The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-06-22
W.M.PIPKINI NsSTH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Polk County's Representative Tells
of Work Accomplished-Every
Measure He offered En-
dorsed by House.

for publication relative to measures
enacted by the late General Assem-
bly, that are of local interest to the
people of Polk county, as we'll as
any legislation of general eharac-
ter undertaken and accomplished
by me or through my instrumental
ity; or, in other words, that | give
brief account of my stewardship
as a member OF that body, ! take
pleasure in submitting the follow
ing observations:
In the beginning of the session
was appointed by the Speaker, as
every other member was, to serve
upon three committees. My assign
ments were Education, Judiciary
and Militia.
The last named committee was OF
but little Importance, having had
but one bill to consider, and that the
appropriation for the maintenance
OF the State Guards, during the en-
tire session. In passing, However, II
is worthy 20 note that notwith-
standing this department is one OF
the most efficient of the State gov
eminent, Arkansas spends less mon
cy per man in this department than
is expended for the same purpose
by any other state in the Union.
Most Important Committee.
The Judiciary Committee is the
most important committee OF the
House. Probably one-half the bills
that are referred to committees for
consideration are referred TO this
committee, and many OF these are
the most important bills OF the ses-
sion and require great deal OF
consideration before they may be
intelligently reported upon, The
revenue bin of this session, known
as the Bradtlam- Hurst bill, or the
Tax Commissioners Revenue bill,
alone, was considered in this COM
mittee, to the exclusion of all other
business, at forty different sittings
lasting from two to four hours each
before II was finally reported back
to the House. Perhaps no bill in the
history Of Arkansas legislation ever
had longer, more careful, earnest
and conscientious consideration at
the hands Of q committee. The bill
contained ii6 printed pages. 1t is a
matter OF history that this bill
passed the House, after the adop-
tion of the committee amendments.
some $50 in number, but was put TO
the sleep that knows no waking by
the gavel Of the presiding officer in
the Others body. However, the rev.
enue measure finally adopted by
both houses and which originated
in the Senate, known as the Turner
Jacobson bill. and containing ITO
printed pages, was also tho Tax
Tax COMMISSIONS bill and contains
the essential features of the Brad
ham-Hurst measure IL would be
impossible, within reasonable linn
its, to discuss fully the provisions
of this bill alone, TO say nothing OF
the various other important meas
ures referred to and considered by
the Judiciary Committee.
One of my personal accomplish
ments as a member of the Judiciary
Committee was the defeat of Sem
ate hill providing for repositories
for the States funds and securing
instead the passage of the House
bill for,the same purpose, the House
measure being, conceded by every
member of the committee as being
superior 10 the Senate measure and
providing greater safeguards for
the security of the States funds.
The explanation as TO how this was
done would require too much space
for its value at this time.
Educational legislature
OF the Committee on Education
served as chairman, and in this ca
pacity performed my most active
service in shaping general legisla-
ton. Next to the Judiciary, the
Committee on Education was as inn
portant as amy committee of the
House, and, owing to the number
and Importance OF the bills consid-
cred, was of unusual importance at
this session. 1T has been said by
competent authority that the 38th
General Assembly will so down in
history as the Educational Legis-
lature." DIR. Wickliffe Rose, general
agent of the Peabody Foundation,
aud vino is conceded TO be one of the
leading educational authorities of
the United States, says that this
session of the Legislature has done
more for the progress of education
in Arkansas than has been done for,
the past twenty-five years, and
more than has been done by the
legislature OF any other state in the
Union for the past ten years.
think | should be pardoned for
mentioning the fact that 4 have re-
ceived, FROM persons competent and
in position to Judge, a great deal of
very flatteringe communication for
my personal work and leadership in
securing legislation along these
lines. A curious but flattering fact
to me n NE, . that Of ali the recon-
mendati0ns made by the Committee
on Education not one. failed of en-
dorsement by the House, a fact that
cannot be claimed for any other
committee of either branch of the
General Assembly TO which any
thing of consequence was referred
for consideration.
Important Laws Enacted.
Among the important measures
considered by the Committee on Ed
ucatlon, and which were enacted