The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-03-04
THE EDITORS FRANKFORT LET
TER.

FRANKFORT, MARCH 2.-This Is the
busiest time Of the Legislative session.
Every man,who has bill that he wants
passed is on the ground working with
might and main to.get into the favor
of the Rules committee Of the House.
which is grinding out business daily in
the lower. branch. That august body
in the Senate has not yet gotten in con-
troll OF affairs, for its rules say that the
Rules Committee shall not take hold
until the last ten days Of the session.
This is keeping the democrats who
want to pass some. special legislation
before il may become endangered by
the veto ak, pretty busy. The Louis
vile "ripper"..bill is the bone of con-
tention in the upper chamber just now
and the republicansllare doing every
thing possible to.stave it off until the
last ten days.so that Gov. Wilson can
veto it. This measure is designed to
abolish the present office OF city
attorney Of Louisville, now held by a
republican. It would supply the place
of corporation counsel, to be filled by
appointment of Democratic Mayor
Head. The Office would be the same,
but under different name. Mayor
Head is very anxious for the bill to
pass and the Leadership the Senate are
trying to oblige him. He says that his
administration cannot!be made the sue
cess he desires without democratic
attorney.
UNIT BILLIA.BIG STICK.
The republican leaders are moving
heaven and earth to hold the place, and
some of the whisky srepublicans have
threatened to vote to bring the County
Unit bill up if the whisky democrats
persist in their efforts to put the Grip
per" bill over. The County Unit bill
is the big stick which.,is swayed over
all heads this session. Many believe
that it will prove autonomous bugbear
in the future pathslof. many promising
politicians; especiallylthose who came
here pledged toi support it and then
slaughtered it.without hint or apology
to their constituents.
MAYsTALK AGAINST TIME.
Two days more land the republicans
will have no fear Of the Ripper bill.
which ALPHABETICALLY the only partisan
piece of legislation that has been seri-
cusly considered this session. In that
period thel Governor veto will come
into its own, and it will avail the.demo-
Gratis nothing to pass anything that he
might be suspected of opposing. There
Is some talk that; Senator A. j. Oliver,
of Allen county. will endeavor to make
speech two days in length to kill the
bill. Talking. against time has beer
resorted to in number of cases in the
National Congress, but it is very rare
thing in the Legislature. The Senate
was in a,muddle as to who had the floor
when it adjourned Tuesday. 1t is sale
that President Cox will recognize Sena'
tor Oliver, whe will begin his propos'
edly long -winded speech, the chair
abetting the plan by refusing to recog-
nize anyone else while Oliver is on
his feet. 1t remains to be seen wheth-
er such a:desperate scheme can be car
ried out.
PRISON BILLS PASS.
The Rulesl Committee of the House
have five days advantage over its COM
panion body in the Senate, as the
House committee went to the helm Is
days in advancelof final adjournment.
Bills providing for.reform lin manage
ment of the State prisons chiefly occu-
pied the attention.of the House today.
Three were passed.. the indeterminate
sentence act: the reformatory and the
amended parole acts. Experts on pen
itentiary affairs and students OF the
convict system believe that these bills
will be the means of effecting great
changes in the condition of prisoners
and accomplish much toward the bet
terment of the individual and his prep
aration for the society of law-abiding
people again. 1t remains to to be SEEN
These bills have passed the Senate and
are now ready for the. Governor. 1t is
probable that the bill to abolish capital
punishment by the gallows will also be
adopted. Death sentences will then be
carried out through the agency of the
electric chair at the penitentiary here.
FEW APPROPRIATIONS AS YET.
So far the General Assembly has for
the most part steered clear of every
bill which makes a noise like the clink
of money coming out of States strong
box. All realize that it would be use
less to appropriate and have the Gov
ernor nullify the result, as he will do IL
the pros pect does not appear pleasing
TO him. 1t is believed that the Gov
ernor will approve an appropriation Of
q Ill