The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-04-05

on the average at Pontotoc than Il
was at the other points along the
route.
The committee found that the old
depot site was an impracticable one
for the railroad company, being sit
uated in narrow hollow, and being
fifty feet in level below the new Site
The old route was travelled over on
both sides of Pontotoc, and the re-
port says that the route is not a
practicable one, but that the new line
is the most advantageous. The COM
mittee found that the railroad had
constructed the depot on the new site
in good faith, after consultation
with the citizens Of the town ih a
mass meeting, and that an oil mill,
brick plant and other buildings had
been erected near the new depot on
the strength Of this agreement.
The report consists of five pages
and covers every detail of the situa-
ton. 1t admits that some citizens OF
the town of Pontotoc do want to
force the company to build along
the old route but that no complaint
came from any quarter as to the ac-
ton Of the railroad company until
it had built its track, its siding and
switches and a $4,000 depot west OF
the town. Then the injunction pro-
ceedings were started.
In their conclusion sentence the
committeeman, while waving any
question as to the legality of the bill,
urge upon the House to pass the Ste
gall bill, stating that it is almot abb
solutely necessary for the protection
of the merchants in the various towns
and that the new depot is by far the
better site for the town Of Pontotoc.
The remarkable strength of the
forces for the penitentiary bill in
the House was the chief topic of gos-
sip in the corridors and cloak room
Of the House. The opposition failed to
make a well organized fight on tho
measure and as result it passed
with a majority of three to one. For
several days the opponents of the
bill had been predicting what would
be done, while the advocates of the
change Of pentientiary management
went about quietly counting noses
and securing pledges. 1t is not usual
that a committee presenting chap
ter to the House finds the lower body
in strict accord with its view, but the
penitentiary bill was the exception to
the rule. Nothing that did not bear
the stamp of approval from the COM
mittee was permitted to be added to
the bill. 1t is considered quite d
triumph for the big six of the com!
mittee.
w. @. Cole, the Insurance Commisi
sioner whose salary was cut by the
House in an amendment to the Senate
bill, believes that the House acted
hastily in the matter, and that on
reconsideration, when all the facts are
submitted to the lower body, the Sen
ate bill will be concurred in. Mr.. Cole
said that the state of Mississippi had
not in thirty years cut down the sal
airy of any officer during his term OF
office. The Insurance Commissioner
now only gets fees and the Senate
had amended this chapter so that he
should get a salary of $4,000, but not
to go into effect until 1908. This
would leave Mr.. Cole to collect fees
during the rest of his term. The
House changed the section so that the
salary would go into effect when the
Governor affixed his signature to the
bill. The amendment was introduced
by Mr.. Ross. 1t was stated that the
senate committee on salaries would
not agree to the amendment, and even
if it did, it is doubtful whether the
governor, who is fair on all PROPOSE
tions, would approve a law cutting
down an officers salary during his
term.
The committee on intoxicating llq-
uors has agreed to the slight amend
ments the senate has made to the chap
ter on dramshops. The Senate pass
ed an amendment requiring all dram
shops to close at 1890 o'clock and
not to open until o'clock the next
morning. But the House COMMITTEES
prefers later hours. The committee
men want to give the dramshop keep
ers the privilege of remaining open
for business until midnight and open
ing for business at 5 O'Clock a. m.
The matter will be decided by con-
ference committee unless the House
comedies the senate amendment.
The difference between the Senate
and the House as to the amount OF
appropriation for the Mississippi His
torical Society has been settled, the
House conferres agreeing to an apr
preparation of $1,000, instead of $500.
At meeting of the appropriation
committee the bill introduced by Mr..
Denton, of Meridian, to give $4,000
for the support Of the hospital at
that city, was amended so as to rec
ommend giving $4,000. With this
amendment the bill will come before
the House with the favorable report
from the appropriation committees.