The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-04-14
The GAvELS FALL:
ASSEMBLY CLOSED
CURTAIN - RuN0 DOWN ON the
FIRST SESSION OF STATE
LEGISLATURE.
ORGANIZATION OF FORCES
Pardon Board Composed q Men Re-
Gently Appointed n Confirmed.
State Board OF Tax Equalixa-
ton Get Together.


ton Get Together.
jackson.
The curtain was rung down April 8
ON b first session Of the legislature
that assumed office with the incom-
ing Of the administration OF Theodore
Gilmore Bilbo, the swan songs were
sung as usual and the occasional was
duly and officially sounded.
1t has been rather a remarkable ses-
sion In many respects, most conspicu-
Gus being the eleventh hour compile
ton of several advance measures,
which had been practically given up
as lost in the turmoil and confusion in.
cident to the closing 4S hours.
The gavels of the presiding officers
in the two branches Sent the solons
to their homes with a feeling that
while the fruits of their labors might
have been more prolific of results, ac-
cordlng to the point Of view, the rec
ord Is n of which none need be
ashamed. Indeed. it is predicted by
state officials and veteran lawmakers
that the state will in the end profit by
the mistakes that have characterized
the work of the session.
The legislature having gone home,
and left state officialdom to work out
n apply the laws which have been
left as a legacy from the result of it's
deliberations, a period of quiet will
pervade the ~statehouse atmosphere.
o Bilbo, with the legislature off his
hands, will be able to concentrate his
attention on the correspondence in con.
nection with his office, and seeing the
lev features of administrative activity
safely organized and launched on the
sea of official and statutory procedure
Organization of Forces.
During the week there will be an or
ganization of forces just provided for,
including the pardon board, which is
yet to be organized, and, awaiting
whom, as indicated by Private Secre-
tary Buck, is a barrel of work." just
as soon as they a get at it. This
board is composed Of the following
men. recently appointed and confirm
ed: JOS. B. Crawford, Jackson; Rev. j!
P. Culpepper. Poplarville; T. J. Lilly,
Tupelo; ]. c. Street, Laurel; DR.. w.
T. Rhyme, Canton.
This board will organize and work
will begin at once.
More important still will be the get
ting together of the state board of tax
equalization composed of three men,
just appointed by the governor. These
three men are clothed with the re-
sponsibility of launching a system
which is expected to have an impor-
tant bearing on the economic affairs,
and the public finances of the state,
and are all selected for their peculiar
fitness for the duties assigned them.
Duncan L.. Thompson, a mar who for
IL years was connected with the fiscal
department of the state, as clerk, dep
uty auditor and auditor of public &C.
counts, is well equipped for the duties.
In fact, Mr.. Thompson has always
been a tax equalization advocate, and
has consistently and persistently
urged the adoption Of such a system
Prison Board Busy.
The board of prison trustees devoted
their time through three sessions on
the 9Th to a mass of general business
pertaining to supply and improvement
OF the property. The most important
matter of the day was the receiving of
proposals for limerick crushing ma
chinery and gin stand machinery, and,
incidental to the former, proposals as
to suitable locations.
Their were half a dozen offers of
sites, about equally distributed in the
two ENDS of thes state, all of which will
of course be subject to inspection, not
only by the members of the board, but
by DR.. E. N. Lowe, state g~eologist,
who is required by statute to cooperate
with the trustees in determining the
merits of the different propositions.
Fair Catalogue.
The annual state fair catalogue will
be out within a few weeks, according
to announcement Of Miss Mabel Store.
assistant secretary Of the Mississippi
Fair Association. The fair this year
will be held Oct. 1928.
Pen AZ Souvenir.
Mrs. Dunbar Rowland cherishes a
valued souvenir OF the session of the
legislature. which Is the pen with
which Gov. Bilbo signed the bill au-
thorizing the restoration of the old
state capitol. When the executive was
ready to attach his signature to the
sheet Of parchment DR.. C. Kendrick
handed him a special pen. After
wards he secured this, and presented
to souvenir to Mrs. Rowland. The pen
will be suitably mounted and will be
deposited in the relic room of the cap
The Socialists of Mississippi have
prepared to be represented in the ma
tional political campaign, which is to
staged for this stirring and eventful
political year in American politics. In
order that their candidates for presi-
dent and vice president might get