Newport weekly independent., 1903-04-17
THURSDAY, APRII g.

means persented four reports upon the investigation of the charges preferred against Governor Davis by the members of the penitentiary board. A report signed by Messrs. Rowland and Futrell making no recommendations, was adopted.
 The senate passed the bill authorizing city and town councils to regulate the price of water gas and electricity
 Senator Cotham's bill abolishing the preparatory department of the Univer- sity of Arkansas was passed by the sen- ate.
 The Senate.
 Senator Wilson called up his bill. ex- empting Christian Scientists from the provisions of the act previously passed regulating the practice of medicine and surgery. Senators Caldwell and Gov ington spoke in opposition to the meas ure. Senators Collins, Logan, Simpson and Wilson urged it's passage. The bill passed-16 to 13.
 A motion to reconsider the vote by which H. B. AZ, the worlds fair bill failed to pass, was carried.
 $. B. 26O (CaldweiD, authorizing the councils of cities and towns to regulate the price of water, gas and electricity passed, 26 to ?.
 Senator Flenneken's bill providing for the placing of statues of A. H. Garland
 
 statuary at Washington, D. C., was talk en up and passed.
 Senator Gotham called up his bill abolishing the preparatory department of the University of Arkansas. Senator Gotham urged that this department ben ehted only a small portion of the state and that this was the best place to re- trench in the expenses of the university Senators Logan and Wilson opposed the measure The bill passed, 15 to 10.
 The senate accepted invitation from the city of Hot Springs to visit that city on the following Saturday.
 Senator Vaughter's bill, amending the textbook law, failed to pass
 The House.
 H. B. 539, appropriating $30,0O0 to pay mileage, per-diem and contingent expenses of members of the general as- sembly, was passed.
 Judge Merriman, chairman of the ways and means committee presented three reports on the investigation of charges preferred against Governor Da- wis by members of the penitentiary signed by Messrs. J. s. Rowland and J. M. Futrell of the committee. The finding of this report was to the effect that the signerS were of the opinion that they had no authority to pass upon the question as to whether the charges have peSi Dy a SuIIlClency or teStl- mony, but that such action might influ- ence the action of the house, which is the sole arbitrator of this controversy Three other reports were presented by the committee. One of these, signed by Chairman E. M. Merriman, J. r. Weaver, William Flecher and E. M. Funk and concurred in by John II. Holland and Park Crutcher, except as to two speci- hcatlons, found that the testimony sus- tained number of the charges against Givernor Davis. A third report, signed by B. F. Wofford George G. Stockard and w. w. Whitley, found that there was no corruption in the purchase of the convict farm on the part of either the governor or penitentiary board; that there was nothing to criminate Govern or Davis in any way and that he should be exonerated from any culpability, mis- conduct or criminality. Previous to the adoption of the first report, a motion to adopt the second report was lost 40 to A. and a motion to adopt the third report was lost 43 to A. Mr. Whitley presented an individual report, object ing to number Of paragraphs in the majority report and concurring in the report signed by B. F. Wofford, George C. Stockard and himself
 Two thousand copies of the testimony was ordered printed.
 The house accepted an invitation to visit Hot Springs the following Satur- day.