The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-02
SENATE.

| ing 20 TO 10, ana hacking y Iuiie.''S
ayes to constitute a two-thirds ma
iority for the measure in order to carry
it constitutionally.
Chapter No. sc, which was reported
from the House-the chapter on inter
est-was taken up, and the very first
section, that defining the legal rate OF
interest, stirred up dissension. This sec
| ton reads as follows:
''Section 234S. Legal rate: The Legal
rate of interest on all note accounts and
contracts shall be 6 per centum per an
mum; but contract may be made IN
writing for the payment OF a rate OF
interest as great as 10 per centum per
annum and if a greater rate OF inter
est than 10 per cent. shall be stipulated
for or received in any case, interest shall
be forfeited, and may be recovered back,
| whether the contract is executed or eX-
ecutory; but this section shall not apply
to n building and loan association domi-
ciled in this State, dealing with its mem
bers only"
The house had voted to strike out the
latter clause of the section, or that pass
age exemptinG building and loan asso-
| Citations from the operation OF the anti
usury rate law. The Senate committee
recommended concurrence and offer
ed the eliminated clause as an amend
ment.
After the debate on the subject had
proceeded for some time, the amendment
was put to a vote, to be defeated by
a good majority. The effect of this is
that builing and loan associations,
whether foreign or domestic, must come
under the same footing i'll regard to
excessive interest, or greater than 10 per
cent, as any others, individuals or cor
~pOrations.
Mr.. Dunn sent up a concurrent resolu-
| ton providing for an amendment to the
| constitution, providing that after its
adoption by the people no measure for
the purpose of giving %gratuities of any
kind shall be passed by the Legislature,
Notwithstanding two-thirds of the elect
| ed representatives vote therefor.
The bill to permit foreign or non
resident corporations to secure charter
and domicile and charter in Mississippi
was then called up by Mr.. Farley and
passed without opposition. The act con-
templates that any corporation which IS
legalized by charter in any other State
or territory may qualify for domestica-
ton in Mississippi by applying for char
ter under the same regulations as those
governing corporations organized in the
State.
Then Mr.. Hightower called up the
Agricultural Department bill, which was
laid before the Senate and read section
by section.
The proposition to have the tax asses
sors of the several counties collect the
ginning statistics to be furnished the
commissioner under the bill created some
opposition, Senators holding that while
the average assessor is all right at valu-
ing property, when it come to gathering
crop data he might be at a disadvantage.
1t was decided to try the plan for the
first two years, at least, and by that
time experience will prove what is the
best, whether through county officer or
by special deputy selected for just that
work.
At this iuncture some spice was in
| jected into the proceedings by the intro
| duction of a Senate bill, without number,
| by Judge Thrasher of Claiborne, entitled
an act to encourage m%atrimony, prevent
flirting in a promiscuous way and to pre-
vent race suicide. Senator Thrasher sug-
| gested that it be referred to the Com
mittee on Internal Improvements, a Sc
lect committee to be designated by the
chair, but without formal motion the
| bill was allowed to lay on the table and
consideration indefinitely postponed.
House bill No. 6, to provide for an
appropriation for the Mississippi memo
rial in the Vicksburg National Park, vas
then taken up and passed by a vote of
81 to IL.
Mr.. Dunn introduced a concurrent res
| olution to amend the constitution by
striking out section 211, which gives the
| Legislature the authority to make leases
for the sixteenth section, or Choctaw
purchase school lands. This proposition
created considerable opposition from
Senators representing that section of the
State, and by general consent Mr.. Dunn
withdrew his resolution in order that
| the Senators might look into the mat
ter more fully.
The Committee on Finance favored
the passage of the following bills:
An act for the support of the Depart
ment of Archives and History; an act
| giving additional lands to the experiment
stations; an act making an appropriation
| for the establishment of a home for
| d2CC LII lIIdlSChO OilS gu y
izing an appropriation for the establish
ment of a monument in the Vicksburg
| battlefield: an act adding to the equip
| school. 1t submitted amendments to the
| institute and college.
The local bills acted upon are as fol-
| lows:
TO relieve the teachers unpaid in Ne
shoba county. On request, sent to the
table indefinitely.
To create the new county of Forrest.
| The committee had amended by chang,
ing the name of the new county to
Stone. This and other slight amend
ments as offered by the committee were
adopted by the Senate. just as the bill
was to go on final passage it was dis
covered that a flaw existed as to the
date of the creation of the new county,
and it was recommitted to the Judiciary
Committee for final perfection.
To pay the sheriff of Chickasaw coun-
ty in remuneration for expenditures in
searching for an escaped murderer;
passed.
To reimburse sheriff of Webster coun-
| ty for sums spent in hunting a negro
wanted for criminal assault; passed.
To reimburse the treasurer of Benton
county for certain sums turned into the
treasury wrongfully; passed.
To grant to the clerk of Harrison
county the privilege of having the Chan
| Gerry Court records removed for rebind-
ing; passed.
To relieve certain unpaid teachers in
the public schools of Benton county;
passed.
To relieve an ex-sherif of Copiah
| ao,anAxr FOR ouoroha rnoS nnaincf him.