The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-01-19
Fifth Day.
HOUSE,

With but two dissenting votes each
of them accompanied by an explanation
rs to their going thus on record, the
house passed a bill, brief in its phrase
ology, but emphatic in its statement,
that no convict Of any Mississippi penal
institution shall be worked on any but
land owned and 'title in fee simple in
the name Of the State, other than
public works, such as l~eyees, or the
public roads.
The house, by a vote of LOG toasingle
no, Endorsed the action of the chief ex-
ecutive in his disapproved of the meas
ure authorizing the merger OF the
Mobile g. Ohio and Southern railroads.
An amendment to the State constitu-
ton that will materially affect the
criminal law OF the commonwealth was
presented by j. A. Cunningham OF
Prentiss, giving the State the right OF
change of venue under certain condi-
tions, the most important of which is
that it provides where deep preiudices
exist, or where q venire is exhausted,
the State may go to other courts OF the
district to try the cases. This, If in
dorsed by the people at the next State
election, will prevent delays in the
prosecution of cases, where wide pub
licity is given the circumstances, where
resulting from that publicity it is found
difficult to obtain jurors.
The Sample anti-lobbying measure
was again the subject of discussion on
the floor of the house, it arising through
a motion of one of the members that
floor privileges be granted to friends OF
the members by simply submitting the
names to the clerk, instead of by the
usual standing request in open session.
So great was the opposition to the mo
ton that it was withdrawn.
The report of the committee favor
ing the establishment of an "absent
committee" and requiring members to
present themselves before that com
mittee and obtain its permission before
leaving the assembly, met with some
vigorous opposition, but was finally
adopted.
A measure empowering the peniten-
tiary investigating committee to make
personal visits to the State institutions,
to provide the committee with a stenog-
rapher to take notes, and to authorize
it to have the power OF making arrests
and issue summonses, ii they are
necessary, was presented by Mr.. Kyle
of that committee, each was passed
without any dissenting votes,
Among the bills presented were the
following:
BY Mr.. Nixon-A bill to create and
establish a court in every county hav-
ing a population of 20, 900 or more.
BY Mr.. Stennis-A bill permitting
the carrying of concealed weapons in the
State under certain conditions, among
them being in the protection of ship
ments of great value, and when n
person hus oeou openly threatened by
another.
BY Mr.. Bates-A bill to provide for
the sale of the old Statehouse and site,
and the property now constituting the
governors mansion.
BY Mr.. Bullard-A bill prohibiting
the removal from certain beds of oysters
in certain seasons.
SENATE.
The senate became embroiled in a
lengthy discussion on the ever fruitful
subject of the code.
The debate came up on an amend
ment providing for the calling in of the
members of the code commission, Chief
Justice Whitfield, Gen. r. G.. Catchings,
and Judge W. H. Hardy, "to confer,
consult, discuss and decide" with such
committee on any provisions that re-
CURED their assistance. This matter
precipitated an animated discussion,
which continued for an hour.
Senator w. X. McLaurin moved to
strike out the amendment altogether.
The amendment of Mr.. McLaurinw was
ultimately adopted by u vote of IL to
q.
Another matter that started some de
bate was the motion of Mr.. Bloomfield
to reconsider the Mcleod resolution
adopted yesterday to provide for a
special committee to investigate the al
legged combination or trust of the lum-
Der manufacturers of the State to keep
the raw material at exorbitant figures
in restraint of trade or indlstrv