Newport daily independent., 1903-03-14
NEW MEASURE PREFERABLE.

In a recent issue of the INDEPEN- DENT appeared a synopsis of the pro- posed bill of Dr. J. H. Myers for the protection of the mussel and the re- gulation of the methods to be employ ed in the pearling industry. While several provisions of the measure seem unwise, needless and harmful in our opinion, should the passage of this bill repeating the original enact ment upon this subject be endangered through wrangling over amendments upon the sections objected to, let this measure rather pass as introduced. Tn the expression of this view as an edi- torial opinion, we go further and say without fear of contradiction that such a request, voices the sentiment of a vast majority of the people living within the districts, where the industry is piled.
 II The measure recently enacted is distinctively class legislation, for the I benefit of the well-to- do planter and 1 a few home button factories and at the | expense of labor. The closed season is made to extend up until the hot 1 weather of midsummer when the heat 1 is so intense upon the rivers that work must be suspended a large portion of I the day. 1t is further contended by ] eminent authorities upon the habits of mussels, that they can no longer be | year in this climate and thus all work must be done at a disadvantage and with less profit to the clammer.
 The extension of the closed season to July first was not made at the re- l quest of parties interested in the pro- lection of the mussel but solely upon the demand of the planter for his gain and at equal sacrifice upon the part of the day laborer. The record breaking crop of the last year was made with out legislative help to the farmer and that very crop was planted at a time when the people of this section had become wild over a new industry, VI which offered speculative chances of great gain in the finding of pearl. Who will contend that the price of 1 labor became exorbitant, yet meas ure has been placed upon the statutes, l that will eliminate competition for the services of the day laborer for cer- Itain period by restraining him from I engaging in one of the industries that naturally demand his time at that season.
 1 In the spring and early summer of last year, the craze for pearling was at it's height. The highest number of lpeople ever engaged in the work were at that time plying this industry, yet where is the field that lay idle for the season by reason of inability to secure labor for the planting and tending of the crop? Where is the farmer, who will assert that his profits were ex hausted by the unreasonable price of labor? And yet we find upon the statutes of Arkansas a recent instance of class legislation, directed against the vast majority of her citizens, who Iare interested rather in the dearness IEof labor than it's cheapness.
 | As to the new measure, objection is lmade to the following section:
 M Third. Putting a license for shell and pearl hunting of $1 per annum for bonafide citizens of the state, above fourteen years of age, and 1925 iper annum for residents; that no female be charged a license; that $1 per ton be taxed on all shells shipped from the state.
 The need of requiring license is not very apparent and before dissenting, we would prefer first to hear an ar gument sustaining the provision. But why not license the farmer, the stock raiser and every other industry? Would it not be just as unreasonable and uncalled for? But passing this point, the most important provision of the article is found in the last clause, imposing tax of $1 per ton on shells shipped out of the state.
 The encouragement of home fac tories meets with popular favor and to exempt from taxation those manu- featuring buttons is generally ap-