The Forrest City times., 1897-01-15

The contests for presidency of the senate ana the speakership of the house has been up to the present time the prettiest and most interest ing of all pre-legislative contests. Three days ago Senator Clip Gray. of Independence county one of the candidates for the senate presi- dency, withdrew from the contest and left it to Senators B. D. Williams of Little Rock: w l.. Moose of Morrilton, and J. G. Williamson or Monticello, The contest was decided in fa- vor of Mir. Moose on the sixth ballot by the democratic caucus.
 Hon. Wm. l.. Moose, of Morrilton, Conway county, president-elect. represents the Twen- ty-sixth senatorial district, composed of Van Buren, Conway, Searcy and Clebourne counties. Mir. Moose is 39 years of age, a true- blue dyed- fn-the-Wool democrat lawyer by profession, and member of the Methodist church. He is a native of Arkansas.
 Al the age of 2l he came from the country school room, and at Vanderbilt University pursued the study of law. graduating in 1873 Ever since that date Mir Moose has been a modest, practitioner al Morrilton, in the county where he was born. with eminent suc- cess. As member of the state senate two years ago he took rank with the oldest and best in that body of cultivated and experi- enced statesman. In 1895 he was made a mem- Der of the board of trustees of Hendricks col lege, at Conway, and last year he was made member of the board of trustees of Vander- bilt University His elevation to the presi- dency of the senate is honor we'll and worthily bestowed.
 Towards the last the speakership contest narrowed down to five, namely; F. F.. Brown, of Prairie county; J. c. Tappan. of Phillips; W. F. Kirby of Miller; J. II. Amacker of Washington, and T. F. Potts, of Logan. Finally, when the contest was fought out on floor of the house a combination was effected between the forces Of Amacker Kirby, Tap pan and the populists. which resulted in the ole oFf ffa,,
 Important Questions to be Considered.
 Everything points to an active. energetic, hard working session. It is said to be one of the finest bodies of men that ever assembled in the legislative halls of Arkansas, From such a representative body of men it is to be ex- pected that they will take prompt and intelli- gent action upon the various important and far-reaching measures that will be presented for their consideration. To separate the chan from the wheat is the duty of the conscientious legislator. The cry that has gone up from the rural press against local legislation and more time given to matters of state interest. has not been without effect judging by oft repeated ex- pressions of members and public feeling on the question. The present legislature will be called upon to pass upon more important legislation than has any legislature in the state in the past quarter of a century, some of which may enumerated:
 The question of amending the present state constitution, or submitting to a vote of the peo- ple the question of for and against constitu- tional convention and new organic law put into force.
 law for regulating railroads by means of a railroad commission.
 The founding of house of correction for the confinement of youthful criminals.
 A law providing for a uniform system of text books for use in the public schools of the state.
 To prevent even a semblance of fraud in cleo tions.
 The whole question of the states indebted ness and especially that due to the common school fund and other legitimate creditors.
 The building of state railroad, or railroads, by convict labor.
 To provide for the erection of new state house or the enlargement of the present one. The present building was completed in time for the first state legislature, which assem- bled September l2. 1886 Since that time alter ations and improvements have been made at different times. The amounts expended on the building and from whence derived have been: From the sale of the ten sections....s 3l ,722 O0 From the sale from the 1000 acres
 for court house, 1G0 acres ,.,........ s72 % From the sale of 1000 acres for court
 house. lD,sc1 uu From the sale of five sections. 3s, 900 % From appropriation by the legisla-
 ture of ls40 to finish .............. S1 ,OOo O0 From appropriation oy the legisla-
 ture of 1885 to repair. r........,....... 3o,OOO O0
 Total. .sI5s. .s79 co