The Green Forest tribune., 1909-04-30
LEGISLATIVE NEWS

 river transportation in Arkansas by giving packet companies the right of eminent domain to condemn land for landing. purposes, had a stormy time for a few minutes. Senator Wlngo sent up an amendment exempting Bear creek, Sevier county, from the provisions of the bill. Senator Pat terson wanted the White and Cache rivers exempted. The bill provides that transportation companies may condemn land for landing purposes On any navigable stream or on any creek or bayou emptying into navigable stream. Senator Wingo explained that there are lumber mills along Bear creek and that the stream is used in small way for transportation pur- poses. He claimed that under the bill one lumber corporation might form packet company and take up the landings to the exclusion of other companies and monopolize the navi- gation on Bear creek. The bill with all amendments was referred to the judiciary committee.
 Governor Donaghey has attached his signature to 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- sfons. In the past few weeks so many members have suffered with violent headaches and a general all-around sick feeling" that the matter has caused comment. It is well known that the House chamber is unsani- tary because of the old carpets and fact that dirt and germs have been almost imbedded in the woodwork, floors and walls of the chamber. The force of janitors devote much time 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 MT. Winn of Pulaski providing for the leVy1ng of tax of ] per cent on the gross receipts of all railroads, ca nal and transportation companies, is almost identical with a law in effect in Pennsylvania. It is estimated that the bill, if made law, would bring $100,O00 year to the state The bill provides that the tax shall be paid semi-annually and that the governor shall appoint a special tax commits sioner to look after. the tax. The bill also provides that one-half the tax shall go to 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 legislature. He has watched the prog ress of the protective tariff bills since the Civil war and studied the sched- ules prior to the war. He finds a tar if of about 57 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 to labor goes into the pockets of the manufacturers and amounts to the same thing as a bonus from the Amer ican people.
 Senator Rowland is said to 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 to the item, but that he did not on that account alone wish to o"stand in the way of paying claims that he thought were just due the merchants who had supplied the pen itentiary.
 If the DeRositt fish and game bill is passed any bona fide resident of Arkansas may fish Or hunt in any county of the state without a license. but must have card of identifica- tion. Nonresidents must obtain a li- cense and part with $15 for it. An unnaturalized foreigner may get li- cense by paying $25. The bill pro- vides that the governor shall appoint chief deputy state game and fish warden at a salary of $1,S00 and nee essary travelling expenses.
 Great activity is apparent among members of both houses in attempting to rush their favorite bills to passage before the session ends.
 A concurrent resolution was adopt ed in the Senate urging the Brother hood of Railway Trainmen to hold it's 1910 annual convention in Hot Springs. The 1909 convention will be