The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1911-11-10
Mississippi
legislature
SPEAKER SPRINGS SENSATION
STREET WOULD CLEAR NAME OF
STATE RECENTLY MALIGNED.
Bill to Give Back Principal $60O, 900 t.
Those Holding the Bonds Will
Probably Pass.

Jackson.-There was no blue Monday
capitol, things transpiring which effect
ually displaced any lethargy which might
follow the rest and relaxation of Sunday.
The quiet and undemonstrative way in
which Col. II. NJ. Street, speaker of the
house, without serving formal notice OF
his intention, fired a decided bomb into
the ranks was the most decided sensa-
ton which the extraordinary session has
afforded.
~Surrendering the chair to Representa-
tive Quin, of Kinds, Speaker Street occu-
pied a seat on the floor, and when the
opportunity anne sent up a resolution,
which, after r~eciting in thNusual pre-
amble the charges Of bribery and crook
edness, by innuendo, rather than direct
and specific allegation, which had been
brought against the Mississippi legisla-
ture, that the governor be requested to
submit for consideration a law by which
extended immunity may be granted any
member or other person who may come
forward and testify of these things.
Speaker Street offered the following
resolutions:
Whereas, general charges of bribery
have been made against the present
legislature without naming the members
bribed; and
Whereas, such general charges are
a reflection IN each and every member;
and
Whereas, every opportunity and IA
ciEty should be given for ascertaining
the truth of these charges and for the
punishment of those guilty, if there be
such; therefore,
Resolved, that the governor be re-
quested to submit to the legislature
for consideration the enactment of a
Law granting immunity to any man who
may testify as to any case of the brib-
cry of any legislator, and also the sub
ject of the extension of the statute of
limitations as to bribery of members of
the present legislature.
Capt. Burkitt said that Speaker Street
had objected to the reading of the Ed.
wards report on the ground that it would
cause friction, and now he himself was
injecting something into the session
which would raise Old Harry and open
all the wounds of the campaign.
Mr.. Broyles of Monroe opposed the
resolution as unnecessary and i'll advised.
Mr.. johnson of Pamela supported the
resolution.
Mr.. Stennis of Lauderdale opposed the
resolution.
Mr.. Cavett of NoXubee called for the
reading of the resolution again.
The ayes and nays We're demanded,
and the resolution was adopted by a
vote of 81 to So.
The proceedings both Immediately be.
fore the introduction of this measure and
during the brief afternoon sitting were
tame and featureless by comparison. The
subject matter of the resolution brought
wildly to mind all the eliminating and
terminating charges, in the public
prints, which have RECALLED the public
for the past eighteen months, and espe.
cially that of George Creel, which found
space in the November Cosmopolitan, and
it is said that it was the direct incentive
to the Street resolution.
The consideration of this resolution de.
veloped an incidental sensation, when Mr.,
Stennis, arising to state his opposition
to the measure of his esteemed colleague
(Col. STREET., denounced in positive terms
what he designated as the excepting OF
an open and notorious gambling dive, by
a member of this legislature, within the
shadow of this capitol" While Mr.
Stennis did not call any names his refer
ence was obvious to many of those
within the hearing of his voice.
The entire time of the house, which sat
for an hour and forty minutes during
forenoon and afternoon session, was de
voted to hearing the reading of docu
ments pertaining to the pending bono
and military appropriation measures
There was but one roll call and that wa:
on the adoption of the Street resolution
The most striking feature of the morn
ing senate session was the report of !.
subcommittee from the judiciary com
mittee, which had under consideration
the several bills pertaining to the bone
issue of 1910. The fact that the com
mittee reports adversely on the bill, thu
purpose of which is to validate the issu,
by appropriating $a0,5o0 to cover thu
unearned interest, which the suprem,
court held to be illegal, created littl'
surprise among the lookers-on.
The entire morning session of the sen
ate was consumed in the discussion O
finances, the pending Measure being tn
Franklin bill, to refund the principal OF