The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-02
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 OPENS JANUARY l2
Sixty-Day Session May Be Con- tested - Usual Eruption of Bills of All Kinds Is
 Expected.

General Assembly will convene. It is forordained it will be a work ing body. They will have to work if they get all the necessary business done in 50 days. That is all the time they will have unless they take i5 days more on half pay.
 There has been some talk in cer- tain quarters about probable eff fort to have the Norwood 60-day amendment declared not adopted on the ground that it was not properly advertised. Attorney General Nor wood contends that it was pub lished in all respects in compliance with the provisions of the enabling act, and he insists that he can see no possible loop-hole for the legis- lature to escape the 60-day limit. He says that those who oppose it are mistaken about six months being required to advertise it, as that was changed by the enabling act which was provided by the I. & R. amend ment itself. Under the present law, he says, but four months IS neces- sary. It may get into the courts, however, should the question be raised, and it is possible for it to be deferred long enough to extend the coming session to the usual length, even should it finally be de- elared adopted.
 Under the law, the speaker of the house declares the amendments adopted or defeated after the can vass had been made by the legisla- ture in joint session. An injunction might be issued against him, which would raise the issue in the courts It is opined by many, however, thai since io5,e4e voted for the amend ment, and only 3i,i93 against it, the popularity of the measure was SC strongly emphasized that it would be political suicide to oppose it.
 'grhe enabling act" says the at torney general a6Dhof of the 60- day session amel4iment, under the authority of Amendmccl No. 10, has,
 detail, prescribed the mSnner of proposing amendments by the peO- pie. It had the authority to pre- scribe the method of advertising proposed amendments under the in- itiative, because Amendment No. 10 authorizes the filing of petition for the initiation of an amendment within four months of the time such amendment is to be voted upon. Since Amendment No. 10 changed the constitution in refer ence to advertising initiated amend menLs, the legislature had the right, under the authority of such amend ment, to prescribe the time and manner of advertising such amend ments. The enabling act has pre- scribed four months, and therefore the opponents of the 60-day ses- sion. which the people have en- phatically declared they want, will have to seek elsewhere for flaw to nullify it."
 There are premonitions of the usual irruption of bills of all kinds. with the usual number of freaks and probable diminution in the number of local measures, if the pre-legislative pledges may be ac- cepted as a criterion. Ii is general ly conceded that if much is to be accomplished in 60 days, local legis- lation must take a secondary place. As has been said, it will be work ing body, and less time than usual will be taken in organization. The first week will doubtless see the calendar loaded with proposed measures from calling constitu- tional convention to making there fourths majority capable of return ing a verdict in. civil cases. The appropriation bills will probably get in early and much attention will be given to the financial rec concentrations to be made by Gov ernor Joe T. Robinson. The last few weeks has seen a remarkable increase of sentiment in favor of his proposition. for instance, of a mill tax for educational purposes and the absolute divorce of all ed- ucational institutions from political influences. His message, offering a solution for the financial ills of the state. is being awaited with great interest all over the state. The friends of Governor Donaghey say that he has laid the foundation of a condition, through the operation of the tax commission that is restor- ing the finances of the state to a sound basis, but it must be care fully guarded. It is pointed out that under the provisions of the sliding scale provided in the Tur- |ner-J Jacobson bill so ingloriously defeated in the recent election there would be an authentic re- ducfio Na general tax rate nexi Iy Donaghey is also In sting financial message
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