Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-06-05
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
TwENTY-FIFTH DAY.

Jackson, May 25-The senate and house me-
lbs morning at O'Clock, and both houses SO0i
thereafter, without transacting any business
aulonrned until O'Clock this afternoon. The
house received the following message from thu
governor;
'Ho the Senate and House Of Representatives:
81 VIII be ready to act on house bill No. /.
capitol bilD by O'Clock this afternoon, and re.
quest that when you adjourn this morning yOt
adjourn to that hour to receive message on the
WI: Should this be convenient to you, will
with your permission file my message and the
Dhl with the clerk OF your body some time dur.
ing the afternoon. Most respectfully,
A. }. MCLAURIN."
a resolution by Mr.. Sinners of Pearl River
c9mpmenting Speaker McCoo for his faithful
aeie and impartial manner OF presiding, was
adopted by rising vote.
The hall of the house Of representatives was
packed and Jammed with an eager thr0ng lone
before oclock this afternoon The governors
message OF this morning, stating that he would
nave communication to make to the legsla-
ture AT that time, meant that his message would
betreeelved on the capitol bill. 1t was gener.
aiV believed that the message would be veto
blr rthere was great interest to know just whai
slpnnds the governor would base his objection,
lilon.
his generally conceded that the document |:
Me paper, and that the governor has giver
thaauesli0n careful and thoughtful cOnsidera
lion His principal objections refer TO defect
lh. .hss In Specifications. He started out by
giving history Of the capitol question from tht
time the last legislature ordered its examina
ton up to the present. He said he had giver
the bill the best consideration he could within
the time allowcd-lve days. Ho believed tht
capitol commissioners were officers, and thai
the legislature could not elect them. He cited
numerous authorities to sustain this contention
and showed the difference between the capitO
commissioners and the pcntentiary commits
soners, and that while the latter, under an opin
ion OF the supreme court judges, were moi
officers, he believed the former were. lie also
objected that the bill had not been consttu.
tionally passed, in that ii had not been read or
three separate days in each house and had moi
been read in full before its final passage.
lie found that the specifications were very de-
fectiye, and that they clearly showed they were
not designed Tor capitol, but for courthouse
presumably erected at some point in Texas. lie
showed where the specifications in several sec
lions read courthouse, and afterward had beer
emaSculated by erasures. Neither OF the capitol
commissioners, he said, believed these specica.
tons were before them when the plans were con
sidered
lie referred to the fact that he had sent Hon
Theodore Mcknight of Nicksburg to San An
tonic, Texas, TO Investigate a courthouse erected
by J. Riley Gordon, whose plan the Legislature
had adopted lie had understood this building
was only to cost 100000 when the actual cost
was more than double this amount. lie re-
icrred members to Mr.. Mcknight, whom ht
said was In the city.
lie believed that all constitutional objection.
TO the bill could be cured and said he would APP
point any commissioners the legislature might
select, and complimcntcd those already selected
lie said he was welded to no plan, and 1t would
be better, rather than to make Il mistake, tt
leave the selection OF the plans and specifca'
tions TO the capitol commissioners.
lie closed by saying there should be no per-
sonal feeling injected into case of so much
imUOrtJuce bllt that all branches of the STATE
government should work together for the best
interests OF the State. He had done his full
duty as he saw it, and regretted that he was
compelled to return the bill without his approval
The message was frequently applauded, anc
1t was easy to see 1t had made deep impression
II took Clerk Smith one hour TO read the
message.
AT the meeting of the capitol committee this
afternoon new capitol bill was agreed on
which Will be presented tomorrow. 1t is the
same bill as the original one except that il
specifies no plan, leaving the same to be selected
by the capitol commissioners.
In his message this afternoon the governor
virtually agreed, in case the legislature agrees
for him 10 appoint the commissioners to name
those already nominated by the legislature
Win these amendments the governors objec'
ti0ns TO the bill viii be removed.
IL Is possible that an agreement by boil
houses may be reached tomorrow. But If de.
cded opposition is shown the session may con
time for several days more. While the pros
p cts for new capitol now seem good, there are
many who think it impossible 10 pass another
bill during the session, looking to the erection
of one.
Both houses passed the appropriation bill, in,
creasing the appropriation for the pay OF men,
bcrS Si001. This Will be sufficient to keep the
legislature in session till Saturday. The pres
eut appropriation was exhausted today. The
cost OF the session Will be about $40 00O II all OF
The appropriation OF today Is consumed.