The weekly soliphone., 1915-01-08
BILLS OF ALL SORTS
TO Be INTRODUCED
Range of Subjects Runs from New
Primary Election Law to Pen
siOns for Mothers.

mothers already have been proposed,
and in some cases drafted, in an
ticipation of the conyening of the
legislature Monday
Among the most important meas
ures that will come up early is that
relative to the state finances. A
number of bills probably will be in
troduced in the biennial attempt to
''solve the revenue problem" Un-
less some plan is hit upon for a COM
mittee bill, the discussion over this
subject is liable to handicap other
legislation, owing to the 60-day lin
it.
1t has been suggested that a joint
committee from the house and SEN
ate be named to draft a revenue bill
to save time and to get all the facts
relative to the states financial diff
ficulties properly assembled. There
is much speculation as to whether
the recommendations of Secretary of
State Hodges, that the state debt
board be empowered to borrow mon
ey to care for the deficit, will be
followed.
LAW WILL BE ATTACKED
From the undercurrent of COM
ment among members arriving early,
it is evident that the Going act, gov
erning the operation of saloons, will
be under fire. Just what will be
done with, to or about the act, does
not seem to be definite in the mind
of the average member, however.
1t has been intimated that a bill
will be introduced repeating certain
provisions of the act or referring it
to the people at the general election
in 1916, it's operation to be suspend
ed in the meantime.
Another bill which has been dis
cussed is that for the restoration of
oSlhS at NV oPA ih6S uhaCl d lAOul-
fled system now used in a number
of states.
TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment would be
abolished by a bill to be introduced
by Senator Owen of Yellville.
The bill would restrict the pardon
ing power of the governor with re-
gard to persons convicted of crimes
that are now punishable by death.
To obtain pardon under the pro-
posed law it would be necessary for
a convicted person to secure the sig
natures of all the living members of
the jury which convicted him, who
are residents of the state at the time
the pardon is asked and signatures
of S5 per cent of the citizens of the
where the conviction was Sc
cured. The pardoning power of the
governor over persons convicted of
other crimes would not be changed.
Another clause would provide that
all persons convicted of first degree
or other crimes now punish
able by death, must be confined
within the walls of the penitentiary
for life.
ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS ON SAL
ARIES
Another bill that will be intro
duced would put all county officials
on salaries. This is expected to start
a redhot fight with Pulaski county
officials leading the lobbying against
the "juicy" fee system.
Bills also will be introduced with
the endorsement of the state depart
ment of education, for the enact
ment of a uniform school textbook
law and a statewide law for compul-
sorry school attendance.
State Tax Commissioner A. C.
Martineau is drafting bill provid-
ing for a general revision of the
state franchise tax law. 1t would
increase the annual tax on corpora
tions from one-fifteenth to one-tenth
of one per cent of their capital stock
employed in Arkansas and would
reclassify corporations and adjust
the tax so that those having a mo-
nopoly of business would pay the
largest tax.
The State Federation of Labor is
asking for minimum wage law and
a mothers pension bill has been sug-
gested as a supplement to the pres
ent child labor law. The state bu-
reau of labor and statistics advo-
Gates certain amendments enlarging
the activities of that department and
creating free employment bureau.
The antitrust law will come in
for attention, due to the fact thai