Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-02-13
FRANKFORT LETTER

Frankfort, KY, Feb. With
but a trifle more than four
weeks remaining of the 1920
session of the Kentucky legisla-
ture, little constructive legisla-
ton has been enacted. The re-
port of the Budget Commission
| of which Governor Morrow is
ex-oficio chairman, has been
twice deferred. This commits
sion, composed of department
heads, has the business of max.
ing estimates for the next two
years, under which all appropria-
tions are to be divided. Ways
and means Of obtaining revenue
provide a live problem for the ad-
ministration.
When the Bluegrass senator's
took principal part in calling
for a showdown on coal and
other mineral products, including
rock asphalt, as to whether or
not they are paying their share
of the taxes, the mountain Re-
lpublicans promptly retaliated. by
J including tobacco in the inquiry.
This attempt to tax tobacco was
fought valiantly by senator's from
the tobacco-growing section, but
the Republicans were strong
enough to put the resolution over.
1t seems probable that there will
be a deadlock between the two
commodities, with the majority
of the Republicans defending
coal, and the majority of the
Democrats rushing to cover to-
bacco from the imposition of a
tax which would add to the farm
er's woes.
Alertness of the senate demo-
Gratis to needs of the agricultural
section has been marked on more
than one occasion. At one time
having a najority in the upper
branch, they were shorn of power
when the Brock rules were put
upon them by the detection Of
Senator c. w. Burton, who rep
resents FIVE strong Democratic
counties, Grant, Pendleton, Gala
tin, Owen and Boone, all of which
gave majorities to Governor
Black, and which district is nor
nally 5000 Democratic. These
rules place the real responsibility
| for legislation on the Republi
cans. The best the Democrats
can do it to watch and fight all
inimical legislation.
Senator Glenn S. Mum, Critten-
den county, called the Republi-
cans roundly to task for a cam
paign of calumny. Rising to a
point of personal privilege Mon
day afternoon, he showed where
the Kentucky Republican,
weekly paper published by the adj
ministration at the Capitol, had
by implication" attacked Sena-
tor (then Governor) Stanley and
Governor Black, on word Of
convicted felons, one of whom,
/ Joseph Vending, was in the re
formatory at Frankfort for the
murder Of little Ann Kellner, one
of the worst crimes ever COM
mitted in Louisville.
Judge Mum bitterly denounced
the tactics of the Republicans and
their publication of attacks on
President Wilson, the League of
Nations, and other propaganda of
an offensive nature. He said that
the "eff1uvia from the smelling
committees" alleged to be investi-
eating the prisons was sickening
rof all fair-minded persons.
Senator Brock in reply could do
nothing but throw bouquets at
the press, especially the mountain
papers, which he said were al
ways Dragging on the Republi-
cans. He disavowed the publica-
ton in the Kentucky Republican
saying he never had seen the
sheet until his attention was call
ed to it by Senator Mum, and
said he never had heard of Sol.
I. Steele, its editor.
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