The Harrison times., 1911-05-06
Our Little Rock Letter.

from Sl. LOUIS anu elScWHSIC SHouIt
the greatly increased supply of pro-
visions show any signs of being ex-
hausted The preparations are in
every way thorough and complete,
and the Reunion should pass off
without a hitch.
SENATE TIED Up APPROPRIATION
Up to the very last, even with inn
portant business unfinished, the
Senate has persisted in working
only four and a half days each week,
adiourning every Friday noon until
the following Monday, and it puts
in about two hours less time each
dav than the House. This predilec-
tion of the Senate to take things
easy brought about condition
this week that has seldom existed,
probably only once, in 1897 when
Gov. Jones was forced to call an
extra session to secure the passage
Of the general appropriation bill.
Last Saturday, April 30, was pay
day for the state officers, including
the circuit Judges and chancellors all
over the state, but the Senate had
failed to pass the bill, and there was
no appropriation to meet the pay
roll. The Senate had taken it up
earlier in the week, and was con-
sidering it in committee of the
whole when Senator Covington
sprung a fight on the Railroad Com
mission, his particular aversion,
and made long speech in support
of his amendment to strike out the
items for the salaries and expenses
of that body. Instead Of threshing
it out Friday, the Senate adjourned
and left every department of state
penniless over the regular payday.
The House, however, has for the
last two or three weeks, been work
ing seven hours day, besides
holding frequent night sessions, and
has always worked on Saturdays.
Ii this were not done, however little
could be accomplished, for it is a
more unwieldy' body, and the per
cent of chronic objectors, disturbers,
and men celebrated most for the
much-talking is greater than in the
Senate.
And even the most vigorous ef.
forts Of Speaker Milwee and those
frequently called to the chair, to
preserve some semblance of order
are unavailing, and for the most
part confusion and disorder reigns
|, The Speaker is continually appeal
. ing for order, and pounding his desk
, with his gavel, and for few mo-
ments occasionally speaker may
be heard or the voice of the reading
clerk rise above the din The speak
, er does his best, but without CO.
operation on the part of the mem
bers, he is almost helpless
.. representative Hatchett voiced
the sentiment of a majority Of the
| members when he appealed for more
decorum and attention to business.
LET us be men and not children, y
.. said he, with all this confusion it
impossible for any one to hear the
| reading Of important bills or the
discussion by members ten feet
away
He was applauded, the crowd was
] silent for few moments, and then
the loud talking among members
|. and visitors, the moving to and
fro, the laughing and hilarity con-
, tinued and Speaker Milwee almost
J gave up in despair. 1t is a notable
, fact that as rule, not more than
J half dozen in the immediate vicin-
, ity of a speaker has any idea of
J what is being said, and only such
orators rs Little, of Mississippi, can
] hold the undivided attention of
the House.
! When any important measure is
under consideration, the members
! crowd about the clerks desk by the
J dozen to hear what is said, and each
thinks by that means he will be
better able to force recognition from
the Speaker, And the Speaker, thus
besct by a bowling mob, is rallied
against for lavoritism when he can
recognize only one of those clamor-
, ing for attention. An iron hand, q
steady nerve, an unruffied temper,
and a determination to treat all
! men as fairly as they will permit is
all that prevents a presiding ofiicer
from going to pieces" under such
conditions.
May EXTEND AGAIN
The possibility of a further exten-
sion until sometime in June grows
daily stronger. and If it should not