davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
REVISION OF CRIMINAL LAWS.
Governor Favors Appointment of a Com
mission.

The following message was sent to the
Legislature by Gov. Brewer, which is sug-
gestivc and sseifcant:
Gentlemen of the Mississippi Legis-
lature:
81 desire to call your attention to the
great necessity for d reformation OF the
criminal laws and procedGrNod h;s state,
and in my judgment the best and most
systematic way to do this would be the
passage of a statute authorizing the gov
ernor to appoint three able criminal law
yers to revise the criminal laws and PRO
cedure. This can be done at small cost
and will greatly facilitate the bringing
OF the guilty to their just deserts.
81 again reiterate that l do not be-
lieye there is anything hat can do more
to advance the moral welfare, the indus
trial development and aid lis in the
march to a higher civilization than a
splendid code of criminal law and pro.
cedure that may be plain and easily en-
forced"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Mississippi
Legislature
NO FOREIGN LAND OWNERS
LOWER HOUSE PASSES A DRASTIC
MEASURE.
Gov. Brewer Revives Elective Judiciary
With a Special Message to the
Senate.

Jackson.-The house Of representatives
passed a bill prohibiting corporations
from acquiring or holding land in this
state for agricultural or farming pur.
poses. The bill was passed by the de-
cisive vote of "a yeas to 10 nays. A
stubborn fight was made against the
measure by the minority, but witaout
any chance of success in materially
amending of killing the bill. The ma
jority OF the members had determined
TO pass the bill, and they carried it
through with a whoop. Only one amend
ment was adopted during the debate,
and the effect of that vas to strengthen
the bill. The bill was amended by in
sorting a provision prohibiting the grant
ing Of charters to corporations desiring
to acquire or hold lands for farming or
agricultural purposes.
The bill is drastic in its provisions.
1t is known as House Bill No. 300, or
the Corporation Land. Holding Bill"
About a dozen bills on this subject were
introduced md this measure va, in the
nature of Il substitute for all OF the
other bills. IKE bill passed absolutely
prohibits corporations from purchasing or
owning farm lands in Mississippi in the
future, but il does not interfere with
any company that has already been or
gained and is now engaged in that bus
mess. The bill applies to foreign cor
porations rs wVt rs domestic corpora
tions. Chancery courts are given power
to appoint receivers and dissolve any
corporation that attempts to violate or
evadc the law. The attorney general
OF the state and the district attorneys
required to enforce the provisions
Of the act.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
OLO RATES ARE REINSTATEO
DECISION OF RAILROAD COMMITS
SIONERS ANTICIPATED.
Case Can Go Direct to Supreme Court
Without Formality Of Chancery
Proceedings.

T,ckgon A. o,H.;raa,a h- mann, -
,boso ,,bo hard ,La ,ast;,,orr All a,
o,mou+a latara A. N;,-;..nn po;l
road commission r~olotiyo 90 tho III
ohaorLi,o froioh. -loss;G,oHo, nr.,o.i
,;or an ,ho n~nti,ior ~ ybin,o,. com
w~o,c;,I eoo,o. r;os oul onn for a
bo,riuo .lo oann,ian J.aiJol - g.,
yor If tbo roti,io,ors and orJors ~,
former or "Nississipni classification"
rcinstated.
Whether the corricr, or those repre.
| s|enting them will accept the decree with.
ont appcaI remains TO be seen. IA tie
railroads have the right of appeal diie Get
from the commission to the supreme
court. without the formalitv of goiae
into the chancery court for an %iniuno.
ton.
The following is the text Of the order
relative to the classification matter.
1t appearing to the satisfaction of
said commission, after due and deliber.
ate consideration of the testimony Of
fered il said cause, that Southern Glass
i~fcation No. 80, together with its sup
pIcmcnts thereto. the same having been
adopted by the Mississippi Railroad
Commission at its regular January
meeting, 1912, to govern and apply on
all railroads and common carriers doing
an intrastatc business in the state OF
Mississippi, is unreasonable and unjust
and imposed an unnecessary burden upon
the people of Mississippi, and that the
is not practicable.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.
Three Amendments Added to the Or
qanic Law.

