The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
MORE TIME GIVEN
TO LEGISLATURE
Mississippi Lawmakers Will
Work 80 Days Longer
TWO PERSONAL FIGHTS
Reporter and Legislator Engage in
Fight in House While Another
Legislator Has Scrap at the
Edwards House
TWO PERSONAL FIGHTS

Jackson, Miss, February 25,-(Special.)-
There was a bare quorum in either end
of the Legislature today. many members
having gone to Greenville to participate
in the monster demonstration there to-
night in celebration of the election of
Leroy Percy to the United States Sen
ate. A special train load left here today
and will return tomorrow morning.
Governor Noel sent in two or three
messages today, one extending the ses-
sion till March 26. Another created quite
a sensation, as 1t called attention to the
fact that great deal of whisky drinking
had been going on around the capitol,
and that out of one state officials room
20 empty quart bottles had been taken
by the porters one morning, and these
bottles were preserved as evidence.
The senate passed a bill to pay Judge
Cochran of Meridian 500 balance due
on salary as judge. the pure food BILL
the Confederate women's monument bill
and changed time for shooting migratory
doves from August to July l.
livened by fsticuff between r. H.
Henry, Jr, reporter for the Clarion
Ledger and Representative Russell.
father of the anti-frat bill, who had been
charged with violating the constitution
by threatening to hold up the university
appropriation bill unless his frat bill was
passed. Henry got in the first lick.
During the day Senator Bilbo and ex-
Senator Mounger of Marion engaged in
a scrap at the Edwards house, but nobody
was seriously hurt.
The house passed the agricultural high
school bill, carrying $500 per county.
Drainage Fight Ends
The Tallahatchie Drainage fight came to
very sudden conclusion yesterday aft
ernoon shortly after the house had voted
almost unanimously for the passage of the
bill to submit the matter to a vote Of
the qualified electors of the district,
There were but four votes against the
bill, and that fact was a paralyzer to the
opposition wherefore they soon an
nounced that they would interpose no
further objection to the measure and let
the senate go along and pass 1t.
During the afternoon the committee on
levees held an open session In the SEN
ate chamber, and there was a great at
tendance. Scores of citizens from the
counties in the northwestern portion of
the state that are included n the Tai
lahatchie drainage district, created at the
10 e+ eaestop 90 tha Iavicla f,,ra rua,.a rraS-
emit They represented the wealth and
the intelligence of their part of the state,
and several of them have been in Jack
son for a month or more working up
sentiment In favor of their proposition to
leave the matter to vote of the people.
The most active worker in this cause
has been Tom James of Swan Lake and
he has been ably assisted by Emory
Holmes, former we'll known newspaper
man of Memphis. They have been here
continuously five or six weeks, and every
day were Joined by others. who simply
camped on the trails of the members of
the two houses md had their matter
drainage proposition knew what was
doing.
In interviews given out by Mr.. James
during the past few weeks, he has ex-
planned that the cost of the drainage sys-
tenn has been found to be a great deal
more than was at first supposed-that in
stead of costing 81, 10000, 1t means the
expenditure of at least Sc. 100000, and per-
haps 900 or $1,000. 900 before they are
done with 1t. Government and state en-
gineers have been at work In the district
some time, and 1t Is, stated<that the cost
of the surveys made is already nearly
100000 and they hardly started. En-
sineer Morgan of the United States agrl-
cultural department was present at the
meeting yesterday afternoon and made
a statement as to what has been done
and what 10 to be expected as to the
amount of dirt that would have to be
moved and the probable cost, all of which
tended to show that the contention of
the Protective association, of which Mr..
James is president. is largely true.
The 100000 bond issue is now before
the supreme court, and decision is ex-
pected in a few days.
Session Is Extended
Governor Noel has extended the legisla-
tive session 50 days longer, thus carry
ing 1t to March g. 1t is possible that
the legislature Will be able to wind up
its business before the expiration of 90
days, but IL so 1t does not have to re-
main in Jackson the entire 80 days.
There are great many very important
measures yet to be attended to. Several
of them have passed one house or the
other; some have just been reported on,
and others all but ready for final vote
and the signature of the governor.
The redistrcting bill Is one OF the most
important measures that has come up. II
is in charge of large committee and
has been very carefully considered, The
committee finds that 1t has a great task
to perform. Their idea ia to create four
new districts and two or three new chan
Gerry districts, and at the same time
to remodel all the old ones. The trouble
with such work as this Is easy to see.
The presnt officials-that Is judges, chan
celors and district attorneys-naturally
think they should be shown some con-
sideration In such matters. 1t would be
possible to throw them into an almost
entirely new district, and they do not
want that, of course. Several of the
prosecuting attorneys have been to the
capital since the committee got to work
and will be here again.
Another great task vet before the leg
islature IL the equalization Of assessments
ri Go IN t,at