The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-02-15
THREE WEEKS VACATION WHILE
GOVERNOR GOES TO FLORIDA
TO REcUPERATE.
JUNKETING IS ORDER NOW
Many Committees Appointed To In.
vestigate "This and That" During
Recess = Governor Powerless'
To Object To Expenses.

Nashvile.-The legislature has re-
cessed and made arrangements to
spend about $4,000 of money by jun
keting committees. A few years ago,
when recess junketing got so expen-
sive that the people began to kick, it
died away, and it was thought that
there would be no more junketing.
The legislature has recessed for
three weeks. Nearly half of Satur-
days proceedings were taken up in the
appointments of the junketing COM
mittees. There will be committees on
almost every subject. One is to sit
and make up the revenue bill. Others
are to investigate the state board OF
control, the insurance department, the
educational department, pensions, ag-
riculture, library, mines and so on.
They will draw their per diem OF 81
to SIS a day. All told, it will mean an
expense to the state of $4,000 or
more.
Gov. Rye did not hesitate privately
to express his disapproval of the plan
But he is in position where he will
not put his foot down because the
proposed Investigations are of his
own administration. Two years ago
he insisted that there should be no
junketing, and he took an open shot
at it for the investigation would have
concerned his predecessor.
There could be no objection to the
appointment of subcommittee OF the
finance committee to sit for a few
days and draw up revenue Dill.
Neither could there be any objection
to a committee to draw up a general
anti-fee bill. Both these committees
were appointed.
Speaker Crabtree of the senate, real
izing the extent to which the system
might be carried, attempted to save
the situation with the announcement
that. no committee would be allowed a
secretary nor would there be any SER
geants-at-arms.
The legislature will not reassemble
until Feb. 26. 1t has been in session
about 30 days. Some of the time has
been passed without much being done,
but all in all the session has been in
teresting enough.
In the first place, it has eVerlast'
ingly disposed of the liquor ques'
ton. It has passed the first real pro-
hibition law Tennessee ever had. That
is the bonedry bill
Both houses readopted pledges OF al
legiance to Woodrow Wilson.
Among the bills passed on final
reading by the house were:
Game law for Lauderdale county.
To elect school superintendent in
Marion and Rutherford counties Dy
popular vote. This bill has passed the
senate.
Amending the charter of the town
of Rutherford.
Changing the voting places in Glib
son county.
Stock law for Carroll county.
Repeating the school law in Ches-
ter county.
Bills which passed the senate on
final reading were:
Amending the game laws OF Ben
ton and McNairy counties.
Bond issue for Milton, Hardip
county.
Game law for Obion county.
Authorizing Union City to levy
special tax.
To create new magisterlal olstrlcts
in Shelby county.
II has passed an anti-railroad pass
law. OF course, there is possibility
that the senate will not agree with the
house in this, but it is the first time
the legislature has ever seriously con-
sidered the abolishing of the railroad
pass.
II has passed an anti-fee bill for
Shelby county.
II has seriously considered the ex-
tension of suffrage to women, and
bill making that extension actually
passed the lower house.
The major part of the remainder OF
the session will be taken up with the
general assessment bills. The state is
in debt. it is running behind. More
money must be had. A few more bills
STRENGTHENING the custer law and the
nuisance act will be considered, and
the proposed constitutional conyen-
ton.