The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-01-16
TUESDAY, 5.
The House Organizes.

The House Organizes.
Mississippi's new million-dollar cap
itol building was occupied for the first
time by the lawmakers of the State,
when the two houses of the legislature
convened in %quadrennial regular SEES.
sion at 400 Tuesday, January 5. The
regular session Of the house of rep.
resentatiyes was called to order at IL
m. by Secretary Of State Power, as re-
Quired by the constitution, who opened
the session with a neat ald appropri-
ate address, pertinent to the occasion.
The roll of members was then read
as follows:
Absentees-Butler OF Franklin, Eth.
ridge of Kemper, Hight of Winston,
Caruthers Of Yazoo, Hicks Of Jeffer.
son and Claiborne.
Mr. Patty Of Noxubee placed S. b.
Watts of Lauderdale county in nomi.
nation for temporary chairman. There
being no other nominations Mr., Watts
was unanimously chosen.
l., Pink Smith and W. A. Dixon were
chosen as temporary clerks of the
house until permanent organization.
Mr.. Geor., Z of Yazoo moved that the
house take a recess; upol a call of the
yeas and nays the motion was lost by
q vote Of so to &c.
The feature of the opening session
of the house was the election OF Hon.
er of the lower house. Mr.. Thomas
was chosen by reclamation. his most
formidable opponent, Hon. S. M.
Smith of Holmes, withdrawing just
before the vote was takel, his friends
realizing that they could not hope to
command a majority. The five other
candidates, Messrs. Hoyle, Barber,
Brown, Milsaps and Kyle withdrew
before the session was convened.
Some of these gentlemen will receive
important commlttee assignments
The house chamber was crowded t.
overtiowing during the session, the gal'
leries being too small to hold the az
sembly. Many ladies', including wives
of members, who will remain during
the session, were present.
The New Speaker.
Emmett Nicholson Thomas Is n ma.
tive of Gonzales, Tex. having been
born there on June 10, 1856. His an. !
came to this country from
Scotland, During the COS his father
was a probate judge of Texas. Mr..
Thomas attended the public schools,
entering Mississippi College
and graduating in the class of 1876.
He read law and was admitted TO the
bar in 1880; was elected to the house
Of representatives from Washington
county in 1889 and reelected In 1895,
1899 and 1903; is a Democrat, a Pres
byterian, Grand Master of MasOns,
Templar, ald is married and
has three children. Mr.. Thomas is
is known as an old member"
If the legislature. He was chairman
If the ways and mean committee Of
he last house and Is thoroughly ia.
with the needs Of the State in
to legislation, and is regarded
rs d mar who will make a fine pre-
siding officer.
As ready debater, close and logical
'easoner a1d skillful parliamentarian,
Mr.. Thomas has few equals and no SUI
)erior in Mississippi and his career
Is speaker of the house will be watch.
I'd with added interest. He is not
without experience in the Office, hav.
ng frequently presided over the de-
iberations at the last session during
he absence of Speaker Russell.
Pink Smith Elected Clerk.
The expected happened in the eIec.
iol Of Hon, l.. Pink Smith, of Wash,
ngton, as clerk of the house. He has
leld the Office for two terms of four
ears each, and his opponent realized
DefOre the session convened that he
lad no hope of election.
After the election of the clerk the
lOuse adjourned for the day.
Organization of Senate.
The organization Of the senate occu.
lied but a few moments. Hon. e. II. +
ioore, state senator from Bolivar, had {
o opposition for the office of presi. {
.ent pro tempore, and was elected by I
exclamation shortly after the after. !
.oon session was raped to order by
lieut.. Gov. Harrison. {
Edward Harris Moore was born in {
huntsville, Ala, November s, 1851. {
lie was educated at the Huntsville
chools and at the Virginia Military [
institute at Lexington, Va. He re- {
loved to Bolivar county, Mississippi, s
n 1873, and was admitted to the prac- I
Ice of law during the same year, hay.
lg previously prepared himself for {
hat profession in Alabama. In 1876 {
located at Rosedale, Miss, and has
ince continuously practiced his pro-
sssion at that place. He Is the sen. ]
Or member of the firm Of Moore &c
lark, with Offices at ROsedale and G
leyeland, which firm does a large q
nd lucrative practice ald is recog-
lied as n of the leading firms of
ne profession throughout the State. i
The senate proceeded with the dis.
osal of the minor Offices within its
1T, Immediately after the opening. S
he entire session was consumed with p
ne contest for sergeant-at-arms, which
on the twelfth ballot In the V
lection Of Mr.. p. NJ. b, Selph of Tate r
when an adjournment for din a
er was taken.
The senate did not reconvene until s
O'Clock, Senator Clinton of Adams Il
| the chair. Five ballots were taken p
IT doorkeeper, resulting in the cleo
Of j. H. Thorn Of Lee. r.
Adjourned for the day. s.
WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 8.
The features Of today's session Of p
IA Iapirlatura Uara tho raodiaO NJ n