The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-02-24
THiRTY-FIRsr DAY.

The house passed the bill providing
for a new codihcation of the laws of
the State, and after considerable
wrangling authorized the speaker to
appoint a special committee to go to
the gulf coast and investigate the oys-
ter bill, which promiseg to provoke a
spirited factioRal fight.
The senate Spent the entire morn
Ing considering the bill appropriati1g
81 ESQ, 900 for the common schools of
the State. A strong disposition was
shown among many members to cut
down the allowance.
H. B. ITO appropriate money for
the support Of the common school
fund, set as the special order for 10
O'Clock, was called up.
The bill appropriates $1,250, 900 for
that purpose, together with the poll
tax.
Senator Farley moved to amend by
substituting $1,000,000 He claimed
that the larger amount was not nee
essary because of the balances now
on hand from former appropriations,
and remaining in the county treasu-
ries to the credit of the school fund.
In some of the counties he said these
balances were sufficient to run the
schools without any appropriations as
long as they have heretofore.
Senator Boyd opposed the amend
ment. He was not willing to begin
eaenomizing at the expense of that
| class in whose hands the future of this
State would be placed.
! Senator Parks vas opposed to the
amendment. He didn't believe it was
economy to eco 1oni Ze at the expense
of the educational interests of the
State. The common schools needed
TO be improved They were the reli-
ance of the country boys and girls
| for their education, and the terms
should be heightened so as to give
them better advantages in that line.
| Senator Greaves was in favor of the
amendment. He said the amendment
already passed by this body allowing
the poll ltax to be retained in the
counties added 100000 to the school
fund already, and the bill as it now
stood would really be to appropriate
$1,550,00 instead of $1,250,0O0. This
amendment would not reduce the
amount below that appropriated last
| year, but would really increase it $50.
! 900.
Senator Hightower thought the title
of the bill should be changed so as to
read, "a bill to create the necessity for
issuing bonds and to educate the ne
| gro" He said the children would de-
! rive no benefit from the passage of
this bill. 1t would go to pay in
creased salaries to teachers and other
increasing expenses. Every dollar
spent by the State went half to the
negro, and they would get the benefit
OF this increased appropriation.
Senator Henry said some of the sell
atorse were scared of a bond issue
when the necessity did not exist But
If 1t was necessary to issue bonds to
| educate the barefoot boy and calico
| girl, then he said, issue.
| Senator Franklin (31stl was in IA
vor of the bill He was not afraid to
| go on record as voting for it, neither
did he believe it would call for bond
| issue.
The amendment cutting down the
school fund appropriation was voted
down and the original bill appropriate
ing $1,250000 per annum, passed by a
vote Of ~28 to Z.
The finance committee made an un-
| favorable report on the bill appropri-
ating 100000 to erect monuments at
the National Park at Vicksburg
The bill prohibiting the shipment
of liquors from wet" counties to
dry" counties was unfavorably re-
ported.
III the house, owing to the absence
of the author, Mr.. Robbins, H. B. 48,
which was the special order of the
| day was laid aside and made the spes
cial order of next Tuesday. This biii
provides for the exemption of money
loaned and vendors liens for purchase
money of real estate, where the inter
est does not exceed per cent.
Mr.. Millsaps called up H. B. 54 pro-
viding for new codification of the
laws of the State. The committee
amendments, four in number, were
adopted.
The bill was then read third time
and passed.
This bill authorizes the governor to
appoint three code commissioners
learned in the law" Z
M. Greaves offered, by request, a
resolution directing the speaker to ap.
| point committee of seven members
to go to the gulf coast and make an
investigation of the oyster industry.
Mr.. Barber, of Harrison, stated that
in view of pending legislation on the
subject of the oyster industry it is i'm
portant that the house should have
| full information.
The resolution was then adopted by
] a vote of 38 to Is.
A minority report from the commit
tee on universities and colleges re-
garding H. B. 377, abolishing Greek
letter fraternities at the universities,
was submitted, recommending that
the fraternities in this and other insti-
buttons, supported by the State, should
be abolished.