Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-11-10
SENSATION OF THE SESSION.

The sensation of the legislative
session came on Monday when
Speaker Street, who had yielded
the chair to Mr.. Quin, arose just
before the hour of adjournment Of
the House and introduced the fol-
lowing resolution, which created
no lite commotion among the
s'Vardaman contingent"
ssWhereas, general charges of
bribery have been made against
the present Legislature without
naming the members bribed, and
"Whereas. such general charges
are reflection on each and every
member, and
"Whereas, every opportunity
and facility 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 requested to submit to the Leg
islature for consideration the en-
actment of q law granting immun-
ity to any man who may testify as
to any case of the bribery of any
legislator, and also the subject Of
the extension of the statue of linn
itations as to bribery Of members OF
the present Legislature"
Several prominent Vardaman
leaders were on their feet as soon
as the resolution was read, and
there was a decided show of ex-
citement among them, so unex-
pected was the Street resolution.
Mr.. Street spoke briefly in favor
Of his resolution, while Messrs.
Stennis, Burkitt and Broyles spoke
against it. Messrs. Johnson, OF
Pamela, and Perkins, of Yazoo, al
so spoke in favor of the resolution,
and during the passage at arms
some rather heated but parliamen-
tary remarks were made. Other
members were ready to speak on
both sides, . good deal Of heat
having been eDgendered, but the
debate was cut short by calls for q
vote, and the resolution was sub
mitted, and was adopted by 81 to
/ SO.
AS will be seen, the resolution
recites the fact that charges Of
bribery have been made against
the Legislature, and as the charges
arc a reflection on every member,
that full opportunity should be
given for ascertainment of the
]. truth Of the charges, and for the
Y punishment of those found to bt
guilty; that the Governor is re
\ ouested to submit for consideration
the enactment of law granting
: immunity to anyone who may tes
tify as to any case of bribery, ant
extend the statute of limitation a
I to bribery of members.
1 AS this is not a concurrent reso
luton, it will not be necessary t.
4 send it to the Senate. In fact, l
is purely suggestive; a request up
( on the Governor to send specia
!, message so that the charge o
\ bribery may be taken up, for tn
House is powerless to act unies
the Governor opens the question.
1t is fair to assume that the Gov
ernor will submit to the consider
alton of the House the briber
question referred to, which vii
doubtless bring mp heated discus
sious, and may result in tight
drawing fractional lines.
/ There is no valid reasons, how
ever why the proposed investigs
! tion should not be had, immunti
granted to any one who will furr
/ ish information of which he ma
4 be possessed regarding the brlbln
Of members of the Legislature, an
4 the extension Of the statute
I limitation as to bribery OF I'll
= present members.
Where will this investigatio
eudi is the question that man
nervous people are asking
Clarion Ledger.
Tresspass Netice.