Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1909-04-15
ST. FRANCIS
LEVEE BILL UP
HOUSE POSTPONES THE BILL
CHANGING THE MANNER OF
SELECTING LEVEE BOARD
DIRECTORS.
HOUSE ADJOURNS AT NOON
House Adjourned at Noon On Account
of the Death of Mrs. Jeff Davis
Few Bills Are Passed-One
Defeated.

The House did not dispose of a
great amount of business during the
Saturday session. Five new bills
were introduced, one defeated and
four local measures were passed. The
House was adjourned at - o'clock
on account of the death of Mrs. Da-
Wis, wife of Senator Jeff Davis.
In the early hours of the session
Mr.. Little called up House Bill No.
S79, Of which he is the author, pro-
Viding that st. Francis Levee Board
directors be elected in the future and
making other provisions for the board
and district. TIE bill was read the
third time and Mr.. Little briefly out
lined the purpose of the measure. He
stated that he had offered another
bill at the first of the session which,
in addition to the provisions of the
bill then before the House, changed
The representation of counties on the
board according to the amount of
taxes paid He explained, however,
that there had been some opposition
to that phase of the bill and that he
had withdrawn it and offered the sub
stitute He stated that the matter
had been an issue in his campaign.
Mr. Thompson of Craighead endorsed
the bill.
Mr. Jaskson of Phillips moved to
postpone the bill until next week. He
explained that he was opposed to the
bill, as his county was left out and
a controversy might arise over
bond issue Of the district in relation
TO his county. He also stated that
he desired the bill to be postponed
until representatives from other coun-
lies in the st. Francis district could
be present.
Mr. Clanton of Poinsett favored
postponement, urging that the House
defer action on the bill until Mr.
Russell of Lee returned. Mr.. Little
spoke against the motion. Mr.. Da-
Wis asked if Mr.. Little believed the
governor would sign the bill which
would take away the appointive pow
er from that executive.
Mr.. Ard asked why Mr.. Little was
not willing for Mr.. Shafer of Critten-
den and other representatives to be
present. Mr.. Little replied that he
did not know they were particularly
opposed to it; that his bill had al
ready been greatly delayed; that a
Senate measure would be in the
House Tuesday and he wanted the
bill passed before it reached the
House and also asked why it was that
representatives sent to the legisla-
ture to appear for their people were
not present to take care of their in
lerests.
The motion to postpone carried, 40
to 35,
The next feature was a discussion
over the calling up of House Bill No.
428 lHolt CT Hempstead), which re-
peaIs a part of the stock act enacted
into a law having been introduced
by this legislature. The bill which
was enacted into law hav-
ing been introduced by Mr..
HoN's colleague, Mr.. Monroe.
The bill was read the third time and
Air. Holt spoke in favor of it, stating
that his amendment exempted certain
portions of the county where the res
idents had 9etitioned for its repeal.
Mr.. Monroe opposed the bill and
declared that the majority of the
people wanted the law as it stood.
He showed a plat showing the effect
of the proposed law by Mr.. Holt, il
Illustrating that one section OF the
county which it was proposed to ex
empt was located in the middle Of
large territory which would remain
under the law. He read the names
of three signers Of the petition of
Mr.. Holt and declared they were
negroes. He declared that some one
is getting pay for this" but exoner-
ated Mr.. Hollis motives and declared
he believed his colleague was honest
in his contentious. Mr. Oliphant OPP
posed the bill.
The bill was defeated.
It is said that Governor Donaghey
has been consulted regarding the ap-
preparation bill now necessary for
the completion Of the state capitol
in view Of the passage of the Patter-
son bill. The Patterson measure pro-
yides for the termination Of the pres
ent contracts with the architects,
commission and contractors but
leaves unsettled the means to be
employed in finishing the building.
Governor Donaghey is reported to
have said that he hoped the idea
from now on would be to complete
the state capitol and in a manner and
with a sum the legislators may be-
neve is consistent with the wishes
of the people.
AS a result of the conference, how
ever, capitol completion bill will
probably be drafted
1t is reported the governor said
that as the matter progresses fur
the. he may have some suggestions
TO make. In the matter of appro-
priation," said the governor, "if the
legislature should appropriate too