The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-03-05
LEGAL SLAVERY
rs HENCEFoRTH PROHIBITED
IN MISSISSIPPI.
HEBRON BILL PASSED
And There Will Be No More Convict
Leasing BY So-Called Contrac-
tors. of County and State
Prisoners.

cdChSOl, MlSS.-A notable Victory
for the advocates of county prison
reform and for putting an end to the
leasing of county convicts was scored
to-day when the Senate, by a vote
OF 70 ID, on reconsideration, passed
the Hebron bill, prohibiting the leas-
ing of county convicts to so-called
contractors. There was a spirited
and long-drawn-out conflict on the
floor, but those who favor a depar-
ture from the custom Of putting hui
man beings in a state of serfdom,
which life on the county farm in
many cases amounts to, won out by
argument, and literally snatched vic
tory for tine jaws of defeat. The fact
that a motion to reconsider was en-
tered does not feaze Senator Hebron
and those who have stood with him,
who realize that it only means added
votes when the time for a final de-
clslon to lay on the table arrives.
Will Hardly Sell Capitol.
After full and free discussion
the Senate by decisive vote, laid
on the table the McGehee bill, pro-
vldlng for the sale of the old capitol
and grounds, or rather, recommit the
bill. Just what the committee will
do Is an open question.
To Reduce T.icensa
Mr.. McLaurin called up S. B. 155,
Mr.. Potter's bill to reduce the privi-
aege licenses of agents writing indus
trial sick and accident insurance pol
icies only, to So. Mr.. Potter explain
ed the provisions of the bill, when it
was passed by vote of % to 0.
Elective Judiciary Defeated.
In the Senate the elective judiciary
amendment to the constitution was
defeatd by vote of % to Is, after
debate that consumed the entire fore
noon. The feature Of interest in the
House was the passage of the privilege
tax law, the bill allowing counties to
make new land assessments this wear.
and the second reading and passage
OF the amendment for constitutional
prohibition.
Adair Bill Recommitted.
House Bill No. 417-In relation to
regulation of banks and banking was
called up by the author, Mr.. Adair,
Printed copies were on the desks
and members were familiar with the
bill. Numerous amendments were in
troduced, some of which were voted
on, but before a consideration of the
patched-up bill could be reached a
motion to recommit to Committee on
Banks and Banking prevailed
Was Not in Regular Form.
The Committee on Enrolled Bills
presented report of several bills
which had been enrolled and were sent
to the Speakers desk, and the usual
rule of suspension of business OBJ
tained while the tSpeakr attachd his
signature to the measures. One of
these, the Tallahatchie Drainage Dis
trict bill, the Speaker pointed out
was not in form, as thprovisions of
the space provided, but, instead, the
sections as contained in the printed
bill had been cut out and pasted in,
In order tc save time and labor, as
it is an unusually long document. Had
it been a House bill he would not
have signed it in that shape, but out
Of courtesy to the Senate he would
/. not withhold his signature, as the
bill originated in that body. There
are many objections to the engross-
ment of bill in that way, one of the
principal of which is the fact that
it would be easy for the bill, in whole
or In part, to be lost or stolen, and
it is not exactly constitutional eth
er.
Railroad Rate Unchanged.
Mr.. Foster, from the Committee on
Railroads, reported back all six of
the bills which had been before his
Committee as measures to enact rail
road rate laws, including 2 and 2 IL
cent propositions, in regard to all of
which was the recommendation that
they do not pass.
The Committee pointed out as their
reasons for an unfavorable report
are: Because of the financial con-
dition of the country, the stringency
and depressed conditions Of trade,
and innumerable petitions from
boards of trade, commercial bodies
and other organizations in the state
having reached your Committee re-
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