Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-03-12
(BY A. ". Parke.D


 Little RGck, March 11.-With the legislative session at an end ii is we'll to begin to sum up, and see what the state has gained for the outlay on the 60-day session. It has nothing iE a revenue producing way. It has more extravagant appropriations than ever 1 before, but it has along with it some magnificent constructive legislation, and the knowledge that the fortieth general assembly was the hardest
 working body that ever sat in the 1 legislative halls. '-
 Paramount in legislation is the statewide liquor bill, with the ac-
 companying legislation to make the operation of blind tigers a felony, and to permit the officers to sci. a sto k of liquor stored within the state. The stability of these laws are problemat- ical, fer it is no secret that efforts will be made to repeal them, as well
 as the Going law, if the present pro- hibition laws have not already nulli fled that. These efforts will take shape in an initiated act which will seek to wipe them all off with one blow, and which must be voted on III the general election of 1916. It is not probable that the Greenhouse election bill, consolidating state and national elections was encouraged by those who will seek to repeal the liquor laws, this law, by holding state and national elections jointly, will give the United States government control over them, and power to investigate any claims of fraud perpetrated at them. It is plain as an enlarged pro- boscis on a peaked face that the Pro- hibitionists were merely throwing an additional safeguard around the state wide bill. To them the red flag of negro domination meant nothing, for they have no fears but what the gro counties, as has always been done. The Greenhouse bill will 50 a long way to eliminating much of the al- leged unfairness in Arkansas politics, for though it does not reach the pri- maries, it will force the Democratic party to put up a better class of men to hold their own in the general cleo tion. .H
 Most Legislation Local.
 The balance of legislation has been 95 per cent local in it's nature, but it has been wholesome, and will result, for the most part, in the general up- building of the state. The Fortieth general assembly has done little to be condemned for, and much to be praised It has been the best appear ing, and by far the most intelligent, of any in recent years. It is true that the house defeated the best primary election law that could be prepared by the most eminent lawyers of Ar kansas, and one which the senate de- honestly won an election, but politi- clans so muddled the house on this bill that it lost sight of the many splendid features, in making noun tain out of the mole hill as the "vi- cious" sections were magnified to them by the politicians the bill would have eliminated from office. There is yet day to come on this bill, however, and time will see it on the Arkansas statute books. Every year sees the assembly getting closer to the people, and two years more will convince the members that the people desire little recognition at the polls, and the assurance that the people they elect will serve m office.
 There has been tendency in some counties to abolish the board of equalization, but the movement did not have time in which to spread. Two years from now it will no douot be prevalent, and special school dis tricts will follow the example of the T cfviof a and ask for treasurers, thus saving much of the fees now paid to county treasurers. The fee system was abol-