The Green Forest tribune., 1911-02-03
LONG SESSION PREDICTED.
Representative A. J. Russell Talks Matters to be Considered by
 Present Legislature.

While Representative A. J. Russell was at home last week, The Tribune took occasion to interview him concern ing what may be expected in the way of legislation, now that the wheels of our great law-making institution have been oiled and set in motion.
 '1 do not see much in the general maneuverings of the two bodies that would indicate that anything very startling is to come from the present session., said A. ].
 ''The worst thing to be dreaded is the long session, which l feel sure is going to be inflicted upon the people. Some of the leaders in the House have asserted on the floor that the legislature will be in session in May, and that steps to bring it to close sooner would be useless.
 ''The spirit of both the House and the Senate on this point was made quite manifest when the S200, 900 appropria- tion for the expenses of the General Assembly was passed over the Cover nor's veto. 1 stood for the measure as it was originally passed for $100 900, and 1 think it is an outrage that even such sum as that should be expended in view of the deplorable financial con dition of the state $90, 900 was bor rowed from the sinking fund before the legislators could collect their mileage to Little Rock.
 ''There are several measures of im- portance before the two houses, notably among which are bills to re- gulate the tax system, banking law and an educational law. It is hard to guess what will be done with them. They will likely all pass in some form, but by the time all the amendments are tackled on they may be of little real merit.
 "The proposed banking law is hodel- ed after the Kansas guarantee law, and 1 am inclined to look upon the measure with favor, from what 1 can see of it at the present time. It leaves it optional with banks whether they come under the supervision of the law.
 q shall devote my best energies in behalf of the tax and educational measures. 1 will feel that great good will have been accomplished if proper legislation can be secured on these sub iects.
 ''It looks now like 1 may be saved the trouble of introducing bill for the protection of quail in Carroll county, as a measure has been introduced apply ing to the state at large that may answer the purpose 1 am seeking.
 II have a fish bill for Carroll county formulated by Judge Pittman and Judge Naples that I will introduce if some general measure does not come along that meets the requirements. l have not yet studied the bill, but take it that these gentlemen both being l fishermen and men of good information are capable of drafting good measure.
 "As for stock law, l am as much at sea now as I was any time during the campaign. No two parties who have besieged me upon the subject are agreed as to just what sort of law should be enacted. While the densely populated portions want most everything shut up, the sparsely settled portions want everything to run outside and there seems to be no common ground by which all interests can be protected. would personally favor rigid herd law, but I believe it impractical to adopt such a measure at the present l time.''