The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-12
Special Session Of Ten
nessee Body to Meet
Tomorrow.
BILLS TO ENFORCE
LA w A RE CAUSE
Governor Hooper Says Solons
Have Opportunity to Restore
Majesty of the Law or Face
the Rising Tide of Pub
lie Indignation-May
Act Quickly.

Nashville. Tenn. October 1l.-when
me tennessee Legislature convcnes
mere In special session Monday. 1t will
be the third time this year that tho
members of that body have gathered
IN the legislative halls of the Capitol.
incidentally. IL Will DO the first timc
In thirty years that two special ses
slons OF the General Assembly have
peen held within twelvcmonth.
interest In the deliberations of tho
coming session is especially keen on
account of tho fact that n determined
Hent Is expected on the so-callcd law
enforcement bills" intended to make
more effective the present prohibition
laws Through the efforts OF regular
democrats, vote upon these measures
at the special session. which closed
september -. was prevented
Mny he short.
In addition to considering the law
enforcement BILL" the special session
VIII be called upon to consider Tho
proposed amendment to tho rcfunding
act and bill making an appropriation
covering the expenses of the session
II has been estimated that from thrce
days 10 week will be required 10 dis
pose OF tho business which Governor
Hooper has called upon the Lcgisla-
ture to transact. 1t is also calculated
that the minimum cost of the special
session will be $4,000. raising tho
total Legislative expense OF the year
to approximately $4,000.
Establish Record for IonGeyity.
The regular session OF the Tennes-
see Legislature opened January 6 last
After remaining in session until Feb
ruary Il. recess was taken to March
IL Desiring to break n quorum on
April !. House fusionists went to Mid
dlesboro. KY, and stayed away until
the expiration of the seventy-five days.
for which legislators draw pay
IN the meantime. members OF the
regular" Democratic faction kept the
session alive until August %. thus es-
tablishing a longevity record for Ten
nessee's Legislative body.
ChnnEe Election Lnws.
Efforts of the regular" Democrats
10 effect certain changes In the State
election laws precipitatcd the extended
Tight in the regular session. Because
of these efforts, the fusionists Mt
tempted to break the quorum by leaving
the State Friends of the proposed
election law amendments daily met in
the House. attempting to defeat the flu
sion filibuster by counting the absen-
tees as mot voting" The amendments
to the election laws. passed at this
time. now are before the State Supreme
Court, the regular" Democrats hay-
Ing won in the Court of Chancery.
Not until June was the quorum re-
stored. and then for only three days
Not until the absolute need OF refund
ing legislation was impressed upon
them did tho absent fusonists consent
To return to the capital 1t was at that
time that a number OF "additlonar
serseat-at arms were appointed, the
doors of the legislative halls closed and
an attempt made to re-enact the cleo
Ian, l,,x
conditions the amendments were again
voted on, passing by vote OF 53 TO Is.
Feeling Ran High.
Feeling ran high at the first spe-
clal session. which was called by Gov
ernor Hooper chiefly in order to Sc
cure passage OF the law enforcement
bills" Charges were made by both
factions that armed guards were in
troduced Into the halls of tho capitol,
and that efforts were made at intimi-
dation. While none OF these charges
was substantiated. they had the effect
OF bringing about a mutual agreement
whereby all but members of the I4egis-
lature were excluded from tho capitol.
No similar trouble at the coming spe-
cial session is anticipated.
Governor Hooper, discussing the
coming session tonight said: "a ma
jcrity of the Legislature recently was
ing the law enforcement bills which
will enable the people to abate the sa-
looms as a nuisance. When II ap-
peared that friends of law enforce
ment resented efforts of certain city
officials Of this State TO intimidate
by sending armed guards TO the capt.
tol lurid newspaper accounts were
sent broadcast. to the effect that ad-
vocates of law enforcement were try
ing. by gun play to force the passage
OF the bills
Restore Law or Face Indignation.
The Governor said that tho ap-
preaching special session would have
mn opportunity Ito restore the majesty
of the law in the cities OF Tennessee
or face tho rising tide OF public, In
dignation."
Tennessees liquor laws frequently
have been tho political storm centre
since 1877, when the historic four
mile law" of any schoolhouse exoept
in Incorporated towns licensing such