Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1908-03-12
A DEATH STRUGGLE
This Is How Our Correspondent
Characterizes Senatorial Fight
and Local Option Bill.
ALL OTHER INTERESTS SUFFER

Session of Kentucky Legislature Hal
Over and Practically Nothing Has
Been Done, Nor Is There Much Pros
pect OF Anything Being Done Unit
the Senatorial Deadlock Is Broken
Interesting Notes on the Tense Sit
uation Prevailing at Frankfort
Frankfort, Ky. Feb. 1s.-The sena.
torial race and the county unit local
option bill are still in the throes of a
death struggle that is liable to drag
every other interest into it's vortex
and all sink or swim as result OF
that struggle. The session is over half
gone and practically nothing has been
done. Both sides are afraid To vote
on any important legislation for fear II
may have some effect on the sena.
torial fight. The tobacco legislation
is being neglected, school legislation
is being neglected. in fact everything
is being postponed or neglected The
legislative bodies remain In session
but a short time each day and seem
positively averse 10 doing any serious
work. The Democrats say the county
unit bill will pass the house this week
while the Republicans say IL will not
Those who claim to be the best posted
say, inst as they did last week. that a
senator will not be elected till the
county unit bill is disposed OF finally
In some way. OF course there are all
kinds OF rumors about H. One man
will tell YOU that he heard a Democrat
who has been voting for Beckham
say II Bradley could get enough votes
70 tie Beckham he would walk out OF
the house and not vote on that ballot.
thus electing Bradley. Another man
will tell you that he has heard three
or four Republicans who are strong for
:he county unit bill say that II the
few liquor Democrats try 10 combine
with the Republicans and elect anyone
but Bradley. they will vote for Beck
ham. Still another man will tell you
that the county unit bin has nothing
10 do with it and that Bradley will win
as soon as one OF the Democrats In the
house is unseated. which event will
occur ibis week or next.
This legislature is not far behind
its predecessors In the number OF
scare crow" bills before a. By scare
crow" bills is meant bills that are in.
troduced just 10 scare some corpora.
ton or some interest into doing some
thing or paying something to have the
bill defeated. A story is told on one
green member that he asked an old
member how he could get some rail.
road passes for his friends. He was
told that the proper and usual way
was 70 introduce a bill TO require all
railroads 10 push their trains with 10
comotives instead OF pulling them. He
drew up the bill and was about to
offer IT, but his joking friend found II
out Just in time 10 prevent Il. The
AVERAGE new member wishes 10 make
. record" too. and keeps his cam
paign promises by introducing bills
on all imaginable subjects. The titles
10 these bills are published in the
newspapers and usually that is the
last ever heard Of them. for they die
IN the committee and the author re.
turns home and tells how he made a
desperate effort to have his important |
measures passed. but he could make |
no Roadway because the corporations |
fought them. when as a matter OF fact !
no corporation probably ever heard of /
his bills. They have made rec |
cord" though, and usually run for |
congress on II. then retire 70 The cool !
iIg shades oF private life This is not |
always the case. however for five Of |
the Kentucky congressman. viz \ u I
James. Ben Johnson. v Kiwlau |
Harvey Helm and John l.anVl.v nave /
eerved in the Legislature CONGRESS- |
men ollie James. Oweloy Stanley /
Swsgar Sherley. Joe Rhinock. ! y /
Bennett and ID. c Edwards had never ,
served ia the legislature
During the first two weeks Of this
session II looked Ike every member
Of the legislature wanted TO have the
honor OF introducing bill 10 repeal
,ho dog-tax law. Two or three bills
were introduced every day to repeal
L. and Il was freely predicted that the
hr., bill passed would be one 10 take
the tax of OF dogs. A change has
taken place. however. and now II
seems very doubtful IL the tax Is re.
Dealed at all Nearly all these repeal
bills were the result OF campaign
promises, the candidates pledging
themselves TO introduce a bill TO re-
peal the dog tax as soon as the legis-
allure met. They have kept the prom.
ses, but now the sheep men are max.
nc themselves felt. Several deloga.
ions of farmers from different conn.
les have appeared before the commit
ees having the bills in charge and
while the discussions have been warm
md the anti-dOs-taX men have Ieen in