The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-03-01
THE MISSISSIPPI
LEGISLATURE
OUR CORRESPONDENTS WEEK
LY LETTER.
RESUME OF THE PAST WEEK
Subjects Legislation Recommended
and Acted Upon From Day to Day.
House and Senate Bills Passed and
Other Items of General Interest.

gOCUcI 1GeIuS VI 00u040A AAoV1SSs'
The elective Judiciary amendment to
the constitution was lost in the SEN
ate by failing to secure the two-thirds
vote required to pass constitutional
amendment. An effort will be made
to reconsider later, and the friends OF
the measure hope to get it through,
The opposition senators urged that
there was no reason for changing the
present system of appointing the
judges and that there was no demand
for change by the people, and dfurther
that the election of judges by dis
tricts instead of by the whole people
of the state would afford opportunity
for politicians to, secure control OF the
Judiciary.
The legislative Assembly of Miss
issippi will never recognize anything
that pertains to the shortening OF the
usual work-day. Anything that
might smack of the eight-hour propo-
sition would be hooted at. An express
sion was given by the house that will
forever discourage any enthusiasts
for an eight-hour day in this state.
The question arose under discus
sion of the Code chapter on munich
palities. That part of this chapter
which provides for road taxes requires
that the sum of three dollars must be
paid in tax, or in lieu thereof that
six days labor must be given to the
improvement of the public roads, each
of those days to consist of ten hours
work.
Mr.. Bynum offered substitute to
that law which sought to reduce the
hours of work each day to eight.
Immediately the subject was taken
up, several elamoring for recognition
from the speaker. Mr.. MCGEE obtain
ed the floor. He thought any such
recognition of an eight-hour day
would establish a very dangerous pre-
cedent in Mississippi. 1t would be
virtually recognition of the eight
hour movement and would give it en-
dorsement. Within a short time, he
thought, workingmen about Jackson
and other cities would be clamoring
for a reduced work day. They would
have the legislative action to point to
in recognition of their claim.
With but very few dissenting votes
the senate adopted Murray F. Smith s
resolution providing for the appoint
ment by the governor of commits
sion to investigate and report upon
the states free public school system.
While advocating the passage OF the
resolution Senator Hightower went
on record as being opposed to the ap-
pointment of college men on this COM
mission on the groynd that they were
visionary and impractical. The SEN
ate accepted an invitation to Visit the
Natchez Mardi Gras.
In the house the greatest storm OF
the session was raised when Mr.. Cole
man of Lefore introduced an amend
ment to the state University appropri-
alton bill excluding women from that
institution. In offering this resolu-
ton Mr.. Coleman declared that ever
since co-education had been introduc-
ed there had been something wrong
at the University. The amendment
was voted down and the bill passed
after the amount asked for new build
ings and other improvements had been
slashed and trimmed to almost nothing
Scarcely had calm been restored
when the house was again thrown in
to an exciting debate on the Agricul-
tural & Mechanical College appropri-
alton bill. In urging that the measure
be taken up for immediate considers
ton Mr.. Morrison asserted that a
shameless lobby" was at work in
the interest of increased appropria-
tions and that ga gigantic political
machine is being built up at the col
lege threatening to throttle thestate. +"
The debae ragged fast and furious until
adjournment and will be taken up
again in the morning.
In the senate an amicable and sat
isfactory settlement was reached in
the case of Senator Hightower, whose
right to sit on the finance committee
of the senate was recently challenged
by Mr.. Franklin of Lowndes, the mat
ter was referred to the committee on
rules and the committee reported it's
findings as follows:
"First- that rule was reported by
the committee on rules in 1904, which
is on record ON page 100 Of the senate
journal for 1904, providing that one
member be added to the finance COM
mittee. That Senator Hightower was
then appointed, although his name
does not appear in the journal, mem