The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-01-24
Eighth Day.
Senate.

Senate.
Senate was opened with PRAYER by
Rev. Hill. Lieut..Gov. Carter in tho
chair. Roll call showed quorum present.
Mr.. Logan asked permission to change
his vote on the inaugural appropriation
from aye to no, for constitutional rea.
sons, This being allowed, the bill was
declared lost.
The hour having arrived for the con.
sideration Of the governors veto mess.
age on the bank deposit back tax, Mr..
Hebron moved TO indefinitely postpone
the bill.
Mr.. Franklin of the Twcpt y-iftl!
spoke e~loquently for the passage of the
bill, which forbids the revenue agent
back taxing bank deposits.
Mr.. Leftwich made the point of or.
der that il vas out of order for this
Senate to attempt &c pass the bill over
the veto, as it is no longer Il live issue
before this body. He regards the bill as
dead, and as having been the child Of
another father, with the fate of which
this body has absolutely nothing TO do,
Mr.. Lcftwich spoke learnedly AS TO
his point of order, citing II number OF
authorities TO uphold his position.
The question at issue ONE up solely
upon the fact that the hill in question
wos originated in the last Senate, was
considered by their committees, was
vetoed by the governor, and, in the eyes
of some, is sent to this Senate solely
as a matter Of information, and not for
their action,
Mr.. Leftwich was elocuently upheld
in his view that the bill was dead by
Messrs. Berry and Mcdowell.
Mr.. Englc differed radically in his
view OF the question, believing IL to be
very much alive. Messrs. Gibbs, East,
Franklin of the T~hirty.first upheld his
position.
Mr.. Mahon, believing that the only
thing before the house was Mr.. Left
wich's point of order, agreed to Che
correctness Of the point, and thought
the Senate had TO answer this question,
"Will the bill pass, Notwithstanding the
governors veto?" and spoke with re.
markable clcarness in support of his
view.
The chair ruled that the point was
not well taken, in that the government
consists of three parts-cxecutive, Judi
cial and legislative. Thus the position
that the Legislature ceases to exist
overthrows the government, The Legis-
lature of 1917 Is the Legislature Of
today.
In a tlioughtfully considered speech to
the Senate, Gov. Carter demonstrated
the danger which lies in the consequences
of such u position as that taken by the
gentlemen opposing his position, and
pointed out one of several methods by
which the matter might again be
brought before the Senate.
Mr.. Cunningham thought the bill
must be considered at once. and made n
point Of order to that effect, but the
chair fuiled to sustain the point.
Mr.. Pollard thought the Senate should
be wary in its action on thin bill, lest
the Supreme Court have the opportuni'
tv to declare the act unconstitutional,
whereupon troubles and tribulations
would ensue.
The motion to indefinitely postpone
the bill brought on floods Of eloqnencc,
scores of requests for information"
dozens of points of order, but finally the
prevailing confusion gave way to order,
and Secretary Cliiles called the roll on
motion. and the bill was indefinitely
postponed.
The House session was opened with
prayer by Rev. DR.. Hutton of the First
Presbyterian Church, with II full at
tendance. :.
a.. Foster sent to the desk and had
n communication addressed to him
NJ X. Johnston Of Nicksburg,
Mon to the fact that cotton
seed .wceyil infested dis.
tricts Il NsAre being shlppen
into this NJ ~Ie was need
for investigate N2stment
restraining this ~ %pg-
gested that the matte ~s
fore the Legislature. Hes
that the shipment OF seed ~
southwestern counties in TIE
should be restricted, for the satH
sons of prudence and precaution.
was referred to the COMMITTEES
on agriculture.
Representative Wood Of Tate intro
luced a concurrent resolution proyid'
ing for a change In the rate OF poll tax,
Of one dollar per poll instead of two,
and in lien Of the other half OF the
poll tax rate to levy a special
md compulsory school tax of one DOL,
lar IN each male between 81 and go
years Of age. The effect OF this amend
,nent. If carried, would be to insure mt
|east one dollar from every male clti'
zen. even should he not elect to pay his
boil tax, which would be carried to the
school fund.
Ninth Day.
The principal legislative feature OF
.bc day was the final completion of the
Senate bill No. 4, providing for the re-
~Inction of the bond Of the State treas.
irer from $250,Oo0 to 100000. The
having been signed by the gov
,rnor. IL was returned to the Senate
Tor enprossing, and made ready for the
Of the Acknowledgements,
md has been made a part of the laws
1908. Under the provisions OF this
act George r. Edwards, Jr., can now
complete the arrangements necessary for
qualifying as State treasurer, and viii
inter on lis duties with the other State
Senate.
Tho session Of the Senate was also
,icnalized by the passage Of the Me-
Laurjn bill, providing for the care Of the
,aupers Of the county otherwise than
,y the orthodox county almshouse
method, the amount Of support IN this
way being limited to $f2 a month.
By Mr.. Lopgest--To amend section
1928 Of the code relative to carrying