Thursday was constitutional amend
ment day in the house. Three consti-
t%utional amendments were taken up
and adopted. Constitutional provision
for the election of circuit and chancery
Judges by the people. The second amend
ment inserted into the organic law is a
substitute for the section in regard to
the session of the legislature. Under
the old provision of the constitution the
legislature held what was known as a
short" session every two years, at
which only questions submitted by the
governor. except appropriations and rev.
enue bills, could be considered. The
amendment makes all sessions of the
legislature regular and deprives the gov
ernor of the power to say what the law
makers shall or shall not do. The third
amendment inserted was a provision,
requiring the Legislature to insert amend
ments into the constitution at the next
succeeding session following their adop-
ton by the people.
All of the amendments have been rati-
fed by the people, and they will become
part of the states fundamental laws.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
IRREGULARITIES ARE CHARGED.
Resolution for Investigation of tie
States Convict Farms.

Resolution for Investigation Of TIE
States Convict Farms.
disadvantages OF alleged irregu,
larities in connection with the manage.
ment OF the Mississippi pe~nitentiary
farms created a breeze in the house of
representatives. Representative S. NJ.
Majors Of Alcorn county, chairman of
the committee on penitentioary affairs,
sent to the clerks desk the following
resolution.
Whereas, It has been charged by
SOM OF the cotton buying concerns Of
the country that they have not been
accorded equal privileges to bid upon the
states cotton as other concerns since
the year 1900; and
whereas, 1t has been reported to the
penitentiary committee that there was
some cotton sold in the fall of 1905 at a
high price, and that in the sprng of
1908 this cotton was refused by the pur-
chasers after cotton had fallen material
ly in price, therefore be it
Resolved, BY the house, the senate
concurring, That there be a committee
of four members from the penitentiary
committee of the house, appointed by
the speaker of the house, and
from the senate committee, to be APP
pointed by the president of the senate,
to make investigation of these charges;
that this committee shall have the power
to employ a stenographer and
and compel witnesses to appear before
the committee and give such evidence
as they may possess"
The resolution was adopted
According to rumors aloat around the
capitol, the state lost $4,000 on the cot
ton deal referred to in the Majors reso-
luton. Whether these rumors are true
false it is not known here.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Brewer Revives Elective Judiciary.

Gov. Brewer revived the elective ju-
dietary question by sending a special
message to the legislature requesting the
l%awmaking department to Join the exec
utive department in requesting the SUI
premc court to furnish an opinion on the
validity of the constitutional amendment
adopted by the people making circuit
and ~chancery court judges elective. The
governor advised that this @urse be
pursued before the amendment is in
serted into the constitution. Unless
tAis course is followed, he pointed out,
chaotic conditions in the states judicial
branch might follow.
The senate, following the suggestion
of the governor, adopted a concurrent
resolution calling upon the supreme court
for an opinion.
The bill introduced by Senator Bond
empowering boards of supervisors and
municipalities to appropriate money for
exhibits at the Mississippi centennial, to
be held at Gulfport in 1917, was re-
ported favorably to the senate by the
committee on agriculture.
Bills have been introduced in both
the senate and the house to permit the
manufacture of wood alcohol in the state.
If a law covering this subject is enacted
it is said that it will result in the es-
Enlistment of half million dollar plants
at Hattiesburg and Gulfport to manu-
f%acture wood alcohol out of waste pine
timber.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
PROTECT OYSTER INTERESTS
COMMISSION WILL ASK $4,000 TO
PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY.
Oyster Reefs in Mississippi Are Not
Productive and Must Be
Developed.

