.
jectOns to the immediate passage Of
the measure, and it passed without a
dissenting vote,
Then came up the Bell. Crum-
baugh contest case. The clerk began
reading of the long printed reports of
the committee. All were on the alert
for fear that the Democrats might be
preparing to unseat Crumbaugh,
make the Legislature tie and pre-
vent the election of any new Republi-
can nominee. 1t was minated that
the gold Democrats would vote for
unseating, because it would give
them an absolute balance of power
When the reading of the reports
was done, Senator Bronston moved
that this special order be postponed
till Saturday. Senator Noe, the gold
Democrat who signed the majority
report, insisted on an immediate vote.
aud said there was no scintilla of law
or evidence to justify the unseating
OF Senator Crumbaugh. Senator
Hays, OF the minority report insist.
ed that the securing of a strictly Sc.
cret ballot in Kentucky depended up.
on the adoption of the minority re-
port. Mr.. Bronston paid Senator
Crumbaugh personal tribute, but
insisted that the election law must be
complied with. The discussion was
cut of by arrival of time for joint ses-
sion.
The Senate, by vote of l3 to. p,
refused to postpone the matter, aud
after the joint session the majority
Tried to force an immediate vote, and
cited the rule made by the Democrats
last winter which prohibited any de-
bate on the report of contest COM
nittee. The Democrats, led by Mr..
Bronston, began filibustering. Ii
was plain that the majority, inelud-
ng nearly all the gold DEMOCRATS,
we're determined to settle the matter
1t once.
But they had expert filibusters
against them Bronston appealed
rom the decision of the chair, and
CONTINUED on Fifth Pagel