The Tupelo journal., 1906-02-02
HOUSE.

Minimizing to a degree the RESPONSE
bility of attorneys in attachment suits,
the house approved an amendment to
the law governing such forms and pro-
viding that attachments issued in Mis-
sissippi in the future might be made
on responsible information instead OF
upon positive knowledge" as is now
the requirement.
The house killed the Boddie bill,
which provided for a license of 1926, 00c
per annum on brokerage and commits
sion business where futures are dealt in.
1t was not until after the most persist
ent fight of the session that the vote
wa taken, and then it came rather in
the nature of a surprise. Adding the
members paired, the vote showed 81
favoring the bill and 63 as opposed.
A new tack was taken by the friends
of the bill at the outset. 1t had been
alleged by the opponents of the bill
that while the terms of the license
would drive out the little fellows in the
smaller towns, there would be conduct
ed in Jackson or Vicksburg a large in
stitution, which could pay the sun of
license provided for, and it was even
intimated that such was the purpose of
the bill-the creation of a Monte Carlo
in Jackson.
To offset this Mr.. Cowley presented
an amendment making the license fee
$4,000 per annum, and Immediately
the amendment was seconded by MI.
Boddie, author of the original bill, and
who up to this time had refused any
concessions or changes either way.
One of the strongest arguments in
opposition to the bill was made by Mr.
George of Yazoo, a o of the late j..
z. George, who was himself a member
of the committee of the United States
senate, under the Hatch law to investi-
gate future dealings. The father was
one of the most enthusiastic opponents
of future dealings. The son furnished
the most plausible arguments in favor
of allowing the people the privilege of
dealing in futures, defending the cause
through the opportunity it gives the
holder of cotton to protect himself to
advantage against possible decline.
Mr.. Alcorn said that taxation for
protection was Republicanism, taxation
for revenue only was Democratic gov
eminent. The Boddie bill taxed to run
the business out of the State or grant
the privilege but to a chosen few.
Mr.. Brooks offered an able defense
of the bill. He had defended success
fully the operator of a bucket shop who
had been indicted under the present
inadequate law. There were four in
dictments and the prosecution thought
it had a cinch. Mr.. Brooks, by simply
citing the agreement where delivery
under this contract is contemplated"
had made his defense of the party ar
raigned so strong that the judge Or
dered a verdict for the defendant and
dismissed the case. Mr.. Brooks held
that a conscientious jury cannot, under
the present law, render a verdict OF
guilty when it has to go into the intent
of the delivery.
Mr.. Bodies closing argument was a
mastery one, and facts and figures were
gone into. Neither did he mince words.
He denounced the whole system as a
b~lood-sucking institution to milk the
dollars from the pockets of suckers in
the South and pour them into the cof-
fers of the ~millionaires on Wall street.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Wells: An act to appropriate
a necessary sum of money to pave a por-
ton of State street directly in front of
the old State capitol and to pave Capt.
tai street in front of the home of the
governor.
Committee on Judiciary: Recon-
mending the adoption of chapters 5,
I and Is of the code as submitted by
the commissioners.
Mr.. Etheridge called up his resolu-
ton, which provides for an immediate
investigation into the alleged merger
of the Southern and the Mobile & Ohio
railroads in violation of the laws OF
Mississippi. The resolution had been
through the judiciary committee, where
it was amended. Originally it placed
the responsibility of the investigation
on that committee. After a vigorous
fight in the committee, it was amended
so that it would be passed up to the at
torney-general. The committee was
sustained by a vote of 81 to 46. The
matter will now go to the attorney
general.
By Mr.. Byrd: An act to protect the
owners of live stock which might have
been killed or injured in endeavoring
to break through fences which are not
legally constructed.
House bill No. 4 was called up by Mr..
Brown of the appropriation committee.
This bill makes an appropriation in the
sum of $40, 900 to be used in rebating
certain persons for overpaid taxes, or
| where titles have failed. The bill in
creases the appropriation $1,000 over
previous years. and was passed without
a dissenting vote.
Under reports of committees the fol-
lowing reports were submitted;
Committee on Agriculture: Favoring
| the stock law district bill; ~favoring the
bill providing for the payment by the
boards Of supervisors for stock ordered
killed by such boards.
Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds: Recommending the passage
of the bill providing that the old State