The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-06
most Of SOLONS
ARE At JACKSON
Falkner, Of Oxford, and Willis
for Secretary, Is One
Feature of Session.

FeALure OF session.
JACKSON, Miss, Jan. 6. (Spl)-
More than a majority Of the members
Of the two houses Of the Mississippi leg
lStRture have reached the capital, and
all Ia IN readiness for the biennial SEES
sion, which will be convened at the
noon hour tomorrow.
Interest in the speakership contest,
which has held the center Of the stage
for several days, has yislbly lulled. II
now seems TO be a f%oregone conclusion
that the honor will 90 to the former
incumbent of that office. Hon, Sonnet
Conner, Of Coviugton, whose friends as
sert he will be CHOSEN on the first bali
lot. Judge George Anderson, Of War
ZEN, and David Ii. Glass. OF Attala, are
practically out of the running, II IS cur
tently rumored that Judge Anderson
will be rendered the Craftsmanship OF
the house judiciary committee, the most
important committee assignment IN lne
body, but some Of his friends express
doubt whether he wild accept II as ne
has not been in good health for several
weeks.
Organization OF the two houses will
hardly be completed before Wednesday
morning, and II is not likely that Gov.
BilbO's final message will be read be-
fore the noon lot OF that day. Unless
his plans are changed by an inttmation
from the lawmakers that they prefer
the document in written form, the gov
ernor viii go before a joint session III
person and read the message,
A lively contest for the secretaryship
Of the senate, between John Falkner, OF
oxford, present incumbent, and Joseph
Willis Is in sight, Friends OF the latter
express confidence Of victory. The fact
that MIR. Willis has the backing OF the
new lieutenant governor. II. II. Casteel,
is a strong circumstances In his favor;
There are candidates galore for the
minor positions, such as postmistresses,
sergeants-at-arm doorkeepers and
both houses probably will be engaged
all Of Tuesday afternoon balloting for
these offices.
The usual number of members have
brought with them their small sons
whom they expect TO have installed as
pages, and the presiding officers, act
these fond parents. The Job OF page
used to be profitable for q small boy
who lived with his parents In jackson,
but a visiting youngster who encoun-
ters present boarding house prices IN
Jackson is going to find 1t far from re-
munerative,
The incoming lawmakers seem to
realize that the states financial condi-
ton Is going to be the most serious
problem they will have to tackle, and
that ways and means OF meeting the
demands for appropriations far In eN-,
NtNN vi AilpSN u AiiN piNN lOhS NA''''
period are going to require some solid
thought, The gravity of this question
probably will cause the development or
a 'low pressure brigade" in both houses
composed Of many members who have
not heretofore been aligned with that
element.
The budget as thus far compiled to-
tails nearly S22, 900, 900 for the coming bi-
cnnial period, and in addition to this
there is a prospective deficit In revenues
Of nearly ST. 900, 900 for the coming year,
Strange to say, practically no opDost-
ton is being expressed to the proposed
S25, 000, 900 bond issue to be used In the
construction of a system OF modern
highways traverstng every county In the
state. This affirmative statement Is
probably due in a large measure u the
fact that the burden of this bond issue
ia TO be shifted to the shoulders Of auto
mobile owners in the form Of n horse
power tax.
Among the interesting arrivals to,
day was eX-Gov. II, f., Noel, state sen
ator from Holmes county, who has bios
coined forth as a reformer Of high de
gree. The former governor has whet
ted up a large and ugly looking knit
with which he hopes to lop off tn
heads OF a large number OF office hold
ers, and thus cut down the expense
Of sAate government. Among othe
things. he wants to abolish the stat
IlkHWdN COIiltlllSHlpl, Wv u 20
commission, the state board Of pardon
and the prison board commission, q
was Kthe case prior 10 the Var9ama'
administration. Whether or not Ne wi
meet with any measure of success i
this undertaking remains to be seer
but he is a hard fighter and is no
likely to quit until sine die adjourn
ment Is declared,
II was expected in some quarters tha
eX-Gov. Noel. by reason of his politi
cal prominence and exceptional lega
ability. would be made chairman Of tn
senate judiciary committee. but 1t /
certain that he will not, despite tn
fact that he halls from the home o
the new ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and pre-
siding officer of that body, Hon, II. II
Casteel. In plain truth, Messrs. Noe
and Casteel have never been especial
" warm political friends, and the sen
ate judiciary Craftsmanship will so t
On able young lawyer from BrookhaVen
Senator A. A. COIN.
The legislature enjoys the distinction
of having two former governors with
N in its membership, the other being Hon
George l.. Sheldon, former RepublicaI
governor of Nebraska, who will repre-
sent Washington county in the lowe
"A house.
The voters of Washington county d.
not ask any questions about ex-GoN
e. Sheldon's former political affiliations
They recognized in him a first-clas
man. capable of ably representing tn
n county, and when he reluctantly con
scented TO serve they elected him by
practically unanimous vote. He is s
& years Of age and served two terms
The Nebraska state senate before bein
c elected governor of that state. II
owns extensive planting interests /
IA Washington county.
A goodly number of lawmakers VII
M ~ .l..atN1 30 en- n ndnrGhin I
m the two bodies are ~outspoken in tn
declarations that tho legislature ougt
TO settle right down 70 business an
not wait for the inauguration Of III
new governor. two weeks hence, befoi
taking up important measures; that
is not at all necessary to await a dee
" l~aration Of administrative policy fro'
Gov elect Russell, as many of the meas
IN ures he will recommend are general
IN known.
II is generally believed that the Law
makers will at least try to get the su
frage question out Of the way during Il
next two weeks. The suffrage leader
however. are not particularly anxiol
for an carly vote. They at least wa
an opportunity to count noses and fiji
out where they stand, In view OF Il
legal obstacles to the Susan Il, Al
thony amendment that have been SUI
Eestcd, chief Of which Is the idea tn
may throw down the bars Tor Vottl
nv negro women. there will no dou
be protracted debates in both houses
Sentiment In favor of the FEEDER
a amendment. however. is much strong
than the suffragist leaders had hop
for. and sorac .. them claim that nj
l]criics can be safely counted IN DO
bodies. Many lawmakers who are n
m al all enthusiastic about letting 4
ii women folks 60 TO the polls. say tn
~ they realize the adoption Of the amen
mrnt as inevitable, and viii vote for
"a rather than incur the future polite
eunity Of the fair sex.