Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-01-22

| IS every lnQlCdClOH LudL LIle present. session of the general assembly will be more essentially business session | than any that has been held for years. Both President Moore of the Senate and Speaker Hamiter of the House, in | taking their places, announced their determination to make this business session and the indications are that they have the support of the members | of both bodies in Carrying out these resolutions. The first week of the ses- sion was notable for the scarcity of what are generally known as freak bills. In point of fact there was not a single bill introduced that could be at the end of the first week there are at least a dozen. Every one of the bills already introduced deals with some topic of recognized interest and importance, with the exception of one or two local bills which have no gen. eral significance. While the delay in the organization of the House made the appointment of the committee last week impossible and thus delayed the { houses in getting down to their real work, the action of both bodies indi- cated what might be expected when the way is cleared for the transaction of business.
 The manner in which Representa- tive Ross tWo-cent rate bill was push ed through the House, being passed the next day after it was introduced, did not show this determination to dispose of business rapidly so much as it did a determination to enact this Legislation, for which it was declared there was a decided demand upon the part of the people. There was some indication on the part of some of the members to act more slowly in the matter, on the ground that such haste might result in some error which would render the law useless, but when it was seen that delay could not be secured, the House voted almost unanimously for the measure, only two votes being recorded against it. While there are three bills of a sim liar character pending in the Senate, it is generally believed that the Ross bill will be given preference and will have the right of way over all the Sem ate bills. The Ross bill was endors- ed by the Arkansas Travellers at their semi-annual meeting held here Sat- Iurday and it is generally believed that it will go through the Senate with al- most as much ease it did through the House. Unless there are some unfOr- seen delays, it is believed that the Ross bill will be in the hands of the governor inside of a week.
 Thirty-seven bills were introduced in the Senate during the first week of the session. Of these several are in- tended to promote the cause of good roads and provide for the working of the state convicts on the public roads. Several fellow-servant bills have been introduced in the Senate, and while it is generally believed that such a measure will be passed at this session, it will not be pushed through with such speed as has marked the pro- gress of the Ross 2-cent rate bill Special effort will be made to secure a bill which will stand the tests of the courts, as many laws of this charac- ter have been held unconstitutional by various courts. The legislature realizes that there is demand for the enactment of such law and there is little doubt that one of the bills pend ing will be passed.
 Of all the bills introdI ced during the first week the one which promises to develop the most determined fight is that introduced by Senator Amis, Prohibiting pool-selling and pool-buy- ing in the state of Arkansas The pre- sentation of this bill has been follow ed by a loud protest from Hot Springs. Mass meetings have been held and pe- petitions circulated. asking the legisla- ture to turn down the bill and the probabilities are that there will be a delegation of Hot Springs citizens in Little Rock from now on until some final action is taken on the bill. The protest is based upon the fact that the passage of he bill would necessarily prevent the holding of the proposed )60-day race meeting at Oaklawn park beginning February 4. and it is de- , clared that this would be hard blow to the business interests of HO, Springs. All the varied interests al the Arkansas Spa are wrought up over the situation and the hardest kind ol fight is in prospect
 After having had unrestricted rights upon the floors of the Senate and I