The Monticellonian., 1903-02-19
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1e.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16.
 A greater part of the day was spent by the house in discussing a resolution relative to the state convict farm.
 In the senate a proposition from Sheriff Gould, of Jefferson. to purchase the Cummings farm was tabled.
 The Senate.
 After reading of the journal. commit tee reports were read. and among the measures referred to was the Huddles- ton dispensary bill which was reported adversely
 Senator Collins offered the following resolution:
 .sWhereas. Hon. George w Murphy. attorney general and member of the pen itentiary board, in his speech delivered at the Capital Theater, made the state ment that Jim Gould, a resident of Pine Bluff, had proposed to pay to the state of Arkansas $50,000 for it's bargain in the purchase of the convect farm, known as the Gummins place. provided he could be assured of convict or other labor to work same at reasonable figures therefore be it
 Resolved by the senate. the house eoneurring therein, That the penitenti ary board be, and they are hereby au- thorized and directed to accept said proposition as speedily as possible and
 
 said Gould to furnish such convict labor as may be necessary to cultivate the said plantation at such figures as are usually paid for free labor, and which will be fair both to the state and to the said Gould. and that they report their act and doings in the premises to the present general assembly"
 The resolution precipitated a lengthy discussion. but was finally tabled,
 s. B. S2, creating the seventh chan cery district. comprising the counties of Union, Ouachita, Columbia Calhoun, Lafayette and Dallas. was read third time and passed
 MT Short called up S B 143, author iZing officers of special and common school districts to insure their school buildings. The bill was read third time and passed-ayes 24. noes O.
 Mir King called up bill No. l5o au- thorizing Walnut Ridge school district to borrow money to erect school build ings. The bill passed
 S B 121. by MT Huddleston. was read third time It provides for the publication of delinquent personal tax list. Senators Huddleston and Wood spoke in favor of the bill and Senator Caldwell opposed it. The bill passed ayes 19. noes S.
 President Short introduced No 17. providing for displaying of flags or signals on houses where smallpox or other contagious diseases exist, and making it q misdemeanor for failure to comply herewith.
 Senator Collins withdrew & E. 114 and introduced in lieu thereof S B 172. changing the time for holding court in the Ninth circuit
 s. B l65 fixing salary of the county judge of Ashley county at s1.000 per annum. taken up and passed.
 Mir. Hinkle introduced S. B. l63. ceding jurisdiction to the United States over all lands used by the national govern ment.
 MT King introduced S. B. 175 amend ing the county seat removal law so as to allow the county judge to accept a bond of 5000 in lieu of the cash.
 The bills of Senators Covington and Wood providing for the appointment of stenographers in the Fifth and first judicial circuits were read third time and passed.
 Senator Cotham's bill exempting the mutual insurance features of cotton mills from the provisions of the state insurance laws was read third time and passed.
 S. E. 127. McFerrin. was taken up The bill seeks to place the pententiary management on the same basis as the charitable institutions.
 motion by Senator Wood to in definitely postpone the bill was lost after considerable discussion, and the bill and amendments were referred to the committee on public buildings and grounds.
 After the adoption of house concur rent resolution No. 27, extending sym pathy to ex-Gov Eagle in the death Of his wife, the senate adjourned.
 The House.
 Mir. Pindall presented a petition from hRF of Cft of asking that portion of that county be attached to Desha county He then in trodueed house bill No. 304 to this ef- feet.
 II. B. 305 was introduced by MT. Whit ley. It permits school boards to fur nish free textbooks or to rent them
 F. B. 307 was introduced by the com mittee on corporations authorizing coal mine companies, etc. to own short lines of railway and tramway. and eonferring upon them the right of eminent domain.
 Chief Clerk Hays. who had been i'll for several days, made his appearance
 MT. Chapline presented a petition from number of citizens of Greenfield township ill Monroe county for a four wire fence law, and another from eiti- zens of Monroe county asking the pass age of q ''hog law
 MT, Serimshire introduced IT. B. 311, prohibiting the catching of wild turkey by blinds. batting. pens, deadfalls, etc.
 MT. Tarver called up house bill No. I'll. regulating the course of study in the public schools of the state. It was read the third time and passed.
 Several other bills of a local nature were sent up and read first time
 House concurrent resolution No. 23. by Mir. Cooke of Chicot, was taken up for final action. It authorizes the spe-