The Spectator., 1915-03-05
Hopelessly in the minority, a mere

eandful of senators made a remarka. ble fight against the Posey-Steed con vent inspection bill, but they were as saulting an impregnable position, and in spite of their strenuous efforts the bill was passed, 22 to 8.
 This bill, aimed directly at the Catholic institutions of the state, but in order to reach them putting all pri- vate hospitals and similar institutions under it's provisions, was met with a motion from Senator Jones of Pulaski, when it was called, to place back on the second reading for the purpose of exempting Pulaski county by amend ment. His proposition was met with an avalanche of opposition, the Senate voting g to 16 against any further post ponement in the bill, and followed it with motion for previous question, thus limiting the debate to thirty min utes to the side in closing.
 No enc offered to speak for the bill and Senator Jones opened against it. He asserted that it was a measure founded on malice, bigotry and preju- dice, in addition to which it was un- constitutional. He declared that the majority of the large Catholic institu tlons were located in Little Rock, but there was no demand among the peo- pie of this city to force such an un- reasonable measure upon them. In his argument Senator Jones spoke of the biased committee of the Senate to which the bill had been referred, when he was interrupted by Senator Ca baniss, who objected to insinuations concerning the committee.
 "If this Senate had the proper reli- zion in it's heart, it would not have the desire to entertain such a preju- diced measure as this,' was one of the many pointed expressions of Sen ator Jones, who raued at the opposi- tion for limiting his debate to thirty minutes but he finally yielded with ten minutes left to Senator l.. c Going.
 Under this bill any institution of the state can be ruined in a week" demurred Senator Going, If the sheriff or his deputies so desire. for 1t gives them the power to make inspec- tion at any time This bill displays the mailed hand of prejudice, and is clothed in envenomed hate. It will drive the patients from the institu- tions if the half drunken officers ap- pear there in the middle of the night few times. do not say this is going to happen, but it is possible for the officers to so conspire, and carry out their schemes.
 They tell you this bill is for all in- stitutions, but I'll wager that if you take out the reference to convents that it will go to its death in race horse fashion,
 Senator Bush, by consent, was per mitted to close the debate, although the opposition to the bill had waived it's right to speak upon it, and declar- ed that if a one-hundredth part of the reports in circulation concerning Catholic institutions are true, that the bill should pass. and if they are not. that 1t should pass just the same. He declared that he would endeavor to have the law repealed in the next session of the General Assembly, if it Is found to be working a hardship, and the reports made are found to be untrue.
 When the roll call was taken Sena- tor Greenhouse explained his vote, as Protestant, against the bill, by eX- pressing the belief that there were no institutions in his district that need inspection, and he would vote for the bill in order that these institutions might have the opportunity to prove the islanders uttered against them to be untrue. The large Catholic settle ment of Tontitown is in the district represented by Senator Greenhouse, and within a few miles of his home. in Washington County.
 Maj. Gen. w. H. Haynes, one of the best known Confederate Veterans of the state, is appealing to the legisla- ture for relief. He claims overdue sal ary as major-general commanding the Arkansas State Guard during the years 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904 and until March 17, 1905. During that time he received no compensation whatever In his pe- tition he says: Tt cost me the actual loss of position worth S2,000 annual ly, together with all expenses added. worth to me another thousand annual ly. which l had held for 34 years; but this was nothing comparable to the duty l undertook, at the request of Governor Davis, in series for the whole people of Arkansas"
 Gen. Haynes calls attention to the services rendered by the Guard under