Evening journal., 1898-02-14

thinking. and they are beginning to
feel the responsibility which rests upon
them They are convinced that thecase
is one which needs heroic treatment,
and the question that has arisen is
how to best confront the difficulty
Various plans for raising the addition
al money have been suggested, but the
members are determined not TO take q
step which they viii regret. They are,
therefore, very careful about what they
do. and in being careful are naturally
q trifle slow. This a srave matter and
cannot be acted upon hastily. 1t is
likely. however, chat one or more OF
the attorneys in the employ of the Leg
islature will be delegated next week to
draw up a bill to meet the require
ments. It is the accepted belief that
about theOuly thing to do is to negot-
ate a loan, and the impression is that
this will be done. This and other mat
ters are. therefore. imperative, and 1t is
not to be wondered at that some OF the
members do not want 10 adjourn until
things are in a little better shape
ADAMS TAX BILL.
The amendments to the Adams Tax
bill are in shape, and, had 1t not been
for the death of Senator Handy. the
matter would, in all probability, have
been considered in the House next
Thursday, and there was every reason
to believe that the bill containing the
amendments would have passed that
body, what it's fate Will be in the Sen
ate is a matter of conjecture, and some
OF the friends of the bill have been ac-
cusing some of the Senators OF desir-
ing a long recess in order to defeat the
bill making the proposed changes in
the Adams tax law. Some Of the adj
mirers Of the bill claim that there is
an underhand movement to get an ad-
iournment. either sine die or tempOr-
airy. in order to make It impossible to
| change the law until next summer at
least, with the hope that by the time
It gets into operation the next Legisla-
ture will kill it altogether The scheme
I it is believed by some of the members,
| is to delay the proposed action as long
/ as possible, In order to defeat its pur-
/ pose. The proposed amendments were
| drafted into shape of bill early in the
/ week by eX-Secretary OF State John ID.
| Hawkins. In effect. the amendments
make it incumbent on individuals as
well as officers of corporations, TO make
returns of all revenue-bearing invest
ments, under oath; also, it is made inn
! perative that the assessors shall go to
| people having securities and make re-
quests for statements, and such Of the
assessors as fail to complete their work
in the required time, or refuse to dc
lit, are to be removed from office by the
Levy Court of the county in which
they hold office, and they are to receiv,
no compensation for the work partial
ly completed. According 70 the amend
ments, should they pass. the Levy
Court of the county in which a man il
relieved from duty viii be empowered
to appoint his successor. who shall
make return of the holdings in his dis
trict by the March meeting of the court
These amendments are calculated t,
make the law operative. and It is tn,
hope of its friends to have it in shap,
as soon as possible, so that it may be
gin to bring revenue 10 the State a
an early date. It will come up proba
bly, on Monday or Tuesday. and the be
lief here is that it will DO passed