Newport weekly independent., 1903-03-26
THURSDAY, MARCH le,

THURSDAY. MARCH 1e.
 The house passed Senator rrice's worlds fair bill as amended, so as to appropriate $5O,OO0 for building and ex- hibit The senate concurred but other amendments were offered, which were not acted upon.
 A bill eXempting men over 60 years of age from payment of poll tax was defeated in the house.
 Both houses refused to accept an in vitation to visit Hot Springs extended by the citizens of that clty
 The senate refused to reconsider the vote by which it passed the bill grant ing more power to the railroad com mission.
 The se1a.e.
 motion to reconsider the vote by which the senate passed the King bill regulating railroad freight and pas Senger traffic, was lost and the bill was ordered transmitted to the house. Clerk Hays reported that the house had passed Senator Prices bill mak- ing an appropriation for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition with house amend ments. These amendments reduced the appropriation to $5O,OO0 and add an additional member to the commission. The amendments were adopted un- animously.
 S, B. 113, providing for the divis ion of the county liquor license be- tween the county and school funds. was placed on third reading On mo- ton the bill was placed back on sec ond reading to permit of amendment. Senator Gray called up S. B. 217, appropriating money to pay certain teachers of the deaf-mute institute amounts due on contract.
 Senators Witt, Hardy and Fletcher opposed the bill on the ground that the contract with the teachers was in violation of the law.
 Senator Caldwell said the teachers had entered on the contract in good faith and should be protected.
 Senators Covington and Wilson SUD- ported the bil-, which passed.
 The worlds fair bill was recalled and Senator Cotton introduced an amend ment providing that the officers and employees provided for in the bill should not go on duty until the build ing at the exposition be completed.
 Senator Caldwell oppos ed the amend ment. He said a manager and clerk were on duty now and were dolng good and necessary work.
 Senator Short introduced a substi- tute that no one except the directors and clerk should go on duty until
 
 occupancy He thought the comms- sioner of mines, manufactures and agri- culture, who had been auued to the board, should act as manager. Further consideration of the bal was deferred until the following Wednesday.
 Senator Simpson introduced a Dill repeating the county uniformity law regarding text books.
 A resolution to accept an invitation to visit Hot Springs as a body at the expense of citizens of Hot Springs was lost.
 Senator F1etchers bill providing that an analysis be filed with the commits SiOner of mines, manufactures and az riculture of all fertilizers sold in this state was passed.
 The House.
 Senator Prices worlds fair appro- priation bill was the first order.
 The bill as amended appropriates $5o,O00 for building and exhibit at St. Louis, the bL--~-ng to cost not more than $20,000. and adds another member to the fair board.
 The bill passed-ayes 59, noes 12.
 Chairman Merrimar of the state capitol committee presented a report recommending the passage of H. B. 400, providing for the completion of the new state capitol building, with five amendments. The principal ones are that no member of the legislature shall be a member of the capitol com mission. and that so far as possible the building shall be constructed of Arkansas material.
 H. B. 40 (Garrett), relieving all persons over the age of 60 years from the payment of poll tax, was taken up. Messrs. Patterson, Thompson, Parks and Crutcher opposed the Jill.
 Messrs. Toney and Garrett sup ported the bill, which was defeated.
 MT. Parks called up H. B. 4O9, ap- propriating funds for the maintenance of the state insane asylum. A motion to postpone was lost anu the bill was considered in committee of the whole. Amendments were offered making the stewards salary $1,O00 instead of $1,- 600, matrons salary $500 instead of 1,000, and engineers salary s1,500 instead of s14,000.
 Amendments were offered reducing the salaries of other employees from the amounts contained in the bill.
 Messrs. Tarvel and Parks spoke in favor of the amendments.