Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-02-27
Third Effort to Lessen Fire Hazard in State Is
 Successful.
INSURANCE PEOPLE
 TO BEAR THE COST
Because of Effect It Would Have on Cotton Mills, Baxter Bill for Ten Hour WOrk.Day Is Defeated-
 Appropriation Bills Passed.

Little Rock, Feb. 26.-Just before adjournment this evening the house passed with very little discussion the Josephs fire-marshal bill, which has been bone of contention for several weeks in the lower house. This was the third effort that had been made to pass this bill, in which Governor Brough is very much interested. It had been defeated once before, but changes had been made so that it was acceptable to a majority of the mem bers and it passed by vote of 63 to 15. It provides for an increase in the rate of taxation on the insurance companies from 1s to 2 per cent on the gross premium receipts and the establishment of fire-marshal and insurance commissioner department at a cost of about $12,000 a year.
 Ten-HOur Day Loses.
 The Baxter bill providing for 10 hour day for all manufacturing plants in the state caused a small stir in the house today. Opposition developed on account of the cotton oil mills, the statement being made that there are peculiar conditions in these factories where negroes are chiefly employed, and that they are satisfied with their hour of labor. The bill was placed back on second reading for amend ment. A motion to indefinitely post pone was defeated. An amendment was then adopted exempting 32 coun- ties, after which motion by MT. Gen. try to table the bill prevailed by an overwhelming vote. The statement was made that there are 45 oil mills in the state, with $5,000,O00 capital in vested, paying $2,O00,000 for cotton seed and $300,000 annually for labor.
 The bill by Mr. Doyle to exempt widows dowers from the inheritance tax was defeated, after objections had been made by MT. Hardage to the ef- feet that it would be as unjust to- exempt the infants inheritance as the widows dover. The vote was B to- A.
 Appropriation Bills.
 Much of the forenoon was devoted to appropriation bills. The agricul- tural school bills, carrying $85,000 for each of the four schools, was amended by substituting itemiZed appropria- tons for the lump sums. The budget committee offered another amendment that sum appropriated for any item might be used for another if not needed for the purpose for which ap- propriated, but this was rejected, aft CT fight led by MT. Hardage.
 The following appropriation bills were passed today by the house, all or them being house bills:
 By Magee-To appropriate $119,lOO TOT the tuberculosis sanitorium.
 By Senator Greathouse-To appro- prlate $3O,963 for university de- flciency.
 The bill to exempt widows dowers feated.
 :. For the maintenance of the State Normal school, $191,315, of which 100000 is for the erection of a new administration building and $7,5OO for It's maintenance.
 For the maintenance of the Arkan- sas School for the Blind, $91 500. This includes raise in the salary of the superintendent, John H. Hinemon, rom $1,S0O to $2,0O0, which was adopted, after MT. Gentry made an eHort to amend by rejecting the raise: An amendment by MT. Copeland o1 lzard to raise the salary of the night watchman from $500 to $960.