The north Mississippi herald., 1920-03-26
STATE LEGISLATURE
TO CLOSE APRIL 3
Representative DenIey Writes
Interesting Account of Legis-
lative Activities at Jackson.
(BY G. E. DENLEY)


1920 Session-this is the eleventh
week of the Session, and there is
probability of one more week after
this one, when we nope to bring the
Session to close. A resolution was
unanimously passed last week fixing
Saturday, April 3rd as the day for
final adjournment, and just at this
time the outlook is bright for the ad-
joUrnment on that date, although no
one can tell what might yet come up
that would proIong the session beyond
that date.
This has been very strenuous ses-
sion and in many respects different
from most Of it's predecessors, and
perhaps the most striking difference
has been the big increase in appronri-
atoms and increased salaries. While
this is probably caused by the abnor-
NAL times, cheap money, and the pre-
vailing high prices secured.
One thing to the credit of this Leg
islature is that there has been but few
additional institutions added, yet in
1915 the Tubercular HOSPITAL and thu
Reformatory were created and estab-
lisfed, and while they are doing a
great work VET they are drawing
heavily on the treasury. There is
perhaps q CRYING need for other insti-
tutions but when one takes into con.
sideration the different institutions
and the number of inmates, it would
appear that IL a few more were es-
tab'ished and filed up that the entire
population would be In the different
institutions.
A measure has lust rassed the
Senate ami came to the House leee
- -. was oits oiaf passs5ia sfii.s hy s safe ma
for the feeble minded.
Many Of the people Of tFe county
no doubt will remember tnar the ques.
ton was quite freely discussed last
summer by some Of the candidates for
the Legislature during the campaign
and this question was brought up for
consideration Monday Of this week,
and an effort was made to defeat it,
some claiming that should this become
q law, here would not De left quo
rum to come back here in 1929, while
some who favored it, claimed that as
we had failed to raise our. salaries
we might at least provide 9 home for
ourselves during vacation.
Another measure that has some
chance of passing is the bill co!oniz-
ing or establishing home for fallen
women or women affected with vene-
real diseases.
It will be remembered that early In
the Session bill was introduced in
which the purpose was TO abolish the
hardening board, and duties hereto.
fore exercised by the pardoning board
on the Penitentiary Trustees, this bils
passed both House and Senate, but
was vetoed by the Governor, this be-
ing the first time the present exeru-
tive has used the veto power. Whiie
the House could and no doubt would
pass the bill over his head, it is very
doubtful as to the Senate. and owing
to the lateness Of the session the prob,
abilities are that no further steps Will
be taken and the Pardoning Board
will remain as it has been for the past
wears and for two years more at least
An effort was made last week TO
change the State Tax Commission
from three to eight members, one
from each Congressional District
making them elective. This however
failed and an effort was then made to
pass the elective, but a majority seenl'
ed TO think that it was best to let the
Commission remain as it then stood.
Practically al the appropriations
for the biennial period, and all have
been increased over previous years
ranging from 25 TO 500,
Both State and County salary bills
have been signed by the Governor, the
new law giving the officials material
increase in pay,
From bailifF up TO jurors, the pay
has been increased from three to five
dollars, while the proposition to. in
crease the pay Of the election Judges
and clerks were about the only in
stance in which salaries were not rails
ed where asked. as far as can recall
We are now holding two sessions
dav and turning out lot of work.
All committee work has been dispos-
ed Of, and from S to 20 bills are being
disposed of each dav, and about. as
many are being killed as are passed.
Attv. H. H. Creekmore and Atty.
John Horan were among the visitors
here this week, they being here in as-
tendance on the Supreme Court