The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-24
STATE FAIR BILL
 CONES UP FRIDAY
CLEAR MAJORITY IN SENATE FOR MEASURE THAT MEANS
 MUCH TO THIS CITY.
Filibuster Yesterday Prevented Vote and Gave Senate Livelest Scene lt Has Had This Session.

Special to The Sentinel-Record.
 Little Rock, Feb Political his. tory repeated itself in the senate to- day. For years whenever the legis- lature is in session and a majority de- sire any important legislation passed the opposition has always managed to intimate that the majority of those fayoring a measure are giving it their support because of undue influ- ence,' and that is the charge that was made in the senate today and which led to the introduction of the following resolution by Senator Toler:
 Whereas, It is rumored and is also apparent that lobbyists are be- coming too plentiful and are trying to manifest undue pressure and influ- ence upon this senate relative to va rious kinds of leeislation now pend ing before the same: and,
 Whereas. The time has come when scme action should be taken to protect the members of this body from sucn lobbyists; therefore. be #
 Resolved hy the senate, That a committee of five members be ap- pointed by the president of the sen ate 10 investigate and probe into the current rumors and other such mat ters of lobbying and report the same to the senate accordingly.
 "The chairman of this committee shall be empowered to issue subpoa- mas and administer oaths and cause persons as they may desire to appear before the committee to testify
 The resolution is aimed at the State Fair Commission bill, and that measure brought about as lively a scene as has been enacted in the upper branch of the present general assembly this session.
 Senator Edmondson brought out he fact that the resolution aforemen- toned was prepared with special ref erence to the State Fair Commission bill, and Senator Edmondson asked why a resolution that was aimed At all members should be presented and to whom it referred Senator Toler stated that those fayoring the State Fair Commission bin had been most active and that there were 'rumors that undue mfluence' was being used to get votes for the bill
 Senator Collins inquired about the lobbying that was alleged to have been done during the time the New berry statewide prohibition bill was under consideration. Senator Toler was a staunch supporter Of it. He re- piled that he had the resolution about the lobby matter in his pocket tAen, but did not introduce it because some were opposed.
 There is no denying the fact that had the State Fair bill been voted on today it would have passed, and it IS equally certain that when the vote is taken, which will be Friday. this measure will have a substantial ma iority. The Glbuster that started today, if anything, made the support CTS of the bill more determined than ever NU Ntt lt NdltlN llAA Nu1h tiAN D1lA0 ate. and the springing of the rasoiu- tion for an investigation is an old political trick that deceived no one. lt is used by a minority who are not broadmjnded enough and who do noI possess the true spirit of democracy that should give way to the majority on important questions. Tha major
 ty of the members of the senate de. sire the State Fair Commission bill passed and they are standing to- gether in tais fight as they have not lined up for any other measure this session.
 Notification was given that an at tempt would be made to change the rules of the senate Thursday morn ing. At present it requires a two thirds vote 10 lay aside other husi- ness and consider some special bill, but the rules can be changed by a majority vote that will enable the senate, when the majority so de. cides, to transact the business the majority decides upon.
 Last night tne senate cleared the calendar of house bills on first and second reading and, even should the rules of the senate not be changed, there will be nothing to interfere with the State Fair bill when Friday arrives and the measure, the oppon- ents of the bill realize. when a vote is taken, will pass.
 Early in the session today it looked like the State Fair bill was not to come up for while. but in less than 20 minutes motion was made by Senator Edmondson to lay aside all special business before the senate until 9 o'clock this afternoon.
 Might | inquire the purpose of this motion?" asked Senator Toler
 Reply was made to the effect that
 t was to dispose of the State Fair bill, otherwise known as a bill to per init horse racing in the state and Co allow betting under the pari-mutuel system in force in states where rae ing ic pprmfttao