The Kemper herald., 1908-03-05

ing the present rates as they now
exist. And because, further, your
Committee is of the opinion that the
Railroad Commission OF this state
has full and sufficient power and ad-
equate authority to adjust and fix rea-
sonable rates.
Mr.. Nabors, of Alcorn, one of the
minority side of the Committee, gave
notice that a minority report i'll ia
vor of reasonable rate law would
be submitted later.
Discretionary With Supervisors.
The Senate bill allowing boards Of
supervisors in their discretion to put
down artesian wells in Jail, Court
House or county poorAouse yards, or
on county farms, was called up. There
were no Objectionable features, and
as there is no genera, tax for the
cost of such wells, and it is discre-
tionary with the supervisors whether
or not they will provide them, the
Bill passed.
Engle Telephone Bill Passes.
The Engle telephone bill amended
so as to invest the Railroad Commis-
sion with discretion, passed the SEN
ate.
To Punish Politicians.
The Yates bill. providing for the
punishment of those who use money
unlawfully. to promote selfish politi-
cal interests during elections, passed
the House with only one dissenting
vote.
Want Pure Food Law.
Petitions were presented from New
ton county asking for the passage of
pure food law, a privilege license
of $500 for peidlers and law fore
ing railroads to promptly settle
claims.
$4,000 for Oysters.
The House appropriated $4,000
for Oyster Commission work.
Cotton Tax Funds.
The joint resolution memorializing
Congress to release the war cotton
tax funds and distribute the money
among the sailors and the soldiers of
the Confederacy, or their widows pass
ed the House.
Appropriation Bills Passed.
The House passed bills for the sup
port of the East Mississippi Insane
Hospital, the Department Of Archives
and History, and to preserve archives
and records in the old State House.
Anti-Lobbyist Bill Fails.
Senator Engle, after bitterly assail-
ing lobbyists and some of his fellow
statesmen, attempted to secure the
passage of resolution framed after
the Sample measure of 1906, but it
failed by vote Of 26 to IL.
Elective Judiciary.
A favorable committee report was
to effect an amendment providing for
an elective Judiciary and to empower
the legislature to increase the su-
preme bench from three to five men,
bers.
Wants Boundary Line Defined.
Governor Noel submitted message
bearing on marking the oyster boun-
dary between the twin states, the
fund for the silver service for the
battleship Mississippi and other mat
tiers.
Senate Suggestions.
A message from the Senate was
read reporting the action of the up
per body on score or so Of bills,
among them the bill 20 equalize the
rights Of foreign public service cor
porations operating in the state; to
repeal the laws of 1884 by which the
Memphis and Vieksburg Railroad
Company was chartered; to appoint
three commissioners by the Governor,
to the. National Conference ON Uni
form Legislation; allowing six per-
emptory challenges in criminal trials
for offenses less than capital; raising
the limit of property held by pension
ers to 5000 in value; reducing the
price of the Mississippi Code of 1906
from $5 to 30 and several other hills
of a local character.
Y. and N. ". r. r. Criticised.
Mr.. Williams of Kinds, introduced
resolution roundly criticising the
officials of the Yazoo and Mississippi
Valley Railroad Company for the al
legged rocky condition of the Natchez-
Jackson branch. He wanted COM
mittee appointed to take trip over
that road only as far as Raymond,
and in his opinion that would satisfy
them that there was something rotten
along the line. Referred to the Rail-
road Committee.
Convict Leasing Prohibited.
Another victory was snatched from
the jaws of defeat when the senate
reconsidered and passed the Hebron
bill, prohibiting the leasing of county
convicts, which was defeated several
days since. The fight was one of the
hardest of the session, and there was
II \ 4