Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-01-26
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1912.

with considerable gertrude tha
the present Legislature is a niue
more sensible and conservativ
body Of men than many eXpecte
it to be, and that much wild an
woody legislation which som
feared and Others hoped for wi
meet a cold reception and an earl
death at its hands.
On politisal questions. that I
matters connected in any way wit
the senatorial contest or the lieu
tenant governor the Legislature |
unquestionably radical and par
tisan to a degree. Witness tn
swift and easy white. washing o
the Senator.elect and the promp'
repeal of what is called the "Bri
berry Immunity Act' and the act
creating two Supreme court CON-
m~issioners. These two laws were
good laws, the former a very nee
cessary and valuable law if such
corruption existed in Mississippi
as these very repealers asserted
from a thousand stumps to have
existed. But the one was killed
because aimed at BilbO and the
other because the commissioners
we're Noel appOintees. This
same spirit is the animating cause
of the many attempts to repeal the
county attorney law. But this is
fast weakening and will soon cease
to be an important influence in
legislatioM
A long and bitter factional fight
at one time seemed most imminent.
The 80 called "whitc- washing" re.
port was responded to by a memo
rial to be sent to Senator John
Sharp Williams, in which that
report was criticised III frank and
strong language. This was fol
loved in time by resolutions de-
mauding Percy's resignation. But
calmel counsels prevailed and the
Legislature promises itself and the
state TO buckle down to work and
to work tremendously. A short
and busy session with much dead,
unwise legislation in its wake may
be looked for with confidence. The
laws passed may not possess the
wisdom of Solomon but they will
likely lack the folly many looked
for. II is likely too that they will
not be excessively great in mum
Der or in volume.
Much credit for all that is good
about the present Legislature is
due to the personality and good
sense of Speaker Quin. He has
been fair in his committee assign
ments, fair to each faction and
fair in giving each section of the
state adequate representation on
important committees. His good
influence, too, was largely respon
sible for the ending of f%actional
fighting and retaliatory tactics in
the House. His friends may well
rejoice over his admirable conduct
of his important and difficult of,
flee. Some credit, too, must in all
honesty be given Bilbo, though in
some individual instances, notably
that of Noxubee's own senator, he
has shown vindictiveness and in
justice, in the main he has been
unexpectedly conciliatory and con
servative. Considering what a
controlling influence over the Sen
ate he possesses and how much
evil he can compass if he wills it,
the state has cause to be grateful
for the course he has adopted.
NOxubee's delegation in the
House is well cared for. Mr.. Brame
is on the Judiciary committee,
where on such committees he is
given much important work to do,
on Railroads, on Fees and Salaries
and on Federal Relations. Mr..
Cavett is chairman of Insurance,
ranking member on Ways and
Means, on Pensions and on Tenn
perance. Mr.. Minor is chairman
of Local and Private Legislation,
ranking member on Constitution.