Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-01-14
TUESDAY, JANUARY S.
Tie 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 ses-
sion at noon Tuesday, January 5. The
regular session of the house of rep
resentatives was called to order at IL
m. by Secretary of State Power, as re-
ouired By the constitution, who opened
the session with neat a1d appropri-
ate address, pertinent 20 the occasion.
The roll OF members was read
as foli0Tss
: = sAbsentees- Batter OF Franklin, Eth
ridge OF Ixemper. Hight Of Winstr-s
Caruthers of Yazoo, Hicks OF Jefrer-
son and Claiborne.
Mr.. Patty of Noxubee placed 5. u.
Watts of Lauderdale county in noml-
nation for temporary chairman. There
being no other nominations Mr.. WAITS
was unanimously chosen.
L. Pink Smith and w. A. Dixon were
chosen as temporary clerks OF the
house until permanent organization.
Mr.. Geor. e 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 90 to 26.
The seature of the opening session
of the house was the election of Hon.
i. n. Thomas of Washington as speak
er of the lower house. Mr.. Thomas
was chosen by acclamation, his most
formidable opponent, Hon. S. M.
Smith Of Holmes, Withdrawing just
before the vote was taken, 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 committee assignments
The house chamber was crowded t.
overiiowing during the session, the gal'
leries being too small to hold the as
sembly. Many ladies, including wives
of members, who will remain during
the session. were present.
The New Speaker.
Emmett Nicholson Thomas is a ma
tive of Gonzales, Tex, having been
born there on June 10, 1855. His an
cestors came to this country from
Scotland. During the Cos his father
was a probate Judge of Texas Mr..
Thomas attended the public schools,
afterward 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, Pres
byterian. Grand Master of Masons,
knight Templar, AID Is married ana
has three children. Mr.. Thomas is
what is known as an "old member
of the legislature. He was chairman
of the ways and means committee OF
the last house and is thoroughly Ia
miliar with the needs of the State in
regard to legislation, and is regarded
as a man who will make fine pre-
siding officer.
AS ready debater, close and logical
reasoner ald skillful parliamentarian,
Mr.. Thomas has few equals and no SUI
perior in Mississippi and his career
as speaker of the house will be watch
ed with added interest. He is not
without experience in the office, hav-
ing frequently presided over the de-
UDCTdllOUS az lllC idsb oVSoiSA NNH 80 2
the absence of Speaker Russell.
Fink Smith Elected Clerk.
The expected happened in the cleo
tiol of Hon. l.. Pink Smith, of Wash
ington, as clerk of the house. He has
held tho Office for two terms OF -four
years each, and his opponent realized
before the session convened that he
had no hope of election.
After the election of the clerk the
house adjourned for the day
Organization Of Senate.
The crganizalion of the senate occu
pied but a few moments. Hon. E. II
Moore, state senator from Bolivar, hao
no opposition for the office OF presl
dent pro tempore, and was elected by
acclamation shortly after the after
noon session was raped to order by
Lieut. Gov. Harrison.
Edward Harris Moore was born IL
Huntsville, Ala, November g., 1851
He was educated at the Huntsville
schools and at the Virginia Military
Institute at Lexington. Va, He re
moved TO Bolivar county, Mississippi
in 1879. and was admitted to the prac
tice of law during the same year, hav
ing previously prepared himself 1ol
that profession in Alabama. In 1877
he located at Rosedale, Miss, and ha:
since continuously practiced his pro
fession at that place. He is the sen
ior member of the firm of Moore q
Clark. with offices at Rosedale ant
Cleveland, which firm does a large
and lucrative practice and is recog
nized as one Of the leading firms o.
the profession throughout the State
The senate proceeded with the dis
posal of the minor Offices within it
gift, Immediately after the opening
The entire session was consumed will
the contest for sergeant-at-arms, whicl
resulted on the twelfth ballot in th'
election of Mr.. P. Nj. B. Selph OF Tat
county, when an adjournment for din
ner was taken.
The senate did not reconvene unit
O'Clock. Senator Clinton of Adam
in the chair. Five ballots were takel
for doorkeeper. resulting in the cleo
ton of ]. II. Thorn of Lee.
Adjourned for the day.