Jackson.-That the oyster industry
Of the state may be properly developed
the Mississippi Oyster Commission will
ask the Legislature for an appropriation
of $4,000 to develop the reefs between
Ocean Springs and ~Pascagoula. The
oysters on certain of the reefs are val
ueless because of the small size and
are not merchantable. The appropria'
tion Of $4,000 will be in addition to
the regular appropriations allowed to
the commission of all money derived
from the venue of the board which
amounted to $4,000 a year.
Senator Jackson, n of the leading
members of the senate from South
Mississippi, introduced a concurrent
resolution in the upper house, author
izing the committee on fisheries and
game to visit the oyster reefs. The
senate adopted the resolution, but it was
killed in the house.
1t is understood that the commission
will recommend that the tax on oysters
taken from Mississippi waters be in
creased to five cents per barrel, and
that the fishermen be allowed to re-
tain the shells. The tax has heretofore
been three cents, and the state re-
tanned possession of one-third of the
shells.
The commission has been considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of having the oyster
law changed so as to authorize the COM
mission to lease oyster lands to fisher
men, such as is done in Louisiana and
some of the other states. This Will
give the fishermen the right to improve
the beds, and will also give him the
right to protect them from depredations
of Others.
Such a law will tend to encourage
the industry. and give the state a far
greater revenue and bring Mississippi
reefs among the foremost in the coun'
try.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
WANT HARDY RETAINED.
Strong Petition Being Sent to Governor
Brewer

Jackson.-A petition is being circu,
lated asking that the resignation OF
Prof. j. G. Hardy, as president of the
petition originated at Starkville by a
Agricultural and Mechanical College b.
not accepted. 1t is understood that the
petition originated at Starkville by a
number of influential citizens, and has
been addressed to Governor Brewer and
the board of trustees, Of which the gov
crnor is the ex-oficio chairman.
Governor Brewer has not intimated
that he has received the petition OF
protest against accepting the resigna
ton of President Hardy, nor has he
stated his position in the matter. Ru
mors are floating freely around the
legislative halls that George r. High.
tower, of the Farmers Union Ware.
house Company, will be put into the
position left vacant by Professor Hardy.
just what the result of these protests
and petitions will have remains to be
seen.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
RAISING MONUMENT FUNDS.
Only $4,000 of $4,000 Needed Remains
to Be Collected.

Greenvlle.-Mrs. Robert Somerville,
of this city, is devoting her talents and
energy to promoting the Confederate
women's monument cause. She has been
acting as the personal representative of
Gen. Charles Scott, and as such has WIS.,
tied a number of the larger cities of
the state and organizing county associa-
tions which have as their object the
raising of funds to erect this monument
to the women of the C~onfederacy. In
her work she has received much encour-
agement, and in the cities of Natchez.
Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson and va
zoo City, much interest was manifested
in the cause, and organizations affected
which are working in an effort to raise
the $4,000 necessary to build the monu.
ment, of which sum about $1,000 has
already beer subscribed, leaving a bal
ance of only $4,000 yet to be secured.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Regulate Interest Rate.

The senate passed house bills Nos. 1913
and 1872, known as the "money bills"
One of the bills reduces the contract
rate on money from 10 to s per cent,
while the other measure exempts from
taxation all money loaned in the state
at 6 per cent. Several important amend
mentAw were adopted which will necessi-
tate sending them back to the house.
The s per cent bill was amended by
making it effective January 1, 1913, and
bv inserting a clause penalizing loans
above 20 per cent. This last clause IL
aimed at loan sharks.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Vital Statistics Bureau.

Jackson.-The members of the State
Board of Health recently appointed by
Governor Brewer are unanimously in
favor of the proposed establishment Of
q vital statistics bureau and are urging
the adoption of such a measure as will
provide for this extremely important
department.
1t is pointed out that under the sys.
tenn we now have. there is no definite
method of learning. except in eases Of
an epidemic, just what disease or dis
oa,.ys are most prevalent in the State.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
HUMPHREYS GETS GAvELS.
'Beauvoir Soldiers Present Them to Wash.
ington U. d. c.

Washington. - representative Hum
phreys of Mississippi recently received
two cedar gavels from the Bcauvoir Con-
federate Soldiers Home, which he will
present to the Dixie Chapter, Daughters
of che Oonfedcracy, of Washington. The
gsvcls were made from wood cut out of
Ell cedar tree which grew in the front
yard of the old Jefferson Davis home at
Beauvoir. One of the gavels is inscribed
shade by II. NJ. Wilson, Company +,
Ninth Mississippi Infantry, G.. S. A., vet
aran Beauvoir Soldiers Home, 1912"
The other is inscribed, "From a veteran
Of Beauvoir Soldiers Home, 1912"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Report Against "Maniac" Bill.

