Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-03-19
FIFTY.FlRST DAY.

In view Of the very close vote by
which the s700,0 900 bond issue bill was
defeated In the lower house yesterday
the action of that body in passing an
amended bill providing for a 100000
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 SO against it, and the
vote this morning was Sc ayes. Only
five 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 five
members changed their minds on the
| subject.
Properly interpreted, however, the
passage of the bond bill was com
promise measure. Il was certain when
the motion to reconsider was entered
yesterday that tho Stennis bill, provid-
ing for the S700, 900 issue of forty.year
bonds, could not pass, and it was
equally certain that majority could
not be obtained on the proposition to
increase the State tax levy There
fore, the members who believed that
the 100000 issue was too large ac-
cepted the compromise offered by the
advocates of the issuee It is signifi-
cant, however that tie author of the
original bill, Mr. Stennis, did not vote
for his measure in an amended form,
and it is yet contended by many men,
bers that half million dollars will
not be sufficient to meet the prospec-
tive deficit, thus suggesting the prop
ostion to increase the tax levy half
mill.
The members who voted against the
bond issue were Messrs. Blackwell,
Carothers of Lee. Cavett, Clark, Cole
Denton of Lauderdale, East, Etnridge,
Heidelberg, Hollingsworth, Hoyle,
Mitchell, Murphree, McQulston, Nc
Farland of Monroe Robinson Of Choc.
taw, Robinson of Rankin, Sheffield,
Smith Of Holmes, Spencer and STEM
mis-.
Both houses of the legislation de-
voted good portion of the morning
to appropriation bills and all Of the
lnpOIluNl ulcdSultS vi tHlS ChdidCNti
have been disposed Of.
The house passed the bill original
ing in the senate allowing the ma
tional guard $500 per year, and a
measure appropriating $4,000 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 State normal and
training school for teachers, which was
favorably recommended.
The house judiciary committee re-
ported favorably on the bill requir-
ing counties to pay the expenses Of
circuit judges and chancellors during
court terms.
The question Of making land as
sessments this year is still in ar un-
settled shape. the senate having u-
definitely postponed the house bill re-
quirng an assessment Of realty this
year. The senate bill providing for
biennial assessments Is pending in the
house
The Work Accomplished.
A cursory review Of the work that
has been accomplished by the leeisls-
ture shows that very little has been
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
has been frittered away, the customary
number of junketing trips have been
made, and the traditional vacation for
the Mardi Gras festivities was In
dulged in. There have been adjourn
ments from Friday until Mon lay, bricf
Gaily sessions of both bodies during
the first four or five weeks. ard he
always to be expected waste Of lime
spent in discussing bills that ought to
have been tossed in the waste basket
Immediately after being Introduced /
But the waste Of time has been no I
greater at this session than any Of its |
predecessors, and the legislature in
nearly every respect has been an aver
age one Perhaps its most conepicu- |
Gus defect has been the lack Of lead
crship In neither body are there any |
members who can lay claim 10 tow
ering like giants above their asso-
ciates, or who can command a strong
and always faithful following. This |
is rather surprising in view Of the
fact that the lower house is composed /
chiefly Of young men who are usually .