The Grenada sentinel., 1906-04-07
HOUSE.

HUUSE.
Complete abolishment of the present
board of control, the. creation of new
board of trustees to be composed Of
three members elected by the people and
q superintendent to be appointed by the
governor are the prime features of the
bill passed by the house for the future
management of the State penitentiary
of the State of Mississippi. With slight
amendments the measure passed the
lower body as it appeared from the com.
mittee on peniteitnary.
When the chapter on salaries came
up heated debate ensued on the ques-
tion of the fees of the Insurance COM
missioner. The senate had amended this
section So that after 1908 his salary
would be $4,000, instead of fees, as at
present.
Mr. Ross offered an amendment max.
ing the salary of $500 apply from the
passage of the law under consideration.
Mr. Ross amendment carried, and then
a further amendment was passed allow.
ing the insurance commissioner 1000
each annually for two clerks and $500
for travelling expenses.
A department of agriculture is the
latest addition to the executive branch
of the government of the State of Mis-
sissippi, for the measure creating the
office passed the house, having previously, RI
secured the approval of the upper body.
The lower body tackled on two amend.
ments, one reducing the salary of tthe !
commissioner to $4,000 and the other
eliminating altogether the bureau of inn
migration which the senate sought to
have as an adjunct of the department
These two differences between the sem
ate and house will be thrashed out by
q conference committee, and if they
are settled the bill will then only await.t
the signature of the governor to become
a law.
The question of the appropriation of
81 900 for the old ladies' home at Jack
son received its fatal death blow, at
least so far as this session was con-
cerned, when the house voted to table
the motion to reconsider by a; vote OF
SO to A.
Another motion to reconsider was
tabled relating to the crea ton of the
department of agriculture, the members
themselves as being satisfied
with the elimination of the immigration
feature. <sr
Mr. Wells offered an amendment to
the chapter on insurance. His amend
ment required life insurance companies
to invest one half of the premiums col
lected in this State in State, levee,
and school bonds of this State,
or to loan the money on lands in this
State The amendment was defeated by
q vote of % to rs.
During the revision of the insurance
laws of the State bills were passed for
bidding any foreign fire insurance CON-
panv from doing business in Mississippi
unless it had paidup capital stock OF
100000; requiring all life insurance
companies to deposit with the State
treasurer one-half of their capital stock,
either in cash or assets, and giving thee
insurance commissioner the power and
authority to compel all companies to"
produce before him all their books ands
10 compel the officers of every company;
in this State to give testimony.
The house then took up the chapter,
,n pensions, and it was adopted with few
minor amendments suggested by Chair.
man Denton of the pension committee
It was during the consideration of this
chapter that Messrs. Denton, Arnold and.
Talbot took the floor to oppose the strik.1,
ng out Of the section giving pensions;
10 negro servants of soldiers during the.
war.
The house locked horns with the SEN,
lte and refused to exempt money loaned
It per cent. and money on deposit from
'axation, the speakers against the bill
claiming that one was made for the
benefit OF the money lenders and tha