St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-05-16
LEGISLATURE MEETS.
Both Houses Getting in
Trim for a Big Rush
of Business.
The Guinness Horror At
tracts Large Number
TO Scene of Crime

DnLOA AsOuSCS AnsS 40oy AAs 'AOAA
out contest on the floor of either
the House or the Senate for any Of
flee, from president pro tenn. and
speaker down to doorkeeper, the
General Assembly of 1908 was to-day
organized and entered upon its event
full career.
Senator T. C. Barret, of caddo, was
elected President Pro Tenn. of the
Senate by unanimous vote, after his
nomination had been seconded by
Senator T. J. Liable, Of st. Martin
and Senator Joseph Voegtle, of Or
leans, both of whom had been candi-
dates at one time.
Representative Henry Garland Du-
pre- was elected Speaker of the House
without a dissenting vote, after ne
had been warmly seconded by Repre-
sentative Lee Thomas, of Shreveport,
and Representative F. A. Tate, of
Assumption, who had been candidates
in opposition.
Harmony and peace were so para
mount to-day that it was scarcely be-
lieveable that these were the same
legislators who arrived here Friday
and Saturday and participated in the
hot fight over these two leading hon
ors.
Both houses elected their offiesrs
and then named Committees on Or
ganization to work out details.
The attendance on the opening day
established new record. Out of lis
members of the House every one was
present and ia were sworn in, the
only remaining one, Honorable N. S.
Dougherty, of East Baton Rouge, on
the advice of his friends, decided not
to take the legislative oath until after
June /, when his term as sheriff Of
that parish will have expired.
It was shown that had he taken the
oath to-day he would by that act have
vacated the Sheriff. s Office, if anyone
choose to question his right to hold it.
In the Senate, out of forty-one
members, forty were present and took
the oath of Office. James M. Nugent,
of Rapides, was the only absentee.
The passage of concurrent reso-
luton, introduced in the upper house
by Senator C. C. Cordill, vitalizing
and perpetuating the Port Investiga-
tion Commission until June l, was the
first legislative act Of this General
Assembly. Despite the rush Of or
ganization and swearing in of mem
bers, Senator Cordill gave the reso-
luton birth in the Senate by which the
| life of the Commission will be extend
ed until it can complete its labors and
make it's report. He said this could
be done by June /. The commission
was legally dead to-day, and would
have been shorn of all its powers had
not the Cordill resolution been rail
roaded through.
Passing the Senate without oppo-
sition, the measure was rushed across
the marble hall and into the House,
where it was seized upon and under
a suspension of the rules, was passed.
The Commission will meet in New
Orleans on May IA and complete its
report.
The other legislative feature of the
initial day also originated in the Sen
ate when Senator John Marks, of AS
sumption, sprang resolution on thai
body inviting Governor John A. John
son, of Minnesota, presidential candi
date, here, to address the Legislature
on Taxation and Assessments. Evi
IDENTIFY fearing that a blanket invita-
tion to Governor johnson might lool
| like dabbling in national politics ant
committing the State Of Louisiana t.
the johnson camp, as against Bryal
or Culberson or some other Demo
cratic candidate, the Senate sat upol
the Marks resolution, and Senate
Voegtle, of Orleans, objected whel
Mr.. Marks asked for unanimous con
sent for suspension of the rules t
pass it.
Senator Marks declared to-nigh
that there was no politics in his resc
luton, and that he will amend it tc
morrow so as to also include Williar
Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska an
Charles A. Culberson, of Texas, i
his invitation.
The Marks incident in the Senat
to-day has led to the discovery ths
there is good-sized spark Of Johnso
sentiment in the Louisiana Stat
Legislature that might easily b
famed into flame if nurtured proper
ly. Mr.. Marks, however, denies mos
positively that he had any intentio
whatever Of launching Johnson bool
here.
Il do not believe in bringing
Louisiana Candidate Bryan, Candidat
johnson or any other candidate
boost his political prospects, " sal
Senator Voegtle tonight, in explain;
tion of his objection.
Having settled the presiding officers
the rush for committee assignment
il now on, and the representatives 81