The leader., 1900-02-28
LEGISLATIVE NOTES

1
The 100000 capitol bill is now a
law. The capitol bond bill has also
passed both houses. 1t provides for
the issuance of 100000 3o-year, per
cent bonds, redeemable in Is years; to
be sold as needed.
The feature in the Senate last Sat.
urday was the Evans bill to localize
the powers Of the State Board of Health
by creating county boards of health.
IL was discussed for three or four
hours, and the discussion took very
wide range. in which State boards of
health and quarantine figured extern
sively. The State Board was subject
ed to heavy fire from several Sen
ators.
Senator Noel has pending another
constitutional amendment relating to
an elective judiciary. 1t abrogates
section III of the constitution. which
empowers the governor to fill judicial
vacancies occurring during the recess
OF the Legislature and leaves such va
cancies to be filed like those of other
elective offices. 1t also authorizes the
legislature to provide for the election
OF judges and chancellors by districts,
instead of requiring them to be elect
ed by the State at large, as under the
previous amendment The previous
amendment contained that provision
to meet the objection which has been
urged against the elective system upon
the ground that it would jeopardize
white supremacy in some districts.
Under the present amendment all
judges and chancellors are to be nom
mated by districts, but elected by the
State at large, but if the proposed
amendment is ratified, the legislature
can provide for the election, as we'll as
nomination, of judges by districts.
The amendment to section 105, of
the constitution requiring a census to
be taken every ten years by the State,
will be resubmitted. The same amend
ment was submitted to the people by
the legislature of 1894, and was ratified
by the people. The next succeeding
legislature failed to insert it in the
constitution, and it is now too late to be
done, otherwise than by resubmitting
it to the people.
On Saturday, the House passed the
Senate bill to punish persons for
unlawful keeping of intoxicating
liquors, the connivance thereat and
prescribing punishment therefor, intro
duced by Senator Dinsmore The
house amended the second section of
the bill by striking out therefrom a
provision "or shall have in his posses
| sion more of such liquors than is
reasonably required for his own use."
AS the bill passed the house and goes
back to the senate it is as follows:
section l. Be it enacted by the
legislature of the State of Mississippi
that it shall not be lawful for any
person to keep for sale or barter, or to
be given away to induce trade any
vinous, alcoholic, malt, Intoxicating
or spirituous liquor in any quantity
whatever, without first having obtained
license in the manner directed by
chapter 81 of the Annotated Code of
1892.
Sec. 2. The fact that any person,
not authorized by law to keep for sale
or to sell Intoxicating liquor described
| in the first section of this act, has, or
posted in or about his place of business
! receipt, license or stamp, showing
payment of special tax levied under
the laws of the United States upon the
business of selling such liquors, or
shall have paid such special tax for the
sale of such liquors in this State, or
shall be found in possession of appli-
ance adapted to unlawful retailing,
shall be presumptive evidence, that the
person owning or controlling such
receipt, license stamps or appliance,
or having paid such special tax is en-
gagged in keeping for sale or selling
intoxicating liquors contrary to law.
"Sec. 3. That every owner, lessee,
sub-lessee or occupant of any building
or part of a building in which the I'M
lawful retailing is being carried on or
liquors unlawfully kept shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, if he shall connive
in any manner, directly or indirectly
therein, or shall fail to give infor
nation to some conservator of the
peace of such violations of law, when
he knows of the same, or of circum-
stances indicating the same. Proof of
an unlawful sale or unlawful keeping
of Such liouOrs i'm such building shall
constitute presumptive evidence of a
violation of this section by any owner,
lessee or sub-lessee, who has not given
the information herein required.
Sec. 4. Any person convicted OF
violating any of the provisions of this
act shall be fined not less than $50, nor
more than $500, or be imprisoned in
the county Jail not less than one week
or more than three months, or by both
such fine and Imprisonment.
"Sec. 5. That this act take effect and
be in force from and after its passage"