The Forrest City times., 1909-04-30
LEGISLATIVE NEWS

giving packet companies the right of eminent domain to condemn land for landing purposes. had a stormy time for few minutes Senator Wingo sent up an amendment exempting 1 Bear creek. Sevier county. from the provisions of the bill. Senator Pat lerson wanted the White and Cache rivers exempted The bill provides that transportation companies may condemn land for landing purposes on any naTigable stream or on any creek or bayou emptying into a nayigable stream Senator Wingo explained that there are lumber mills along Bear creek and that the stream is used in a small way for trans portatiou pur- poses. He claimed that under the bill one lumber corporation might form packet company and take up the landings 10 the exclusion of other companies and monopolize the nayi- gatien on Bear creek The bill with all amendments was referred to the judiciary committee
 Governor Donaghey has attached his signature 10 the Patterson state capitol bill. discharging everybody connected with the construction of the state capitol and annulling the old Caldwell & Drake. contract. This leaves the whole situation in a rather unique status, as no one affected by the provisions of the bill has ever stated definitely what will be his course in the event the operation of the bill is begun. The members of the proposed board of adjustment have not given out whether they have consented Or not to serve in arbitrat- ing the differences between the state and the contractors, nor have the con- tractors given out any definite state ment as to their intention to abide by their discharge without legal pro ceedings of some sort. No action of any sort is probable under the bill, however, until the legislature acts upon some follow-up bill for appro- priations.
 Many complaints are being made on the bad condition Of the present state house and especially the cham Der in which the House holds it's ses- slons. In the past few weeks so many members have suffered with violent headaches and general all-around sick feeling that the matter has caused comment. IL Is well known that the House chamber is unsani- tafy because of the old carpets and fact that dirt and germs have been i almost imbedded in the woodwork. i floors and walls of the chamber. The 1 force of janitors devote much time l To cleaning the chamber and the
 work is done thoroughly, but no amount of work could remove what ages have created and accumulated.
 The bill introduced in the House | by Mr. Vim of Pulaski providing for the leyying of a tax of l per cent on the gross receipts of all railroads, ca nal and transportation companies, is almost identical wth law in effect Tn Pennsylvania It is estimated that the Dill, If made a law, would bring sloo,VV0 year To the state. The bill provides that the tax shall be paid semtannually and that the governor shaii appoint special tax commfs. Sloner 10 look after the tax. The bill
 also provides that one-half the tax shall go 10 the general revenue fund
 and one-half to the common school fund
 Senator Carlock has probably given the tariff more study than any mem Der of the Senate, if not of the entire 1 legislature. He has watched the prog. ress of the protective tariff bills since l the Civil war and studied the sched
 ules prior 10 the war He finds a tar. iff of about U per cent is now imposed and that the laborer only receives about 20 per cent of the product of his labor The senator points out that the difference between the per cent of tariff and the per cent going 1 to labor goes into the pockets of the manufacturers and amounts 10 the same thing as bonus from the Amer. iean people
 Senator Rowland is said 10 have made the statement that he could not support the deficiency bill for the penitentiary unless the item for the services of a special physician was stricken from the bill On roll call Senator Rowland supported the bill. He said that he had not changed his mind relative 10 the item. but that he did not on that account alone wish 10 stand in the way of paying claims that he thought were just due the merchants who had supplied the pen. ifentiary.
 If the DeRositt fish and game bill Is passed any bona fide residen. of Arkansas may fish Or hunt in any county of the state without a license. but must have a card of identifca- tion Nonresidents must obtain q Ii. eense and part with Sl5 for it. An unnaturalized foreigner may get Ii. cense by paying S25 The bin pro yides that the governor shall appoint a chief deputy state game and fish