The Mena weekly star., 1909-02-11
ASKS S3OO,OOO FOR
 STATE CAPITOL
J. fl. Hamilton Introduces Bill for Big Appropriation - Similar Measure in Senate-To Keep More
 Road Tax in Cities.

troduction of bills providing for the new state capitol, for a un. form textbook law and the bet. ter protection of miners, and the discussion ot the bill regulating the distribution of the township road tax and for au appropriation for deficit in the current expense fund of the state reform school.
 Hamilton, of Polk, introduced bill providing an appropriation of $300,00 with which 10 carry forward the work on the new statehouse. A similar bill was also introduced in the senate, with the additional feature of providing for the experiment. oi a successor to the late w. B. Alex ander, member of the state capitol commission.
 The bill by Oliphant. carrying an appropriation of s5, for the relief of the current expense ac- count of the state reform school, and which was up on it's third reading and passage, was sharply criticised as to the manner in which 1t was drawn and the way 1t had come to the house for con- sideration. Mir. Du Laney sug- gested that it be Elaced back on it's second reading and referred to the state reform school committee where, he declared, it should have originated. Others wanted to kill the bill outrig ht, and leave the preparation of substitute to the committee. Mir. Oliphan' said he had introduced the bill because he understood there was only so cents to the credit of the current expense fund of the school, with 60 boys depending ou 1t for food. The bill might have been poorly drawn, he ad. mitted, since he had not beer here "long enough to become a slick duck at drawing bills; but he was learning" The bill was sent back to the com miitee.
 MT. Hurst's measure, providing that four. fifths of all road tax revenue collected within city be expended in that city, was also up for passage. Its critics be- lieved il would be a dangerous measure for the cities of the sec ond class aud incorporated towns, where much of the tax frou the cities goes to support the roads leading into the towns. "We have got 10 have the country to make he towns" said Mir. Glover, who was opposed to spending fou--fifths of the tax inside the city.
 Hudson of Marion introduced a bill providing for the creation of state text book commission and for state uniformity of text books, The commission is to be compos- ed of 7h members and is to iu. clude the state superintendent oi public instruction and all county examiners.
 The Senate
 The senate yesterday after noon wrestled with the bill by Dc Rossitt. providing for an appro- priation of $500, 1000 to continue work on the new state capitol building, and finally advanced the bill to its third reading. The bill also provides that Caldwell & Drake, the present contractors shall continue the construction work.
 Another provision is that the state capitol commission shall continue in charge, and George B. Rose, an attorney of this city was named to succeed the lat' w. E. Alexander, of Pine Bluff as commissioner.
 The bill vii! be faught strenu uously by the followers of Gov ernor Donaghey, who insis that Caldwell X Drake, the stat' capital commission, Architec Mann and all who have has anything to do with the con tract be discharged, and bill tC that effect is now before th' house on its second reading.
 Governor Donaghey is himsel outspoken against the DeRossit measure, and says that to pass i would be slap at the stat' democratic platform. He claims that the party, as whole, | pledged to discharge the con tractors and the commission, aus there is no question as to wha his action would be, even shouls the bill pass both houses, H. would unhesitatingly veto 1t.