Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-05-22
require them to organize as Arkansas

Not only bucketshops but all kinds of institutions in which trading in fu' lures might be conducted were ban ished from Arkansas by the Moore Heartsill anti-futures bill. The 1eel' ing against cotton speculation came primarily. from the farmers, who be- lieye that such speculation operates to the disadvantage of the growers ol the staple, but there was large ele' ment that was opposed to cotton spec ulation on the ground that it was slm- ply gambling and did not partake ol the character of legitimate industry A smaller element asked that the leg islature should permit dealing in fu- lures for legitimate purposes, but thls voice was drowned out by the shouts of those who see nothing but evil III cotton speculation.
 This legislature showed It's oroao- ness in raising number of ofhclal salaries. That of the governor was increased from $3,000 to $4,0oo a wear. those of supreme court jus tices from $3,000 to $4,O0o a year. those of chancellors were made uniform at $2,500 year. A bill to make the salaries of the circuit judges throughout the state S2,5OO year failed.
 In the matter of good roads leglslation, the Arnold bill allows the organization of improvement districts to build country roads just as improvement districts are organized in cities to pave streets. Another bill gives the counties the right to work roads by contract where a road tax has been levied. The Abercrombie bill for working conyicts on the public roads was caught in the crush at the end of the session and defeated, appar- ently because the bill was changed in the house with respect to what counties 1t should apply to and time did not remain to reconcile the diff ferences between the house and the senate. The passage of this biI would probably meant a new era in good roads construction in Arkan, sas, for once the people saw stone highways built by convict labor we believe they would decide that that was the best use to which conv;cts could be put.
 In addition to passing a large number of local levee and drainage bills. the legislature authorized the St.. Francis levee district to issue $5OO,00O in bonds.
 A number of important acts were passed concerning police matters. The Amis bill stopped the horse races at Hot Springs by prohibiting pool selling and has practically banished horse racing in Arkan- sas. The Lee anti-iug bill throws barriers in the way of the ship ment of liquor into dry counties. The Mckenzie anti-cigarette bill needs no explanation. It goes into effect January 1 next, but if it is not enforced any better than the present law forbidding the sale of tobacco to minors it will be dead letter. The Saunders bill pro- hibiting the issuance of saloon li- censes except in incorporated towns is designed to break up the il- censed sale of liquor on plantations and other places in the country. The Leigh child labor bill is for the protection of children working in factories. The Greenhaw pure food bill is a copy of the national act on the same subject.
 Several bills were passed dealing with penological matters. The Lee parole bill provides for board to IeledSe cOuNlclS OH pFOUdllOu, WulCH is the plan followed in many states. An appropriation was made for the furnishing and equipping of the re- form school. which has just been opened and to which youths under the age of IS, who have been con- victed of felonies, will be sent. The Patterson bill allowing 75 cents a day for feeding each prisoner has been criticised since it was put on the statute books and an effort was made to repeal it on the grounds that the compensation is unduly generous Another bill prescribes regulations for the penitentiary and makes an appropriation for finish ing the new penitentiary.
 Action was taken to make effective Constitutional Amendment No. s which permits the state and counties