The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-03-05
SENATE WILL
DEFEAT BILL.
BILL MAKING THIS PROVISION
PASSED THE HOUSE LAST
WEEK But IL TABLED IN
IN SENATE.
Gov. Noel Thinks Mansion a Dis
credit-No Reduction in Passenger
Rates at This 5essiOn-0ther
Interesting Legislative News.

1t is now assured beyond all reas-
enable doubt that Mississippi will
not have constitutional prohibition
After having almost given up the
fight, advocates of the measure ia
the house last Wednesday passed a
bill providing for a constitutional
amendment prohibiting the sale Of
liquor within the borders of the
State. The bill came up on mo-
tion to reconsider the Jones amend
ment and passed the house by the
necessary two-thirds majority, the
vote having been ST to D. Two
more passages OF the bill are re-
quired, and it viii be then submitted
to the senate. It is here that the
amendment has met its Waterloo for
One-half of the members Of this body
are opposed to it and it viii require
a two-thfrds vote to pass it. 1t is
therefore apparent that constitutional
prohibition is a dead issue, insofar as
the present legislature is concerned. /
Gov Noel has addressed to the
legislature special message con
cerning the condition of the gov
ernOr's mansion and the future dis
position of the property. For some
time past the mansion has been in a
dilapidated state, and no repairs have
been made for the reason that the
sale of the property has been under
consideration. The mansion is cen
traIly located and the lot on which it
stands is therefore very valuable |
It has been suggested that the State
sell the building and erect for the |
governor a new residence. Gov. /
Noel, however, does not like this !
idea. He points out that the lot on |
which the mansion stands was do |
mated to the State, and therefore cost
the people nothing He declares |
that the fact that the building is cen
trally located is a strong reason why !
it should continue to be used as a |
by the chief executive of |
the State. The services of the gov |
ernor are In constant demand, and |
Gov. Noel declares that his residence |
should be centrally located, so as to |
be easily accessible at all times. He |
therefore advises that the State re- |
tain possession of the mansion, and |
have the building thoroughly repair
ed and refurnished throughout
From present indications, the |
legislature will take no action re- |
garding the reduction of passenger |
rates on railroads during its present |
The bill providing for a re-
duction of rates has been unfavorably |
by the committee on rail
roads, and this means that the meas
ure is practically dead. Early in the
session there was considerable dis
position on the part of members of
both houses to follow the example of
other states and enact legislation pro-
viding for a reduction in passenger
rates Railroad officials have, how
ever, been making heroic efforts to
prevent any action in the matter, and |
their work seems to have been most
effective. They have succeeded in
securing a reversal of opinion on the
part of the law makers, and notwith-
standing the fact that Col. Russell
yice-president of the Mobile & Ohio
agreed 10 institute a rate of
two-and-one-half cents mile, it
seems that Mississippians will be !
to continue to pay the
same old rate of three cents for ev-
cry mile travelled.