The Harrison times., 1915-02-20
THE ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE
Session Is over Half Gone and the
Final Rush viii Be on Henoeforth

introduced looking toward an IN
crease in the annual receipts OF the
state, and with Gov. HAYS opposing
an increase of any kind in taxation,
it is hardly likely there will be, unless
another IT. bill is introduced, and
there is every indication that such a
measure will be forthcoming before
the session is much older, Senator
Tolcr has agreed TO draft a bill along
the lines of the revenue measure
which created so much comment a
few years ago, and which will cIimi.
nate the features which were object
ionable.
Unless revenue measure along the
old r. bill lines is introduced bill
providing for a bond issue may be
looked for. This will hardly be
adopted, however, for sentiment has
not yet reached the point where it
will permit Of the States business
being attended to as is that OF the
individual or the corporation. The
bond issue is coming however, and
fnot adopted by this Assembly, will
be by the next
The question Of a Constitutional
Convention was not considered seri-
ously until it was fought out on the
floor Of the House last week and
passed, Now the Senatorial wise.
acres are scratching their heads to
determine whether or not they favor
revision of the ancient foundation
for government upon which the state
has stood for so many years, The
only fear they have is that the right
kind ot men will not offer for mem.
bership in this convention, and that
the constitution, prepared by poll
ticans and wcaklings, would bc Il
travesty. 1t isrealized, on the other
hand, that the constitution is a bit
on, Of date, and growing more SO
each wear, and that this r'k will
have to be taken sooner or later, SO
it might as well come now.
Eighty.6vc delegates to the con-
ycntcn are provided, one from each
county and ten from the state at
large, If the bin passes the conycn-
ton will be held in the fall, 50 q real
campaign would open in Arkansas
right after the close of the legislative
session.
Ten days ago it appeared aS
though the Arkansas legislature
would close its lortieth session with
considerable of the business un6nish'
cd, ncccssilating the calling Of Il
special session, but fears lorthismay
now be banished. As soon as the
| liquor fight was out OF the way the
| two branches Of the legislature set
| tied down t. business aud the really
important measures, excepting the
appropriations, are already a long
way toward adoption or rejection,
The really most important OF the
bills so far considered is the election
! bin prepared by the committee nam
ed by the State Democratic Conyen.
ton, This bill has passed through
the senate with only one change
! that being to place the primary back
to the old date in March, it being
preferable then to the May day pick
cd by the committee, The bill will
not have easy shedding in the House
however, for it was only showed
Through the Senate by the display Of
! fight shown in its favor by Senators
! l. NJ tutrell and j +, Moore, Re.
pcatcd efforts we're made to cut the
yitols from the bill, but these two
! East Arkansas Senator's stood pat
and declined e. accept anything less
eninp the effectiveness OF the meas
ure The terse statmtnts OF Senator
Iutrcll}
ryou are for honest clcctionsyo you
are for this bill
/ "rhcrc is nothing in this bill that
will affect the man who honestly
wins his election"
"lndcr present. condi IONS It IL
possible 10 steal elections and steal
men, warn you nov that some
day, somewhere, they will meet ret
fihulion which has been long com.
ing 60 them
Did more to pass the bill than did
the fact that It was prepared by a
committee from the State Demo.
cratic Convention for the politicians
on the floor declared the convention
had never passed Upon the bill aud
consequently they were not bound
| by IT,
Those opposing the bill are work
ing 60 cut out the manner in whieI
county conventions are chosen by
which II is possible for The one de-