Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-03-17
FIFTY-FiRST DAY.

FlFTY-FiRST DAY.
In view OF the very close vote by
which the 500 900 bond issue bill was
defeated In the lower house yesterday
the action of that body in passing an
amended bill providing for $500 .0o0
issue this morning was somewhat sur
prising The original bill. which was
under discussion during the entire ses-
sion yesterday afternoon. obtained on
! ly 81 votes to 50 against II. and the
vote this morning was SO ayes. Only
Ave more members were present when
the bill passed than were shown on
the roll call the evening before. and
this shows that at least twenty Ave
members changed their minds on the
subject
Properly Interpreted. however. the
passage Of the bond bill was com
promise measure II vas certain when
the motion to reconsider was entered
yesterday that the Stennis bill provid-
ing for the s700. 900 issue Of forty-year
bonds. could not pass. and IL was
equally certain that a majority could
not be obtained on the proposition to
increase the State tax levy There
tOTts ALt IltDlutlN HuO utfttNtu Nudi
the S700. 900 issue was too large ac-
cepted the compromise offered by the
advocates OF the issue IL is signifi-
cant. however. that tie author OF the
original bill. MIR Stennis. did not vote
for his measure in an amended form.
and IL is yet contended by many mem
bers that half million dollars will
not be sufficient to meet the prospec-
tive deficit. thus suggesting the prop
osition 10 increase the tax levy half
nill
The members who voted against the
bond issue were Messrs. Blackwell.
Carothers Of Lee. Cavett, Clark. Cole
man Of Carroll Coleman OF Lsfiore.
Denton OF Lauderdale. East. Etnridge.
Heidelberg. Hollingsworth. Hoyle.
Mitchell. Murphree. McQuiston. Nc
FArland Of Monroe. Robinson OF Choc-
,aw. Robinson OF Rankin. Sheffield.
Smith Of Holmes. Spencer and Stem
mis-
Both houses OF the legislation dc
voted a good portion OF the morning
to appropriation bills. and all OF the
important measures OF this character
have been disposed OF.
The house passed the bill originat-
ing in the senate allowing the ma
tional guard $500 per year. and a
measure appropriating $1,000 to the
Mississippi oyster commission with
which to purchase a patrol boat.
The senate passed the bill for the
support OF the State charity hospital at
.vicksburg
Several local and private bills were
also disposed Of by the senate.
Numerous committee reports were
made in both bodies. among others
being an amended form Of the house
bill providing for a State normal and
training school for teachers, which was
fayorabIy recommended.
The house judiciary committee re-
ported favorably on the bill requir-
ing counties to pay the expenses nj
circuit Judges and chancellors durtes
court terms.
The question Of making land as
sessments this year is still in ar ua-
settled shape. the senate having in
definitely postponed the house bill re
qniring an assessment OF realty TINS
wear. The senate bill providing for
biennial assessments is pending in the
house.
The Work Accomplished.
A eursory review Of the wort "a
has been accomplished by the issis.s-
tlre shows that very little has seen
done in the way Of enacting new laws,
especially when the length OF time the
body has been in session is considered
The legislature met on the second OF
January. The usual amount OF time
mas been frfttered away. the customary
number of junketing trips have been
made and the traditional vacation Tor
the Nardi Gras festivities was IN
duIged in. There have been adjourn
ments from Friday until Mon lay. hries
faily sessions of both bodies during
the first four or five weeks. ard ne
always to be expected waste oi lime
snent in discussing bills tnat oush- N
have been tossed in the waste basket
immediately after being introduced.
But the waste of time has been no
greater at this session tnan any u its
predecessors, and the legislature III
nearly every respect has been an aYe.-
age one. Perhaps its most conSnicu-
ous defect has been the lack of isaa-
ership In neither body are t.iere any
members who can lay claim 20 tow
ering ike giants above their asso-
ciates. or who can command strong
and always faithful following. This
iS rather surprising In view oi tne
fact that the lower house Is composer
chiefly Of young men who are Usually