The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-01-08

lsion of population, some Of the dis
tricts having 10000, while others had
10000. The court went further and
said the present districts were in re-
atty unconstitutionally made up, but
as the elections In them had been
held for so many years, the act ere
ating them would not now be declared
unconstitutional because II would he
against pubic policy. IL IS always a
hard fight to pass satisfactory re-
districting bill, even where one politi-
cal party has big majority, but it will
| be especially so this year because of
| the almost even division Of the two
parties in the legislature. AS the pres
ent districts are considered TO be to
the advantage of the Democrats, it is
presumed the Republicans will make
the hardest fight to have new districts
created that will give a more equal
division Of population.
1t was expected two years ago that
the present legislature would be able
to hold it's sessions in the handsome
new statehouse, but no provision has
yet been made for furnishing the new
building and making it habitable. The
building itself is very near completion.
1t being all under roof except small
part of the center dome, and much of
the interior work is completed. 1t is
expected that It will take another APP
preparation OF $25O,OOO to pay for fit
ting up the new structure in proper
style with desks, file-boxes, carpets,
furniture, ETC., and the present legis-
lature will be asked to make the APP
preparation for that purpose. The to-
tai appropriations so far made for3the
new capitol amount to $1,250,000.
which will complete 1t, all but the fur
nishings According to the estimates
of the states financial of1cers, it will
not be necessary to increase the rate
of taxation to complete the new build
ing, as no increase was made when
the other appropriations were made
and especially as there is over a mil
lion dollar balance in the state treas
ury now.
Yesterday was moving day" at the
statehouse, all the new Republican Off
Gals taking charge, the Democrats re-
firing. In many of the Offices where
the work is necessarily complicated, a
number Of the old clerks will be re-
tanned for several months or until the
new clerks get trained for the work
It is expected, however, that in six
months all the Democratic clerks will
be replaced by Republicans.
The attorney general under the
present law Is allowed no clerks or
assistants, and is probably the hard
est-worked official in the statehouse.
A strong effort will be made this SEES
sion TO have a law passed providing
him with at least two assistants and d
stenographer.
Governor Wilson has been having a
strenuous time since his inauguration
a month ago, and what with Office
seekers, "night-riders, sad the com.
ing of the legislature, he has not been
"treading the primrose path Of dal-
lance" The governor has some fads
but they are fads that are tempered
with common sense. For instance, he
says he Will appoint no man to office
who applies for 1t and simply signs
the initials OF his first name. That is,
]. H. Smith will not be considered at
ALL but John H. Smith will be. He
says he has quit talking politics now
and is trying earnestly to be the gov
ernor for all the people and using ev-
cry means in his power, to enforce the
peoples laws that are on the statute
books.
Much has been said about the gov
ernor being placed on the national
ticket next year as a candidate for
vice president, but he positively for
bids any discussion of the subject. He
says he has been elected to serve as
governor for four ysers, and II he lives
he purposes 20 carry cut the contract
made with the people last election
day.
Probably the hardest nut the new
governor will have 10 crack will be the
settlement Of the tobacco situation and
the arrest and conviction Of the might
riders" who have been destroying to-
bacco warehouses in Hopkinsville and
Russellville. 1t is the general belief
that under the present laws 1t will be
almost impossible to hdict or convict
the might riders" because the mem
bership of the tobacco associations is
so large that 1t will be almost impossi |
BILE to get a jury that will not have
several friends and fellow-members of |
the might riders" on 1t. This being |
the case, the present legislature will |
be asked to evolve a new law by which :,
that class of law-breaksrs may be |
reached and punished. Governor Will |
sons recommendations along this line |
Ia his message to the legislature are
strong and to the point. He seems |
to have set his heart on solving this
question and is determined that the |
law shall be upheld and every mans
property and life made secure from
lawless groups of men who operate at |