Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-01-05
Governor Brough's Message Is Being Awaited with
 Keen Interest.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 MEETS ON MONDAY
Candidates for Speaker and President Busy, While NumcrOus JOb-Iiun9ers Arc IutiGn-H -H0ISng Law-Nakers
 with Old-TiEr Persistence.
(By Clio l1arpcr.)

Little Rock, Jan. 3.-T'he forty-frSt
 beasion of the general assembly of
 Arkansas is upon us. It will convene
 at 12 o'clock noon next Monday. Tn
 view of the large amount of import ant business to be considered, inuch
 regret is expressed that the session is
 restricted to sixty days. While It cannot be denied that much time IS wasted with local legislation, 1t IS admitted that sixty days does not give
 sufficient time for the careful and de- l;bcrate consideration of necessary legislation. In consequence, there was more of that character or leS'Sla- ton which may be called "ha1f-baked
 in the recent session than ever before
 And it will require the exercise of the greatest care to prevent recurrence oi similar conditions this time.
 Legislative politics has the right of
 way this week. The members arc be- ginning to arrive-in fact. the ad-
 vance guard came last week. Thc numerous aspirants for gavel honor' are opening up headquarters in the Capital and Marion, where they are receiving their friends and making and rc-making their slates. There is a large number of candidates for all the offices as usual, and the ap- plicants for clerical jobs are as rum erous as ever. It is too early to make prognostications about the presidency and the speakership, with any degree of certainty. The lndlca- tons are the field for president of the senate will narrow down to about thrcc and for the spcakership to less than half of the original ten. While Dr. Brough is not taking any hand Tn the organization, his influence IS neV- erthcless being felt in bouse and sen- ate. Tho prediction is freely made that the administration will have Q, working majority in each body. and that the proposed measures to be em- lCdicd in the new governors inaugur- al will have the support of the law makers.
 Great interest is felt in the message of Governor Brough. No intimatlon has been given out as to its contents, except in some minor details. It is believed that he will advocate tho calling of a constitutional convention since he has expressed himself as faV- Gring it. The greatest interest is felt
 in his recommendation for financial legislation. This continues as it has been for some years. the greatest question confronting the lawmakers. Several efforts have been made 10 solve it. The natural increase in taxable values, and the slashing ve- toes of appropriations by the gov crnor, have helped some. Two years ago, when the legislature convened. the outstanding indebtedness. repre- scented by unrcdecmed warrants. was $A4S,065.06, and when the legislature convenes next Monday, there will be a deficit of approximately Sl3o,0Oo' If the governor can suggest means for placing the state permanently up- on a cash basis again, he will have financial feat that will commend him to the people as a financial Moses,
 The sixth annual meeting of the State Conference for Social Welfare will he held in Little Rock Jan. 14-l6. There will be number of prominent speakers from outside the city. those who are able to speak authoritative ly on social subjects.
 lf the plans of the school of educa- ton. of the state university arc real izcd. Arkansas will be given a big boost as an art center. Arrange- ,nents are being made to bring to the state large exhibit of approximately 800 copies of the finest paintings and pieces of sculpture in the world. lt| will be the first time such an exhihi- ton has ever been brought to the South. The Eastern interests owning tho pictures have been attracted to the South by the era of prosperity that Is following tue high price of cotton, making money more plentiful here than ever before A schedule is be- ns arranged for some of the larger ,ities and towns and they will usual ]