The senate judiciary committee or.
dered an adverse report on Senate Bill
No. "a, which ha dbeen ddbbed the
maniac" bill" The measure, if it had
passed, would have made it possible to
recover damages for mental anguish.
The bill was bitterly fought by the tele-
graph and telephone companies. The
telegraph operators throughout the state
joined in the fight to kill the bill, and
it was mainly through their work that
the senate committee voted to report
adversely upon the measure.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Want Army Stock Farm.

.Calumbus.-The United States govern
ncut has under consideration n plan to
establish somewhere in this section a
demonstration stock farm for the pur-
pose Of raising horses for the army, and
Col John =. Mayo, one of the most en-
terprisiug citizens of Columbus is tax
ting steps to bring to the attention of
Che proper authorities the advantages
which Lowndcs county possesses for a
farm of this character.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Raise Constitutional Point.

Herdian,-A demurrer raising a con
siHtional point was argued in circuit
sDurt in the case of State vs.. DR., J. n.
Tucker, charged with procticing medicine
without license. The lawyers for the
defense claim that the statute containing
che provisions under which the charges
were made is unconstitutional. because it
allows women to practice midwifery, at
Che same time prohibiting mon, without
license.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Big Demand for Alfalfa,

Columbus,-"There is no danger of
.overproduction of alfalfa. myself can
sell all the alfalfa that can be produced
In the state of Mississippi" The fore
going is a statement made by G, c.
Hamilton. Mr.. Hamilton is one of the
largest hay dealers in the state, having
handled between 400 and 500 cars of
Ghis staple during the past season. In
Mr.. Hamilton's opinion, alfalfa is such a
CHOICE stock feed that preference for it
over grain will prevent ov~erproduction,
.ls vol as the limited acreage on which
ar NAV be grown.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23

The senate finance committee has
made a favorable report on the bill de-
signed to stimulate and encourage agri'
culture in Mississippi. The bill provides
500 shall be allotted to each county in
the state for excellence in agriculture,
horticulture and stock raising to be de-
cided by the exhibit at the state falr,
and the awards to be paid on the Ger
~tifcate Of the commissioner of agricul
ture. If the county don't exhibit that
is its lookout, the 500 is there for it Il
it does.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
ENFORCE TILK LAW.
Rankin Supervisors Urge Quarantine Be
Established.

Brandon. RESOLUTIONS dealing with
the cattle tick situation in Mississippi
ware adopted at a meeting OF the Ran
kin county board OF supervisors. The
resolutions read:
BE it resolved by the boaM OF super
visors of Rankin county, Mississippi,
chat the tick eradication law be en-
forced and quarantine rules and regula-
lions Of the state be adopted as to dip
ping the cattle and Graduating the fever
%icks in the said county. The official
a%rsenical solution to be used, subject to
che approval of the inspector in charge.
Public watts to be built when deemed
necessary and medicine furnished for all
watts whenever they are foi the public
nse."
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Pension Bill Passed.

S. B. No. Ga. to appropriate from the
pension fund refunded to the treasurer,
money to pay pensions to those whose
applications We're received after distri'
button had been made to the counties
BY the auditor, or whose names were
omitted from the pension list through
mistake, and in the event of the death
OF any pensioner before receiving his
pension, ETC., was called and passed.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Grant Minister'S ReGrest.

Nettleton.-The board Of aldermen
acted upon a petition from the resident
ministers of Nettleton, to the effect that
all slot machines, petty gambling de-
vices, games of chance, or any plan OF
rafting whereby a capital prize is Of.
fered, be excluded from the corporate
limits of the town. The board of alder
men thanked the clergymen for thei
interest in the matter and instructed
the marshal to give notice that al such
devices must be discontinued at once
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
To Regulate the BARRIERS.

