The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-06-09
TIMELY GOSSIP OF WHAT WILL
. MD WHAT MAY TAKE PLACE
I AT JACKSON.
QUORUM IS ALREADY PRESENT
100000 Bond Issue the Especial
Business of the Session, But Other
Matters May Come Up-May Adjourn
In Week.


q majority of the members of the
two houses of the Mississippi legisla-
ture have reached the city for the ex-
ira session to be convened at the noon
hour Tuesday. The afternoon trains
brought In large delegations, and 9th
ers will arrive on early trains Tuesday
morning.
The purpose Of the session will be to
enact laws enabling the Mississippi
board of levee commissioners to float
$S,O00,00O In bonds for levee improve
ment purposes, and repair the damage
wrought to the levee system by Gre
vases during the recent flood period.
Statutes will also be proposed CIV
ing the levee board authority, in en-
ergency cases, to increase the ad va
lorum tax, the cotton tax, and to make
heavier assessment for privileges.
Governor Brewer will send mes
sage to the two houses Immediately
after they are convened setting forth
the purpose of the session. The Gov
ernors' message will limit business to
be considered exclusively to levee
board finances.
The proposed statutes have already
been framed for introduction by at
torneys of the levee board, and will
be introduced in the house and senate
by members from Washington county
Immediately after they get recognition
from the chair.
1t is tn desire of the Governor and
leaders in both houses to dispose OF
the pending business as quickly as pos
sible and adjourn sine die The hope
h$s been expressed that the bills can
Dbe5 passed and approved by the Gov
'Srnor before the close of the week, al
Rowing the lawmakers to return home
next Saturday night.
II is not certain, however, that this
can be accomplished Members of the
delta delegation are not wholly agreed
on the proposed bills, and 1t Is certain
that there will be a fight on the
amount Of the bond issue. State Sen
ator Clements and Representative
Goodman, of Sharkey county have re-
ceived instructions from their constitu-
ents to oppose a bond issue in excess
OF one million dollars, and to support
a measure of this character only on
condition that Congress pass an ade-
quate apprpriation for flood relief or
prevention. They have also been In
structed to oppose any measure giving
authority to increase ad valorum or
cotton taxes, or to assess privilege
tax. Sharkey county is in the lower
levee district, and has suffered from
two. overfows within the past six
months. tssskW
With this disagreement confronting
the lawmakers, it is by no means GER
tain that the pending legislation can
be disposed of by next Saturday night.
Gov. Brewer is emphatic in his decla-
ration that he will not submit any
other subjects to the lawmakers for
consideration; that the work of the
session must be confined exclusively
to legislation relative to levee board
finances.
However, the Governor has no au-
thority to prevent the lawmakers from
introducing or considering resolu-
tions. and there may be some interest
ing measures of this character pre-
sented.
1t is quite likely that a resolution
will be offered ON the opening day COM
mending the Governors zeal and dill
gence in probing the affairs of the