Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-07
RECONSIDER VOTE AGAINST OFFICERS SUCCEEDING SELVES Constitutional Convention Reverses Self on Dras-
 tic Election Rule. SEEK TO ABOLISH
 CHANCERY COURTS Columbia Delegate Cites Figures to Show That Chancellor's Work
 Could be Done by Circuit

Little Rock, July 6.-As soon as the regular order of business was call ed for Saturday morning the consti- Delegate Webber of Little River County, reconsidered it's vote adopt ing Section IS of Article VI. declar- ing state officers who had served a term of four years ineligible to suc- ceed themselves or to run for other offices while holding state offices.
 Judge Jephtha H. Evans, delegate from Logan county, offered an amend. ment to the section providing that the section as adopted refer only tc of- ficers elected under the constitution to be written.
 Delegate Collins of Sevier offered another amendment, providing that the section control officers elected in 1920. Another amendment was cffer- ed that the section should not apply to officers elected in November, 1918. Delegate Davis offered an amendment providing that the officers elected in November, 1918, hold over until 1921. Delegate McFerrin offered an amend ment that the section refer to off,
 
 ce of the constitution
 Upon motion of Col. J. w. House, delegate from Pulaski county, the convention postponed consideration of the section with it's amendments un- til Monday morning at 9 o'clock
 Bates Starts Fight.
 Delegate Bates of Scott County precipitated the discussion of the morning session when he offered a substitute for the sections in Article VI, creating the commission of mines, mining and manufactures and of agri- culture and horticulture. MT. Bates moved to strike out all of the sec tions beginning with section 27 to section 34, inclusive, and to substi- tute therefore three sections creating a commissionership who should be at the head of the industries in Arkan- sas. Mr. Bates substitute, among other things, provided that the gen eral assembly might create the of- flee of state geologist and that of a mine inspector who should be appoint ed-by the governor and that the legis- lature might provide a marketing bu- reau, which would be handled by as- sistant commissioners of agriculture.
 Delegate Collins of Sevier. not sat- isfied with the title with which Mr. Bates had given his substitute, that of bureau of mines, manufactures and
 agriculture, offered an amendment that the duties be described under the title "commissioner of industries"
 Wants Officials Elective The debate upon the measure hing ed upon the mine inspectorship. Del egate Belote of Hot Spring county said that he would oppose the sec- tion or its substitute because the mine inspectorship was not made , elective. He declared that the people should elect every one of their off cers and that not to do so would be playing into the hands of an autoc- racy.
 Delegate Partain Of Franklin de- tended the miners in their demand that the inspectorship be appointive, a man being chosen who met their requirements and had their endorse ment. Upon motion the section as originally written with the Bates substitute was recommitted and will i be called later for consideration. Raps Chancery Courts. When Article VII, dealing with the judiciary, was reached. Delegate King of Sharp county started another de- bate by offering an amendment to Section eliminating chancery courts from the court list of the state. MT. King denounced the chancery courts as useless and expensive. declaring that in his district the chancellor fre- quently sat only four or five days in six months.
 Col. J. w. House. delegate from Pu- laski county, replied that practice of 49 years at the bar all over Ark ansas had convinced him of the use- fitness of chancery courts and that he hoped to see them retained. and believed they would be.
 Judge Jeptha Evans spoke in be- half of the chancery court. declaring that his experience of 21 years on the bench had convinced him that they were useful. economical and benefi- |, cial tribunals.
 Warnock Shops Figures. Delegate Warnock of Columbia county declared that, in anticipation of the present discussion. he had written several months ago to every circuit clerk in Arkansas in regard to the work done by the circuit and chancery clerks. and that 75 replies to his letters had revealed the fact that the two courts combined worked 3.958 days, or an average of 1O5 days for each court during the year. Dr.