The Harrison times., 1915-02-13
THE ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE
Statewide Prohibition for 1916 Wins
Easily Final Rush is On,

SO long prayed and worked for pro-
hibition are rejoicing over the action
of the General Assembly in passing
the statewide bill last week They
are rejoicing that the State is at last
to be dry, and in their zeal imagine
that it is to remain that way lust
because the bill becomes a law, but
unless they put covering over their
ointment there is extremely liable to
be a fly in it. While the prohibition.
lists are idle the local optionists will
he constantly working, and on the
very day the Ncwbcrry bill becomes
effective, Jan. /, 1916, it not before,
a petition will be put in circulation
to initiate an act to repeal the bill,
and possibly one also to repeal the
Going Act
Arkansas will be dry for u year,
even if the liquor men are successful
in repeating either or both Of these
measures, tor the matter cannot be
! placed before the people until Sep
tcmbcr, 1910, Success at that time
largely depends upon the election
commissioners appointed this year,
which will make these appointments
something TO light for,
The ten mile act for Little Rock
will hardly get by the Senate, br
| the rcsubmissonists had a majority
| there until it collapsed like a balloon
. in mid.air and came down in q limp
heap. This majority contained Sey.
cral prohibitionists who favored
submission, but would vote for thc
Ncwbcrry bill if they could not get
their desires Several more switched
TO the prohibitionists on the com.
promise 20 cXtcod the liquor licenses
until January l. and it was their
understanding that there would be
no effort TO molcSt the saloons until
| that time They woke up 10 the real
wording Of the bill about the time it
was passed, and several were in.
ccnscd when they found that the
| Pine Bluff saloons were left out be.
cause license had not been issued
| prior to the signing oI the bill Wirh
| this feeling, in the face OF the com.
promise, it is hardly probable chat q
|biIl making Little Rock dry go soon
after the licenses have been issued
will get through the Senate Any
| kind Of a prohibition BILL no matter
how radical, will 60 through thc
| House,
| With the legislative session one.
| Iholr gone, littlc constructive or gen.
cruI legislation has been passed, The
! House has had 800 bills and the Sen.
late lT3, The two bodies have dis
posed Of practically onc.hali Of the
| bills introduced, and the Senate had
on Saturday night passed To Of the
I77 House bills before it, while the
| House passed % Of the Senate bills
reported to that branch,
| The Senate will this week dispose
| Of practicallyall House biilSrcportcd
| there, and there will hardly be Oc'
rasion for u Friday afternoon and
Saturday session, rs there was last
week, unless it is to consider Senate
business The liquor bill ont Of
| the way the Assembly rushcs bills
| through like grist from u mill
A movement has been started by
certain House members Tor the IcpeaI
| Of the enabling act Of the initiative
and referendum amendment to the
State constitution The purpose Of
| these gentlemen is to prohibit the
/ people from submitting measures,
either acts or amendments, nt q gem
cral election Representative Iirlotc
Of Hot Spring county, is one OF the
authors Of the repeal measure and is
| particularly interested in securing It's
passage, He declares the operation
Of the initiative and frI,I,ndum II
/ too costly to the State,
| 1t is highly probable tho' another
measure seeking to restore the old
Scent passenger fare rae IN Arkun,
sNs will he presented to the lcgislO.
turc, despite the defeat ul u rcsolus
| ton introduced early in the session,
| There is q growing sentiment in
/ favor Ol a more conservative policy
| IN dealing with railroads especially
in regard to passenger rates The
/ freight rates are, after all, the ones
|now regarded as important The
Arkansas Travellers have adopted
resolutions asking the restoration OI
I the old rates, many who led the tight
/ for the 2,ccut rate being uow ol the
| opinion that . cents per mile will
notmnintain service and provide i'm
pfoyrncnts and extensions The
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