Washington telegraph., 1909-05-07
With The
Legisla lators

VIII elect preSlQent pro tempofe.
The office is simply honorary, except
that in case of the death, resignation
or disability Of the governor the pres
ident pro tempore of the Senate
would become the acting governor.
There have been no open announce
ments for the position as yet, but
1t is understood that Senators Fletch-
er, Rasco and Henderson will be in
the race. The names of James Rob-
ertson and John H. Holland have also
been mentioned in connection with
the race. The president pro tenn
pore must be chosen from holdover
member of the Senate.
The Leigh bill, providing for the re-
moval of the University of Arkansas
from Fayetteville to Little Rock and
the creation of the University of Ar
kansas Improvement District in Little
Rock, was defeated in the House by
a vote of 40 to 32. A motion by Mr..
Hurst of Washington to Indefinitely
postpone further consideration Of the
measure was under discussion one en-
tire day and finally carried The mo-
tion means the defeat of the bill. The
removal bill passed by the Senate is
yet to come up in the House.
The bill introduced in the House
by Mr. Gam Of Benton, providing that
all localities may have the power to
organize special school districts the
cop,a &c ;noorDorotad touync oud eit-
les of the first and second class. If
passed will result in the abolishment
of much local legislation each session
of the legislature. A large portion of
the time at each session is consumed
in considering local measures and OF
these measures bills creating special
school districts form no small per
cent.
The bill introduced in the House
by Mr.. Holt of Hampstead, which pro-
vides for the creation of the Arkan-
sas vieksburg Military Park Commits
sion, provides further that the COM
mission shall be composed of three
ex-Confederate veterans, who shall be
appointed by the governor. An ap-
preparation of 81 900 is also provided
for in the bill for the erection of
markers where the Arkansas troops
stood on the vicksburg battiefieid-
DarIng the discussion of the unfver-
sity removal bill in the House Mr..
Williams of Washington quoted the
low prices of board at Fayetteville
end argued that the prices in Little
Rock would be much higher Would
you mind going with me to a wagon
yard where | get mine for S5?" asked
Mr.. Ard amid the roars OF the House.
81 thought that was where the gentle
man from Jackson stayed" replied
Mr.. Williams.
The Witt text book bill has been
passed by the House. The bill, how
ever, will be imperative unless the
Senate amends it, as it now provides
that the State Text Book Commission
shall be appointed in April, 1909 If
the Senate amends the bill so as to
make it operative, the measure will
scarcely have time to get back to the
House in time for that body to concur
in the amendment, is the belief ex-
pressed by several members.
At the instigation of the author, the
Winn bill, levying a tax of one per
cent on the gross receipts of trans
portation companies, will be amend
ed SO as to provide for tax of only
one-half per cent. 1t was the origi-
nal intention of Mr. Winn to have the
bill provide for one-half per cent
tax, but through an inadvertence it
provides for one per cent
A bill introduced in the House by
Mr.. Thompson of independence relat-
ing to the regulation of disorderly
resorts in cities of the first and sec
ond class, provides that such houses
must be moved out of any block upon
petition of three property owners of
that block. 1t is the purpose of the
bill to make it easier to direct the
location of such places.
The pages of both branches of the
General Assembly will be sorry when
the session ends, if no others should
feel the same. While it has not been
altogether a picnic for the boys who
have jumped to the beck and call of
the legislators, they have enjoyed it.
Some of the boys have saved the per
diem allowed them and have put snug
sums in the bank.
A marked antipathy to long discus
sions or debates has been displayed
in the House, as debate cuts off ac-
ton on other measures and the pre-
vious question will probably be mov-
cd In n h11rru ON oil dicnnccinnn II, |