Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-11-23
BRIBERY IMMUNITY" PASSED
STATE LAWMAKERS ADJOURN
WITH STATE CLEAR.
Measure Passes Making Libel Proceed
ings Easier Outside of Federal
Courts.

evening the curtain was rung down on
the proceedings of tie Mississippi legis.
lature of 1908 to 1912, when Lieut.. Gov.
Manship in the senate and Speaker
Street in the house of representatives
dropped their gavels declaring the ex'
traordinary session OF the Legislature OF
Mississippi adjourned without day. This
announcement signilied the passing Of an
epoch in the public affairs Of the state,
occupying the space of fifteen days, or
rather thirteen legislative days, during
which events which may follow may be-
come conspicuous points in the history
Of the state.
Summarizing it all, it may be said
that the body of lawmakers have during
their fortnight's sitting enacted all the
measures which were called to their at.
%tention by the governor and which were
named in his proclamation.
They have provided for the support
OF the militia which he recommended
should be done, and this action was
based on the reports Of officers who are
in charge Of these movements. They
took such steps as were deemed neecs'
sary for meeting Mississippi's obliga
tons to comply with the terms OF tho
bond issue of 1910, as formally pro-
claimed; made provision for the ex-
pense of the session and did varioun
and sundry other acts not brought for
ward in the original set of recommends
tions, but authorized by supplemental
messages. Including the appropriation
with which to redeem the 1910 bonds
from purchasers, the authorized expend-
itures of the session will approximate
$675 900, which has to be extracted from
an empty treasury or one that will be
very much depleted by 1.-THE time pro,
vided in the act for the demand for the
major portion.
There we're other noteworthy acts and
things done incidentaRto the fiscal acts,
conspicuous among which was the cele-
brated "immunity bath bill" enacted for
the purpose of getting at both bribe-
takers and bribe-givers. This was leg
~islation which was openly characterized
as being aimed at and intended for one
individual, which the mar at whom it
was supposed to be directed himself sup
ported in its final stages.
Almost as significant as this immunity
bill was one that was dug up from
the committee asthives ON the very eve
of adjournment which strengthens the
methods of getting civil process through
state courts against foreign OF non-res'
ident corporations or agents. This is
believed to be preliminary to paving the
way for action for libels which may be
brought in the not too distant future
against the publishers of a certain
monthly magazine, which in a recent
edition, carried a undertaking article
charging certain men and public Officers
in Mississippi with all the venomous acts
in the calendar of public wrong-doing
the outgrowth of the senatorial election
held during the session of 1910.
The purpose of this act, it is stated
is to strengthen the hands of the STATE
!, courts, through torts and eX-directo pro
ceedings, where hitherto it was neces
sary to resort to the federal courts.
I The records in the office of the sec
rotary of state show the exact amour
. of appropriations to be nearly $4,000
which are itemized as follows:
Salary, mileage and contin-
gent expenses of session. s. 100000
; Supplemental legislative ap-
q preparation ..,.........,. 10000
I For printing and engraving
supplemental bond issue. 10000
I For National Guard expenses 4S,450.8
, For printing the laws and
journals Of the session -. 10000
To meet deficit in public
q printing for 1910 and 1911 10000
For deficiency in salary of as
'sistant land commissioner. 400.O
For salary of lieutenant gov
> ernor while acting eX-officio 675.C
For redeeming the bonds of
y 1910 from purchasers, with
principal and interest in
Guided 6Oo,OOO.t
Making a grand total aggre-