A bill that has the endorsement OF
the state board of health, and which
will be applauded by every man who has
to patronize barber shops was introduced
in the house by Mallett of Kinds, de-
signed to regulate the conduct of those
resorts and to place the supervision and
regulation of them under the board of
health, and prescribing in general terms
some of the fundamentals required of
them in the way Of public safety and
sanitary o~bservances.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
L. c. Surveying New Line,

Jackson.-A party of Is civil en-
Ssinecrs of the Illinois Central railroad
began to make a survey from this point
extending about IS miles up Pearl river
valley on the east side of the river. 1t
81 learned from a reliable source that
the company is making Il tentative sur
-gcy with the ultimate object OF building
"a road to Birmingham, Ala, by connect
Ing with the Aberdeen line further north,
The road penetrates the largest undc'
oslopcd section of the state, rich in tim.
Der lands consisting principally Of yellow
pine,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
THREE ARE PARDONED.
Governor Grants Clemency to Men
Whose Time Was Nearly Up.

Jackson, Governor Brewer pardoned
three men. j. b. Flowers, of Claiborne
county, who was convicted in the Cir
cult Court of that county for unlawful
retailing.
\. Il. French, of Harrison county, who
was sent up for the same ofrcusc Of
retailing. was pardoned at the same
time and under practically the same
conditions.
j, O. Smithwick, who was sent to the
peuitcntiary in Nov. 1909, from Forrest
county, was released, lie had been con
victed of gaming with minors, and sen
fenced to serve two years.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Burkitt Bill Passes.

The house passed the Burkitt bill abol'
ishing the present governing body and
creating a new general board of trustees
of the four state educational institu-
tions, to be composed of five members,
with the governor and superintendent of
education as ex-officio members.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Veteran Goes to His Reward.

Nettleton.-R. A. Pennal, one of the
oldest citizens of this community, died
at his home, five miles east of this place,
at the advanced age of SO. A few years
before the Civil War he removed to this
community, and during the war rendered
valuable service to the Confederate army
as q soldier.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Stone County Created.

The bill creating the county Of Stone
has passed both houses. The new coun-
ty will be formed from territory taken
from the northern part of Harrison, the
southern portions o. Forrest and Perry,
and the western end of George, Virgins
will be the seat of government of the
new county.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Hookworm in Lincoln.

B~rookhaven. - Drs. Whitfield and
Buchanan have been in our county since
the middle of November, 1911. Their
report shows that they have examined
1924 people and find LIS infected with
hook-worms, and they have treated l..
200 of the above number; 1850 are pu-
pills Of the rural district, and 1,34S of
them have hookworms, of which number
934 have been treated.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
TO MAKE CHOLERA SERUM.
Eminently Practical and Sensible Bill
BY Mr.. Hemphill.

One bill that was hailed with a great
deal of acclaim by the farmers of the
legislature is that introduced by Mr..
Hemphill of Carroll county, requiring the
veterinarian of the Mississippi Agricul-
tural Experiment Station to manufacture
hog cholera serum for distribution in the
state at a cost calculated ukon the ac-
tual cost of the manufacture and with
such profit only as will keen the work
going,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
MAY USE MOTOR CARS.
Railroad Considers Experiment on .
Branch Line.

Laurel,--A motor car, to do much Of
the local business upoo the New Or
leans, Mobile and Chicago Railroad, is
said to be among the probabilities of the
early future.
The opening of the line to New Or.
leans viii greatly increase the business
of this line from South Mississippi
points. and to furnish greater facilities
for handling this business additional
trains will be put III service
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
Meridian Officer Shot.

Mcridin,-Police Officer A. f. Rus.
sell, while attempting to crest an UNI
known negro, was shot by the negro
and is expected to die, The negro es-
capped, \ lynching is rega, ] as certain
if the negro is caught.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-02-23
TO PROTECT THE ROBINS.
Coast People Want Redbreast Saved
From Slaughter,

From Slaughter.
Petitions have been forwarded to Rep
resentative Rushing of Harrison county,
on the coast, containing more than GOO
names from Biloxi, and $50 names from
the Soldiers Home, asking that he get
a law passed protecting robins in Mis-
sissippi, and placing them on the list of
birds that shall not be killed. The
deadful slaughter of these birds, which
winter in the south, has aroused the
tourists on the coast.