Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1912-12-22
MAKING READY FOR
| THE LEGISLATURE
politics is Beginning to AS
sumo an Interesting AS
| pect at the Capital.
NEW CONSTIT
I,snirants For Speaker of House and
President of Senate are Lining
Up For Contests.
(By CLIO HARPER)

ening of the 3Sth General Assembly
only four weeks away, Legislative
noitics is beginning to assume an
interesting aspect. At the present
time there appears to be fewer aspir-
ants for clerical positions than usual
uobably for the reason that the ses-
sion can be for only sixty days, and
that it is we'll known there will be
more of a spirit of economy and re-
trenchment than has prevailed here
tofore
Naturally the interest centers in
the contests for the presidency of the
Senate and the speakership of the
House, and the hotel lobties bear evil
dence of the fact the supporters of
the various candidates are getting
I busy thus far in advance. The lines
are already pretty SHARPLY drawn,
and it seems safe to assume that one
| of three men in each house will win
| the coveted plums.
The withdrawal of O. c. Ludwig, of
Pulaski, from the race for speaker
smplifies that contest The race now
Lies between Carroll Armstrong, Of
Morrilton, the Robinson candidate, 10
Hardage, of Clark, and S. A. Miller, of
Jefferson. For the presidency, there
| are also three aspirants, w. K. Old
| ham, of Lonoke, the Robinson candi.
| date, A. C. Martin, of Faulkner. and
IT. ]. Raney, of Independence. At
least two Of these, Raney and Martin,
claim they have something like fifteen
pledges, while Oldham is claiming
that he holds the balance of power.
/ 1t is certain that in neither race, es-
peeially for president, has any one
candidate q majority. Who will profit
by the released pledges when one Of
the three in each race withdraws is
the conjecture which makes both un-
|ce.tain. The friends og A. C. Martin
say that his election is certain, hut
the friends of Raney and Oldham are
rome the less confident
Much Legislation Proposed.
As usual, a vast amount of legisla-
ton is being proposed by members
by outsiders. by associations, and
others The most serious question
Iconfronting the lawmakers is how
they will be able to transact all the
business within the prescribed sixty
days. which is the limit that has been
Mixed by the people in the adoption OF
the constitutional amendment. All
economical session is the demand of
the administration. There is no way
10 evade the limitation of the session
to Is days, the last fifteen days being
on half pay Caucuses of both houses
Tor the selection of officers, restric-
ton a. far as possible of local legis-
latlon, and the early Introduction OF
appropriation bill are among the sug-
gestions made for expediting bust
ness.
Gov. Donaghey in his farewell mess
age and Gov. Robinson his inaugural
Will advance suggestions: that will
provide grist for the legislative mill
sor the whole session. Once more
me states financial system will en-
gage the attention of the lawmakers,
cut no we'll difined program has been
outlined, and various remedial meas
ares will be offered. A large revenue
rom greatly increased assessment
ne last year has made this issue less
wal than it was two years ago, but
nere are still many chances that are
uemanded. The adoption of a budget
Vtem, urged by Gov. Robinson, seems
operative for the orderly conduct
>AS StdIc dAldll ~
nls means appropriations may be
restricted to the revenues, and deficits
ee avoided.
For u New Constitution.
The project for the calling of
new constitutional convention will
yam come up, probably stronger
van ever before. A poll of the MEM
ptrS being taken by the Arkansas
pemocra's indicates large number
y senator's and representatives in fav-
Y OF it. The sentiment for consti-
lutional convention is undoubtedly
Growing.
senator Lee Miles Of Little Rock
aas prepared a bill for constitutional
which will be introduced
EAfiy in the session, and should it fail
y passage, 1t is known that there
IS certain popular interests that will
Y once set about initiative call for
"a convention. Senator Miles in