The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-04-17
MONDAY, APRIL &c. .
Gov. Jones has Called the Legislature
TO Assemble In Special Session
on That Date.

Tie last a1ailldy III April sdiu the
governor, lis to give the legislature an
opportunity to provide for a no. fence
law and afford the people in the flooded
districts the benefit of an early
determination in the premises.
In his proclamation calling the legis-
lature to assemble in special session he
names the following subjects to be
acted on:
/. Necessary appropriations.
2. Railroad commission.
3. Relief for food and drouth
sufferers and changing the fence and
levee district laws.
a. Building state railroads with
convict labor.
8. Provision to aid construction of
new railroads by use of forfeited lands.
0. Good roads and free turnpikes.
Z. Insolvent law.
8. Quieting titles to unimproved
lands
8. Quieting titles where muniments
are lost.
10. Cure defective acknowledge
ments.
IL. Cure defective conveyances of
homesteads.
10. Compensation for separate
special chaneellors.
ID. Amend general election laws.
IA. Amend native wine laws.
Is. Publications of geological re-
ports.
is. Exhibits at Omaha and Nash
vile expositions.
II. Payment of interest on state 8
undisputed bonded Indebtedness.
Is. Electric light plant for peni-
Tertiary.
10. Purchase a convict farm.
90. Additional clerks in attorney
general S and state superintendent 9
office.
81. Additional chancery circuits.
49, Submission of questions of q
constitutional convention.
90. Enlarge powers of first and
second. class cities.
In an editorial on the subject the
Little Rock Democrat sums the matter
up as follows:
The governor proclamation conven
ing the Legislature in extra session sets
out twenty four subjects upon which
legislation is demanded. To dispose of
these subjects will consume larger
period than thirty days-this may as
well be understand now Most of the
questions contained in the proclamation
are important ones. and the people will
be interested in the manner of their
disposal. 1t is not safe to say that
law will be enacted on every subject
in conformity with the call on the con
trary there are grounds for an interest
ing fight in three or four instances.
The first of these is a railroad commits
sion. The bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Amacker in the house last
session was substantially the same as
Gov. Jones now designates in his call.
1t will be remembered, however, that
the house substituted bill, in which
the appointive power was taken from
the governor and it was made the duty
of the house and senate in joint session
to select. There was spirited contest
on this feature of the bill, but the house
adopted the substitute measure by
large majority. The only railroad
commission bill designated in the
executive call is one in which the COM
missioners are to be appointed by the
governor, and according to a fair
understanding of the law no other
character of commission bill can be
acted upon. Under the circumstances
it is reasonable to expect opposition
from those who We're most Jealous in
securing the passage of the substitute
house bill last session. There are other
subjects upon which the members will
fail to agree, but generally speaking,
legislation is demanded on the matters
set out by the governor. He has classed
together the things most frequently
discussed. and if the people fail to get
what they want out of this list it will
not be his fault. There are questions
in the call which, if acted upon proper
ly, will give to the present assembly
the record of having accomplished more
good than any legislature for years. 1t
is the sincere hope of The Democrat
that the house and senate may work
together tremendously for the benefit
of the whole people.