The log cabin Democrat., 1915-02-15
BOTH HOUSES ARE
 AGAIN IN SESSION MUCH WORK TO BE DONE CONWAY MAN WOULD BE SEC RETARY OF CONSTITUTION
 AL CONVENTION.

Little Rock, Feb. 15.-The house
 Monday morning began anew it's dis eussion of the Dowdy fiscal board bill, which radically changes the form of state government, making it really the commission form The entire day will be consumed by this bill unless some unforeseen action will arise to turn the drift of oratory to some oth- CT subject.
 The senate began Monday morning at 80 to discuss the Moore bill ap- plopnating $25,O00 as additional fee for Judge J. M. Hill, chief counsel for the state in the rate cases. This bill will pass, as the amount is a compro-
 mise, the bill at first appropriating $50 ,000 There is no fight on the full amount, those opposing stating that
 he Is entitled to a fee much larger
 than that, but that the treasury at the present is depleted, and the next gen
 eral assembly can make up the de- ficicncy. The bill appropriating $12,- 5G0 for Judge w. F. Kirby has never
 been passed upon by the committee to which it was referred.
 With the legislative session over half gone, no measure has vet been introduced looking toward an increase in the annual reciepts of the state.
 and with Governor Hays opposing an
 men ease of any hind in taxation. it is hardly likely there will be, unless another Turner-Jacobson bill is intro dueed, and there is every indication ttas such a measure will be forthcom- ing before the session, is much older.
 Senator Toler has agreed to draft bill along the lines of the revenue
 me; sure which created so much com ment a few years ago, and which will eliminate the features which were ob- jectionable.
 Unless a revenue measure along the old Turner-Jacobson bill lines is in- troduced, bill providing for a bond issue may be looked for This will hardly be adopted, however, for senti- ment has not yet reached the point where it will permit of the states business being attended to as is that of the individual or the corporation. The bond issue is coming, however, and if not adopted by this assembly, will be by the next.
 The question of a constitutional convention was not considered serious ly until it was fought out on the floor
 of the house last week and passed Now the senatorial wiseacres are
 scratching their heads to determine whether or not they favor a revision
 of the ancient foundation for govern
 ment upon which the state has stood for so many years. The only fear they have is that the right kind of men will not offer for membership in | this convention, and that the constitu-
 tion, prepared by politicians and weddings, would be travesty. It is
 constitution is bit out of date, and growing more so each year, and that
 this risk will have to be taken sooner
 or later, so it might as well come now. l Ht tNlutIlIc Ol lile SCi eng Iii
 of sentiment in favor of a constitu-
 tional convention is displayed in the
 announcement of well-known citizens
 of Arkansas for appointment within
 the convention. James B. Higgins of
 Conway, assistant chief clerk of the
 house and for a number of terms the
 chief clerk, is the first of them all to
 announce as a candidate for secretary of the convention.
 l Eighty-fve delegates to the conven-
 tion are provided, one from each coun- 1 ty and 10 from the state at large. If
 the bill passes the convention will be
 held in the fall, so a real campaign
 would open. in Arkansas right after
 the close of the legislative session.
 Ten days ago it appeared as though
 the Arkansas legislature would close it's fortieth session with considerable
 of the business unfinished, necessitat-
 ing the calling of special session,
 but fears for this may now be banish-
 ed. As soon as the liquor fight was
 out of the way the two branches of
 the legislature settled down to busi-
 ness and the really important meas
 ures, excepting the appropriations,
 are already a long way toward adop-
 tion or rejection.