Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1918-03-15

Jackson.-By q vote of q yeas
against 8 nays, the senate passed the
ONeal-Holton house bill providing
for compulsory education in Mississi J.
pi with a referendum clause. The bill
provoked a heated debate and the
senate was several times in an uproar.
The committee ON education brought
In an amendment as a substitute for
the house Norwood amendment The
Norwood amendment permitted each
county or separate school district to
vote on the question as to whether or
not education should be made compul-
sorry. The senate committee amend
ment made It optional with each coun-
ty as to whether or not the new law
should be operative. The senate com
mittee amendment was adopted, aft
er spirited debate the vote was re-
considered and the Norwood house
amendment was permitted to stand IN
the bill. The bill was then passed in
this shape. Senator Christmond
changed his vote for the purpose OF
| entering a motion to reconsider.
The bill as passed provides that
when a county or separate school dis
trict votes to enforce compulsory edu-
cation each child between the ages Of
and IA years must attend school for
at least sixty days within calendar
year, unless the parents of a child
are too poor to purchase clothing and
books and such child's labor is neces-
sary to support infirm parents. The
bill provides, however, that in cases
where parents are unable to purchase
clothing and books, outsiders or neigh
bors may contribute those supplies.
The senate adopted a concurrent
resolution fixing March 20 as the date
for final adjournment. This does not
necessarily mean that the legislature
will adjourn on that date The object
IS to spur legislative work, but if 1t 's
found impossible TO clear the calen-
dars Of the most important bills by
the goth, the date will be reconsidered
and moved up.
Senator Wilmington of Leflore coun-
ty introduced bill that is designed to
expedite the work of future legisla-
lures. The bill requires the COVER
nor to prepare budget for each bien-
NAL period and to have the budget
ready when the Legislature convenes
in regular session.
In order to clarity the matter en-
braced in the bill to direct the Missis-
sippi Centennial Exposition Company
- 1oa. 80 h.. I'D rh1, oh,
Plumbing Company of Jackson,
amounting to nearly $4,000, that bill
was withdrawn and a new bill, which
provides THAT the Mississippi Cen
tennial Exposition Company may be
sued in the courts of law" was sub
stituted. This bill. after some ex-
plantations and discussion, was passed
without serious opposition.
A bill has been introduced provid.
ing for the preservation of war rec
ords, with the history of Mississippi
commands and individuals serving
with all American wars.
The bill provides that the director
of the department of archives and his
tory be authorized to prepare and
publish an historical roll of Missis-
sippi soldiers and sailors, with the his
tory of Mississippi organizations and
commands serving in the war of 1912,
war with Mexico, Confederate war,
Spanish-American war and world war,
with all records relative thereto; that
the said historical roll shall be full
and complete as 1t can be made from
thorough and exhaustive study of
all sources of information in the de-
partment of archives and history, the
war department at Washington and
elsewhere, the work to be undertaken
as soon as practicable, and to be con-
tinued until it is completed; the print
ing and binding to be done by Mis-
sissippi printers and publishers under
the control and discretion of the u.
rector Of the department of archives
and history
"The publication, when completed,
shall be distributed by the director.
who, in his discretion. shall furnish
free of cost to the universities, col
leges, schools. public and county IL
braries each copy, and shall ex-
change for similar publications from
other states, and shall be authorized
to sell copies to other Libraries and in
dividuals at sufficient sum to cover
the cost of publication"
The committee created by the house
to dig" into the affairs of the Sol
diers' home at Beauvoir is unable to
fix date for the beginning of the
inquiry. due to the fact that daugh.
ter Of Representative Johnson vf
Holmes chairman of the committee, is
seriously Ill from an attack Of
measles.