The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-02
Mississippi Legislature
HOUSE.

Of the Ethridge railroad bill, which, in
its original effect, required railroad COM
panies to refund the purchase price on
all tickets purchased at any time within
three years. The compromise came in
the form of an amendment from Mr..
Ross, reducing the time within which the
company was ordered to make the refund
to one year. This, it was argued, would
give the companies more opportunity to
make a financial statement at stated
periods.
The chapter on municipalities was
taken up. Few changes were suggested
from the committee report, probably the
most important of which was by Mr..
Wells, of Kinds, which changed the pres
ent law in regard to the number of alder
men of cities of over ten thousand in
habitants. The present law provided for
a number of from five to nine, as the
electors so desired. The amendment
provides for two aldermen as represent
atives from each ward in cities of this
number of inhabitants. The city of
jackson has six wards, and this will
privilege an increase of three aldermen.
The power of the veto given Mayors
was not restricted, further than hereaf-
ter reasons for such veto must be given
in writing at the time the veto is pre-
sented to the aldermanic body. In the
matter of appointment and bonds, it was
the old law that a Mayor using an un-
just p%rerogative might refuse to issue a
commission to certain elective officers.
An amendment corrected this possibility
of injury to subordinate officers.
Mr.. Stevens offered an amendment to
the part of the chapter stating the duty
of Police Court officers. Under the
amended form such officers or Judge
must take cognizance of all violations of
the law, whether specific violations of
ordinance or not. Mr.. Carouthers, of
Lee, also offered an amendment to this
section, which gives clerks of the city
the right to take evidence in certain
cases.
Somewhat of an argument was precip-
itated over the section on the publica-
ton of ordinances. Mr.. McMichael pre-
scented an amendment which required the
publication as now ordered, with the adj
dition that allowances be limited to a
single publication.
BY a majority of a single vote the
support fund of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College passed. 1t was a
compromise victory.
The Billiard amendment, objective
point of the liberals, raised the commit
tee appropriation $4,000. This sum
had already been expended. The short
age on the appropriation of last year
had been used to this extent to keep in
progress the work of this college. To
have refused this amendment would
have been to repudiate' the action of the
board or trustees of this school in their
action. Largely due to Brooks of NoXu-.
bee and Smith of Holmes. Nixon of Pike
and Mr.. George, son of the late United
States Senator j. Z. George, was this
victory for educational interests in Mis-
sissippi won. They represented physical
demonstrations of the finished product
of the schools of the State, and espe-
cially in the instance of the former, II.
H. Brooks, himself a graduate of the
Rallying the forces that had been hand
in hand on the campus, these disciples
toobNNhe lead, and their aggressiveness
la4 ,eeptrolled the verdict. Defend
in& aeulty that had been their fac
ulty against a TRADE of insinuation, in
nuendo and abuse, and championing this
cause of their paters until the last, they
had proven their patriotism. The oppo-
sition this increased appropriation en-
countered was not all of passion and
prejudice; there were calm and cool de-
carnations against the Billiard amend
ment. There were those who stood for
committee Endorsement. The vote on
the Billiard amendment, defeating the
committee recommendation, was 81 for
as against Sc opposed. On the final
passage of the bill the vote was " for
and but "a against.
The renewal of this contest on the
floor of the House began with the recog-
milton of Mr.. Nixon by Speaker Thomas.
Mr.. Nixon spoke from the viewpoint OF
a Hberalist. He regarded this as one OF
the most vitality important subjects
pending before the Mississippi Legisla-
ture. He stated that he came from a
section which tradition had connected
with slow PRESSURE" but so long as he
had been a South Mississippi representa-
tive in the House he had never east a
vote to reduce a single appropriation,
and that he yet had the first time to be
rebuked or approved for his action by his
constituency. "My people believe in the
future of this great State" said Mr..
Nixon, "and are in favor with the meas
ures that tend to upbuild her instltu.
tons" He wanted the high standard OF
education established in this State con-
tinued for all time. He spoke briefly on
the charges that had been made connect
ING graft and lobbying with this meas
IRE. He deied any member to cite N
such instance. The officers of the in
%stitution came to Jackson to talk with
the committees. 1t was making a prop
err account of their stewardship. If they
had failed to come, it would be insinu-
ated that there was some reason ana
that tbey were ashamed to show their
faces. iSThey are men of high character
and b;oh standing" said Mr.. Nixon, and
If thew have been overzealous it is but
that their lives and hopes are
an The success of the enterprises over
which they preside" Closing his re-
marLs be said: "When we begin to
clip the wings of our State institutions,
dop,t lot us begin with the Agricultural
and Mechanical School, for if we do we
will n;,re one of our foremost educa-
tional interests"
An act authorizing Okitibbeha county
to nav for certain stock destroyed by
order Of its Board of Supervisors; passed.
The Committee on Ways and Means
renorted favorably ON the Brooks bill,
Which provides for coal oil inspections
and furnishes protection from the sale
or introduction of inferior oil for illum-
mating purposes. n..,,:.as
and Grounds reported favorably on a
measure to sell the old mansion lot,
where now stands the Governors home.
-, ,.-.oa ~ ,rovant oates from