The Green Forest tribune., 1909-05-07
PENITENTIARY RES
 OLUTION DEFEATED
HOUSE TURNS PLAN TO CHANGE METHOD OF HANDLING CON- VlCTS AND DEFEATS A
 CAPITOL BILL.
MUCH BUSINESS TRANSACTED
Legislature Makes Good Progress on a Number of Important Questions
 Militia Appropriation Allowed.

Militia Appropriation Allowed.
 The Oldham bill, providing for an appropriation of $175,000 out of which to pay Caldwell & Drake state cap itol contractors, any sum the arbi- tration commission might find is due them on their contract, absorbed the attention of the Senate after the eX- piration of the morning hour Mon day and almost uninterruptedly up to the hour of adjournment in the afternoon. The result of the discus sion was that adoption of an amend ment by Senator Pindall providing that the attorney general shall con duct the proceedings on the part of the state with the assistance of coun- sel to be appointed by the governor in looking after the legal end of the settlement the defeat of an amend ment requiring Caldwell & Drake to make a bond for S175,000 for the pro- lection of the state in case it was found they were indebted to the state and making the bill a special order. Plain words were used in the dis cussion by senators both in favor and opposed to the bill. Governor Donaghey came in for full share of criticism as we'll as the state capi tol contractors and the architect. Several senators were opposed to paying the contractors anything on account of their claims against the state, claiming that the passage of the Patterson bill discharging them was equivalent to a declaration that the state owed them nothing. They also claimed that if the Oldham bill providing for settlement with Cald- well & Drake was right, the Patter- son bill was wrong and should be re- pealed.
 The following bills passed the Sen ate:
 Senate Bill No 3S2 (Robertson), appropriating $2,400 to provide as sistance for the state superintend- ent of public instruction. Ayes 19, noes 12.
 House Bill No. 21S (KendalD, to repeal the four-wire fence law in Johnson county if desired by the property owners of the county. Ayes 21, noes A.
 Senate Bill No. PAP (Fletcher), re. quiring the Iron Mountain railroad to build a viaduct at Mulberry. Ayes 2S, noes 0.
 Senate Bill No. 226 (Fletcher), re- ducing appropriation of $6,000 for re- pairs at the Deaf-Mute Institute to $5,000 and providing no teachers sal ary shall be reduced during the term for which the teacher was elected Ayes 32, noes 0.
 House Bill No. .490 (KendalD, 1e- galizing certain acts of the Clarks- vile city council in regard to side walks. Ayes 32, noes 0.
 The Joint Penitentiary Committee bill, which would have made sweep ing changes in the method of hand ling the institution, met defeat in the House on Monday The militia appropriation bill and the bill by CarlLee, holding railroads liable for mental anguish, were passed. The long-expected passage of the general deficiency bill was effected. The Ard Winn measure, amending the two cent passenger rate, was defeated, as was the Thompson state capitol bill.
 The Parks concurrent resolution instructing the special counsel of the state to proceed in accordance with their Judgment in the rate cases now in court was adopted.
 In addition the House also passed the DuLaney bill. providing for a geological survey of the clay depos- It's and water powers of the state and also passed the Hamilton (of Ouachita) bill, providing that the bur- den of proof iE pistol carrying cases shall rest on the defendant instead Of on the state. Another bill appro- priating money for the mileage and Der diem of the legislators was also introduced ill the morning.
 The Oldham state capitol bill was not taken up until the afternoon, as the printed copies of it did not ar rive in the House until noon The measure was before the House only short while. Immediately after it was taken up in committee of the whole a motion to rise and report progress and ask leave to sit again at later date carried.
 A special message from the gover- nor setting forth an appeal for aid for tornado sufferers at Bee Branch. which was made to him and recom- mending speedy investigation and action, was read Monday morning.
 The Rowe bill providing for the protection of girls under IS years of age passed unanimously.
 The following bills were introduc- ed during Mondays session:
 House Bill No. 5O6 (Snider). ap- propriaSing s2,50O for mileage and per diem of the legislators. Read twice and made special order.
 House Bill No. 507 (Brown of Cleveland), amending section 134S of Kirby's Digest, relating to fixing of time for appeals from judgments of probate courts to circuit courts. Read twice
 House Bill No. 5oS (Whittington, Hudson and Shockley), increasing the pay of grand and petit jurors