The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-01-24
JEFFERSON CITY LETTER
(By Means Ray.l

alOne Out VIII! JOIN Jne nation.
The national Prohibition amend
ment was adopted by the Missouri
legislature in few minutes after it
was brought up Thursday morning.
In the Senate where it had been pre-
dicted that the fight to delay action
would be marked failed to materialize
and it was adopted by vote of % to
10.
In the House the vote was: For,
104; against, sc. One of the surprises
of the vote was Representative Frank
H. Farris, of Phelps county, voting
dry. Before casting his vote, Mr..
Ferris made short talk:
"My position has many times been
misunderstood" Farris declared.
There was not a noise in the house as
the Phelps county man spoke.
~ have always been against pro-
hibition," he continued, because, first,
thought it was a police power which
property belonged to the States, and,
secondly, l felt that the proposition
was fraught with great danger and
would not result in the benefits that
its advocates claimed.
"But we stand confronted with
great change in conditions, and it is
apparent to US all that the consensus
of opinion is in favor of prohibition.
| recognize the right of the majority,
and / bow my head in humble submits
sion to make the will of the majority
successful.
"As to my own personal judgment,
Mr.. Speaker, and contrary to my for
mer feelings. shall vote for the rat
, ification of this measure.
| "And | make the declaration that |
will give my time, energy and money
to enact measure which will make
prohibition in truth and really make
Missouri bone-dry State"
POI Clerks in House
Regardless of the extravagant
claims of economy made by Republic
cans regarding the clerical force of
the House which have appeared in Re-
publican newspapers, the lower house
starts with POI employees on the cleri-
cal force against 149 at the last ses-
sion. The cost of the force for this
sessions will be $81, $40.
Another special feature Of this ses-
sion is the employment of Is negroes
eleven of whom are from st. Louis,
on the clerical, doorkeeper and SER
! geant-at-arms force at salaries of
$3.50 per day. This is the first time
in Missouri history that they are
placed on the pay roll except as JAM
tors.
1t has developed that the walkout
last week by Republican members
from st. Louis was occasioned by the
opposition of some of the country
members to their naming the negroes
en- the payroll.
1t was at first intended for them to
be cloak room attendants and paid 81
a day as ianitors but the negroes re-
lbelled as did the Republican members
from St. Louis. 1t was framed by
some Republicans to keep the pay
down to So a day but when caucus
was called in behalf of the negroes
they were given the $3.50. In addi-
ton to three doors, which have white
doorkeepers, they must look after
coats belonging to 142 members. This
insures safety for the coats, Republi-
can leaders claim, as there will be one
man for every eight coats and hats.
In paying the negroes $3.50 per day
it was claimed that men could not be
secured for 81 as prescribed by law
for janitors. An investigation of this
matter proved they are mistaken, for
the Permanent Seat of Government
Commission composed of Governor
iGardner, Attorney General McAllister:
Treasurer Middlekamp, Secretary OF
State Sullivan and Auditor Hackmann
has employed eight white men as re-
CURED by law at 50 per day. These
eight men look after the entire capitol
building, while the sixteen negroes at
$3.50 per day more look after the
House.
In an effort to make political capt.
tai out of the number of clerks en-
ployed this session, Auditor Hack
mann and Charles U. Becker, chair
man of the Committee on Clerical
Force, breezed forth with statement
concerning the number of clerks en-
ployed "by the Democrats" at the re-
vision session ten years ago. This ses-
sion was controlled also by the Repub-
licans.
Increases Interest Earnings
Treasurer George H. Middlekamp's
report shows the largest interest earn
ings for the State monies deposited
throughout the State of any former
treasurer. The total amount received
from this source for 1918 amounted
to $190,827.31 against $162,676.03 for
1917, or an increase Of $69,015.S9, or
more than enough to pay the entire
expense of his Office for the time.
Mr.. McAllister is Economical
Attorney General Frank W. Meal
lister has also shown keen business
ability as well as exceptional legal tai
ent in the conduct of his Office. The
total appropriation for his department
for contingent expenses for the two
years past was $4,000 but by the
practice of strict economy $26,484.0s
was returned to the State Treasury.
General McAllister has receivet
: word from Washington to the effect
that the United States Supreme Court
. has upheld the state grain weighing
law and hereafter the Merchants Elk
,, change in St. Louis and Board o.
Trade of Kansas City will be unable
to make two charges against grair
shippers for weighing their offerings
: This will result in quite a saving Il