The Spectator., 1915-03-26

Of the engroSSed bill that was finally passed by the Senate and the amended bill that came from the House to the Senate seemed to show that two dis tinct bills had been passed by the two branches, one bearing the words ''or mercantile" and the other being minus these words.
 This raised the question as to whether the measure had been legal ly passed, as the law requires that a measure, in order to be valid, must pass in identical form both houses of the legislature
 The records filed in the office of the secretary of state show that the amended bill, as it came back to the words "or mercantile" in the first par agraph, which relates to the classes of establishments affected by the bill. The engrossed bill, which finally pass ed the Senate and which is presumed to have been correct copy of the amended bill, does not contain the words "or mercantile Therefore, the ground for the contention that both branches did not pass the same iden- tical bill, and that, therefore, neither the one nor the other can be law.
 The enrolled bills, as presented to the governor and signed by him. was correct copy of the engrossed bill as turned over to the enrolling clerk Mrs. Mai Sparks Briant There was no clerical error shown in regard to the enrolling of the bill.
 Gov. Hays, with the advice of At torney General Moose, had the en- rolled bill amended by inserting the words or mercantile" the attorney general being under the impression that the error had been made in en- rolling the bill from the engrossed copy, and that the insertion would be curative. Upon learning that there was no error in the enrolling of the bill, Judge Moose stated frankly that the status of the bill might be entire ly different and he was not certain would be legal or binding or that the act so changed would be valid.
 That the measure will not get by one way or the other without a court test appears absolutely certain.
 John H. Page, commissioner of mines, manufacturers and agriculture, issued an order requiring the registra- tion as Barley, Mixed" of all oats containing more than per cent bar ley. With barley, weighing 40 pounds per bushel, selling at so cents, and cats, weighing 32 pounds, selling for 63 cents, dealers were mixing one bushel of barley to every four pounds of oats and making the product cost 2 IA cents per bushel less than the market price.
 From his office in the state capitol Governor Hays addressed an audience of nearly 1000 persons in the audi torium of Henderson Brown College at Philadelphia, S5 miles distant. It was the first time the new invention, known as the loud talking tele- phone had been used in the state and reports from Philadelphia said the audience heard with ease.
 Dr. M. F. Dickinson of Paragould. who was recently appointed auditor of state, has resigned as vice president Of the Farmers Union of Arkansas, in compliance with the provisions of the constitution of the organization, which prohibits national or state officer of the union holding a political office.
 The first hearing in the legislative investigation of the old state charities board will be held next week, accord ing to Senator J. O. A. Bush, chair man of the joint Investigating com mittee. The hearing will not be pub lie, he said It will be held at the capitol.
 Auditor M. F. Dickinson issued war rants to four members of the State Charities Board, appointed by Gov ernor Hays to succeed the removed board and whose members served be. tween December 16 and the time the new Board of Control was appointed. Governor Hays has not yet taken in- to consideration any appropriation bills because he was waiting for all of them to come before him, and it is probable that all will be signed at the same time.
 c. c. Hamby of Prescott, former state senator, was the first person to be granted a license under the new game and fish law.
 Articles of r. corporation of the Blytheville Steam Laundry were filed with the secretary of state.