Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-02-22
Nlven and Magee Among
Assemblymen Opposing the
Norfleet Measure.
a TTEMPT TO RAISE
PRICE TEXT BOOKS
Mr.. Creekmore Is Author OF Amend.
ment Which Would Eliminate Cald.
Well Clause i'm Textbook Bill,
Limiting Prices to Be Paid.

Little Rock, Feb. 21.-Strong OPP
position developed to the Norfleet bill
to prohibit cotton il mills from owning
or operating cotton gins when it was
called up this afternoon by the author
Mr.. Norfleet made strong argument
in support of the measure, declaring
that it is in the interest of the farm
er, who, by present conditions, is de-
prived Of the proper market for his
products. The bill is a copy of the
laws that now exist in the states of
Mississippi and Texas, and it has been
endorsed by the Farmers Union CT
Arkansas. He asserted that it is
aimed at the "oil trust" which he
charged with being the most accom-
plished and ingenious of all the COM
binations in America, judging from
facts that had come under his observa-
ton.
at is fact borne out by statistics"
saiG he, that 60 per cent of the prod
ucts of the farmers toll is swept
away by the parasites who live off
their SOIL
Representatives Creekmore, Niven,
Magee and others opposed the bill,
and finally it was put back on second
reading for amendment, and many
counties were exempted. 1t went over
as unfinished business.
Capitol Commission No More.
The house this morning passed the
Smead bill to abolish the state capitol
commission and make the secretary
of state custodian of the state capitol.
NT
was devoted 10 discussion of an
amendment proposed by the committee
on mines and mining of the Caldwell
bill for the appointment Of state mine
inspector and the regulation OF his
duties. There was a warm debate on
both sides of the proposition. Speaker
Cazort took the floor and spoke fcr the
amendment, arguing that the bill will
give the mine inspector arbitrary
power, whereas the amendment will
take away his police power and give
mine operators their Gay in court. The
amendment was defeated.
Book Trusts Busy.
Bills were introduced as follows:
BY Niven-To appropriate $4,000
for the Branch Normal college at Pine
Bluff, including $4,000 for building and
improvements.
By Creekmore--To amend the text
book commission act to eliminate the
Caldwell amendment which provided
that books shall not be sold for more
than Is per cent less than the pres
ent selling prices.
The house passed the bill to abolish
the state capitol commission and
make the secretary of state custodian
Of the state capitol.
Speaker CaZOrt announced the fol-
lowing committee to consider the bill
introduced by Representative 10 john
son for the establishment Of the Fort
Smith-Little Rock-Memphis Highway
District. Johnson, Held, Osborne,
Creekmore, Fry, Carter, Henry, '~azort,
Bell, Shi1n, Atkinson, koonce, Hardy,
Alexander, Bland, Brooks, Leigh,
Trawick, Holloway, Waggoner, Davis
of Monroe, Norfleet, Harris and Har-
rison. With the exception of Mr..
Harris, these representatives are from
the counties through which the pro-
posed 90 Johnson Highway" will run.
The members from the senate are.
Senators King, Hester, Burgess, Ruff,
Adamson, Jones, Sims, Slaughter and
Vann.
The $4,000 deficiency bill for the
state hospital was referred to the
budget committee, on motion OF Mr..
'Waggoner, to be itemized.
The consideration CT the university