The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1915-02-25
State Capital PiCkings.
Facts and Gossip Of the DOings of
the General Assembly Now in
Session at Jefferson City.
BY BART B. HOWARD.

the session thus far, was the engross
ment bv the House Of the civil code
bill. Joshua Barbee OF Saline had
charge Of The measure. He handled
the situation capitally. Strong argu'
ments were made against the bill, in
the form in which it was presented, by
Fanis and Dunn (Democrats) and
Shannon and Ind (Republicans).
The debate occupied most Of an after
noon and was conducted on the highest
plane Of serious, non bipartisan discus
sion. The vote, too was partisan,
Democrats and Republican uniting
both in support and opposition. As
chief advocate Barbee was effectively
tactful in disclaiming perfection for
the measure and in admitting frankly
that as drafted it did not unqualifedly
meet his personal wishes and opinion.
Then he silenced any questions which
might have been prompted by that
admission by stating the obvious truth
that a work Of such magnitude and
and character, no matter who did it,
could not conceivably satisfy every
body.
As evidence Of the influence the
farmers are welding in this Legislature
may be cited the fact that thus far no
bill vouched for by the State Board Of
Agriculture and the agricultural COM
mit,ees of the House and Senate has
been rejected by either house. All
farmer measures have been promptly
reported out OF the committees with
favorable recommendations, and they
are also being promptly sent to en-
grossment and final passage.
Gardner's Land Bank Bill has been
reported out favorably BY both Senate
and House Committees. Its gener'
a! provisions have already been re-
ported In these letters. The bill can
become law only by constitutional
amendment, so, if the Assembly sub
mits it, it will be thoroughly threshed
out before it reaches the point Of
popular rejection or accetance. And
regardless of the Legislatures action
this bill has served the purpose Of
starting popular discussion Of the great
question Of money for the business OF
farming at business rate Of interest.
Col. Phelps bills, with the same OBJ
ject, have added momentum to this
discussion. 1t requires no prophet to
foretell that as a result Of this discus
sion the black shadow Of usury is
going to be lifted from the shoulders
that stoop over the plow.
The railroad question, topliner for a
week, is is still right up TO the front
on the calendar Of legislative interest.
Petitions praying i!r an increase in
railroad rates are still pouring in from
all quarters. The railroads themselves
have strongly reinforced the m raj
efiec. Of those petitions BY producing
concrete facts as 10 their condition in
the shape Of figures. Those figures
OF nine Missouri railroads, submitted
10 the Public Service Commission and
by that body referred TO the Assembly
in answer to a Senate resolution Of
request, show that in their passenger
traffic the railroads lost S992, 2,945.96
in 1914 as compared with 1918.
The railroads want a three-cent
maximum passenger rate, with two
and half cent rate TO become
effective at once. How that can be
done is a question. The Public
Service Commission takes the position
that it has no jurisdiction over passen'
ger rates; that the two-cent passenger
rate law is a Legislative enactment and
relief in this department must be pro-
vided by the Legislature. This has
been done: The Public Service Com.
mission bill, recognizing that board,
has been amended so as TO make the
passenger maximum rate three cents
instead Of two, and vesting the Com
mission with xower to increase the
rate 10 two and one-hali cents as soor
as it completes its investigation ant
Is satisfied the railroads are entitled tc
such rate. The railroad committee,
OF both House and Senate have favor
ably reported out the bill as amended
The drys tried out their strength
this week on the Feaster bill, which
was engrossed BY vote which provet
the drys' claim 10 control OF tht