Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-01-16
TUESDAY, JANUARY S.
The House Organizes.

nc Flouoc OFUdhlECos
Mlssissippl's new million.dolar cap
itol building was occupied for the first
time by the lawmakers of the State,
WHOM the two houses of the Legislature
convened in quadrennial regular ses-
sion at noon Tuesday. January 3. The
regular session OF the house of rep.
resentatiyei was called to order at IL
N. by Secretary Of State Power, as re
quired by Tho constitution who opened
the session with a neat ald appropri-
ate address,, pertinent 20 the.occasion.
The roll OF members was then read
as follows:
Abscntees-Butler Of Franklin, Eth.
ridge Of Kemper, Hight Of Winston,
Caruthers of Yazoo, Hicks of Jeffer-
son and Claiborne.
MIR. 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. Gcor Of YaZoo moved that the
house take recess; upol a call Of the
yeas and nays the motion was lost by
a vote of 80 70 26
The feature Of the opening session
OF the house was the election of Hon
i. N Thomas Of Washington as speak
or of the lower house. Mr.. Thomas
was chosen by acclamation, his most
formidable opponent, Hon. s. NJ
Smith Of Holmes, Withdrawing just
before the vote was takel his friends
realizing that they could not hope to
command majority. The five other
candidates. Messrs. lloyle, Barber
Brown, Milsaps and Kyo withdrew
before the session was convened.
Some Of these l0ntlemen will receive
important committee assignments
The house chamber was crowded to
Overlowng during the session. the gal
leries being too small to hold the as
Bembly Many ladies', including wives
of members. who will remain during
the session. were present
The New Speaker.
Emmet Nicholson Thomas is a ma
tive of Gonzales, Tex, having been
born there on June i0.-lS55 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, a Pres
byterian, Grand Master Of Masons,
Knight Templar ald is married and
has three children. Mr. Thomas is
what is known as an "Old member
of tho legislature. He was chairman
OF the ways and means committee of
the last house and Is thoroughly IA
miiar with the needs of the State in
regard to legislation, and Is regarded
as n man who will make n fine pre-
siding officer.
As rlady dobaer, close and logical
reasoner ald skillful parliamontarian
Mr.. Thomas has few equals and no su-
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-
liberations at the last session during
the absence of Speaker Russell,
Fink Smith Elected Clerk.
The expected happened in the elec,
tiol of Hon. L. Pink Smith, of Wash
ington. rs 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.
Tho CrganZauon of the senate occu'
pied but few moments. Hon. E. II,
Moore state senator from Bolivar, had
no opposition for the Office of pre5i-
dent pro tempore, and was elected by
reclamation shortly after the after
noon session was raped to order by
Lieut.. Gov Harrison.
Edward Harris Moore was born in
Huntsville, Ala, November s, 1851
He was educated at the Huntsville
schools and at the irginia Military
Institute at Lexington, Va. He re-
moved to Bolivar county, Mississippi,
in 1873, and was admitted to the prac-
tice Of law during the same year, hav-
ing previously prepared himself for
that profession in Alabama In 1876
he located at Rosedale, Miss, and has
since continuously rractced his pro-
fession at that place lie is the SEN
ior member Of the iirm of Moore 4
Clark, with offices at Rosedale and
Cleveland, which firm does large
and lucrative practice ald is recog-
nized az one Of the leading firms Of
the profession throughout the. State,
The senate proceeded with the dis.
posal of the minor Offices within Its
gift, Immediately after the opening,
The entire session was consumed with
the contest for sergeantat-arms, which
resulted on the twelfth ballot in the
election of MIR. Z. NJ. b. Selph of Tate
county. when an adjournment for din
ner was taken.
The senate did not reconvene until
o'clock, Senator Clinton of Adams
In the chair. Five ballots were taken
for doorkeeper, resulting in the elec-
ton of j. H. Thorn of Lee
Adjourned for the day
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