Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1914-03-26
Senator Lee N. RusSeII's
Weekly Letter

Last week was given largely to
the finishing up of all appropria-
ton bills. However, at the be-
ginning of this week there are 4
few of these still unfinished. For
some reason the committees have
been unable to agree upon these
matters, and the result has been
that many conferences between
the two houses have been nec-
essary. The University appro-
priation bill has passed at last;
likewise the |. I. & G.. and the
A. & II. bills have also been fin
ished up.
We have also passed the initi-
alive and referendum bill, which
means that the people this year
vote upon the quection as to
whether the people will have the
right 70 start legislation and have
referred to them any law that the
legislature may have passed.
Both houses have finished that,
and there are several other
amendments to the constitution
that will also be submitted 70 the
people, among them being the
election of six supreme court
judges and the enlargement of
the court to this number of judi
ges. As many know, the SAL
preme court is almost two years
behind with its work. Their work
has increased so much in the
past fsw years that it is impossi-
bic for three judges to keep up
with this work. II six judges are
selected then they will De able to
work in two divisions, as they do
in Alabama, and thus do twice
the work OF course. our court
will not get this relief for about
three years. II the people pass
this amendment as | feel sure
they will certainly do. then the
legislature in 1916 will place this
amendment in the constitution,
and then pass a law for the eIec-
tion Of the judges. In the mean
time our docket will still be
crowded and all persons will have
to wait. When a man gets in q
lawsuit he wants to get his case
through court sometime; he don't
liked to be forced to wait always
before getting a decision.
The recall of officers was not
put in the form of an amendment.
Many doubted If the people
wanted that yet. However, the
trend of affairs has been snch in
the past few years that many
good citizens feel that they should
have the right to recall any judge
or officer who refuses 10 obey the
law and do his duty. We had
several during the ''secret eau
cue" as you will recall. tina
would have been recalled ir
short order and justify so. So.
feel sure, this feature will cons
soon. A man that won't allow
, the majority to rule, and wbel
J it becomes his duty to vote tn
wishes of the majority and re-
fuses TO do il, IL most danger
Gus citizen. and the people ough
; to have some protection from a
9 such persons. And. right alon
, This line we ind here every da
, evidences that many of the can
/, didates for judge. district attor
!, ney and many other offices fin
, themselves in predicamer
: when they are confronted wit
, an election; they see that tn
: people have not forgotten thei
stand in the past with referene
to the political situation in Mis-
siss.ppi; they see the people hav
fully determined that no ma
who stood by the rotten polite
that resulted in the perniciou
practices of the secret caucu
shall ever hold office again. |
i governmental matters as in NOR
e al matters they now see the wa
ges of sin is death"
: The penitentiary committe
. looking after Boyce & Co., hay
n been at work some days and hav
]. made their report-an account {
d which possibly most If the read
e ers of the EAGLE have alread
e seen. This committee was com
r posed of some of the states be,
}. men, and a fair and imparti;
: investigation was had. 1t wa
made under the direction of
e joint committee from the Senat
: and House. and Gov. Brewer hs
!. aa his man Detective Pagan. NJ
Boyce selected Mr.. Gauti'
and the entire committee selecl
- ed accountant Crook, so ever
: interest was represented and ev,
= ry man had a fair hearing.
. Possibly | may begin TO wrii
: in detail. a little later, a summar
Of many of the laws; now the
are in such an unsettled sta
that | can't give a elear-cut ida
: at this time.
: LEE NJ. RUSSELL.