The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1898-02-26
STATE LEGISLATION.

luS lOllOWlh6 '"io"'iS y -
of the important proceedings OF
the recent legislative session was
published in late issue of tho
Bolivar County Democrat;
The Legislative session OF 1898
was under Constitutional provis-
ion, held for especial consideration
of revenue and appropriation mat
ters, not having the power to con-
slider any other measures except
only such as might be especially
recommended by the Governor.
The State tax for 1898 and 1899
was placed at six and half mills,
and the list of vocations and pro
fessions subject to special privilege
tax, somewhat enlarged.
To sell Hopfenweis, Hop tea, or
any kindred drink, including cider
Except pure apple cider made in
this State,) costs Five hundred
dollars, and the issuance of such
license is utterly forbidden in any
county in which whiskey cannot
be legally sold; all parties who
have heretofore procured a license
to sell Gn dry county, any OF the
drinks mentioned are required to
Immediately close and the money
paid for the license will be re-
funded, pro rata, by Auditor Of
Public Accounts. This etfectual-
ly and Immediately closes all the
Hop joints In all the counties
where vinous and spurious liquors
may not be sold. The privilege
tax on dealers in secondhand
clothing was placed at Five hum
| dred dollars. This tax was made,
SO to say, prohibitive, because it
is held by the medical fraternity
that there is grave danger of a re-
currence this year of yellow fever,
and it is thought that the sale OF
secondhand clothing is constant
menace.
Among general measures en-
acted, other than appropriation
and revenue matters, the change
made in the concealed weapon law,
is perhaps, among those of great
est interest. Upon trial for carry
ing concealed weapons the jury
may now either add imprisonment
to fine, or declare that there shall
be no Imprisonment, as it may see
fit. If the jury shall simply find
the defendant guilty, without de-
claring whether or not he shall be
imprisoned, then the court may
both hne and imprison, or impose
o fine alone, at its discretion. The
imprisonment feature Is not com
pulsory unless the jury shall so de-
! clare, and it is within the power
of the Jury to prohibit imprison-
ment altogether, if it sees proper
to do SO. Again If, in the fu-
ture any Circuit Judge or Chan
celIor shall fail to hold any term
of court, OF part thereof, and i
a special Judge or Chancellor i
commissioned to preside, thel
any payment made to such specia
Judge or Chancellor must be de
Quoted from the salary of tht
Judge or Chancellor in who's
stead such special Judge or Chan
cellor is presiding; and this apple
even if the special Judge or Chan
cellor is absent or disqualified, O
if his inability to hold the cour
is occasioned by illness-and i
any district Attorney pro tenn i
appointed, such compensation a
may be allowed to such pro tenn OF
fcer must be deducted from tn
salary of the District Attorney
regardless of cause of absence o
incumbent. For several years tn
[ appropriations made for paymen
Of the special Judges and Chan
cellors and District Attorney
have. necessarily been CROWNS
larger and larger until sucl
: appropriations have, in the opin
G ion of the Legislature, becom'
burdensome, and it is hoped tha
\ the bills recently enacted will con
Tribute largely to the health o
; SJudges, Chancellors and Distric
-llAttorneys. Important change
were also made in the pension
Jaws, whereby it is hoped, that tn
needy Confederate Soldier ma,
realize more substantial benefit
than heretofore. The fund ST
bronr lated is liberal indeed, whe