The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1920-01-09
LEGISLATIVE NOTES FROM THE
STATE CAPITOL.

The 1920 session of the Kentucky
Legislature was called to order
shortly after noon Tuesday with a
large crowd present to witness the
opening ceremonies and to hear
Governor Edwin P. Morrow deliver
his message.
This is the first time in the his
tory of Kentucky that a Governor
has delivered his message in person
and it carried special impressive
ness as spoken in the earnest, clear
tones of the gifted Republican exec
tive.
The House and the Senate assem-
bled in their separate chambers and
proceeded to routine business con-
nected with the first day of the ses-
sion. Officers for both of the houses
selected in the party caucuses Mon
day night we're elected without de-
lay and Representative Joseph Bos-
worth. of Middlesboro, assumed the
chair as Speaker of the House. He
was heartily congratulated by his
Democratic opponent, James H.
Thompson, Bourbon County Repre-
sentative.
Following other routine matters
and consideration of the resolution
for ratification of the constitutional
amendment for national woman's
suffrage, the two legislative bodies
convened in joint session in the
house to hear the message.
Confning himself almost entirely
to the pledges and promises made to
the people of Kentucky in the plat
form Of both political parties in the
campaign last fall, Gov. Morrow
in his message urged the elimination
of every useless Office and official,
the ratification Of the Woman SUI
frage amendment to the Federal
Constitution, enforcement of the
prohibition amendment adopted at
the election in November, the enact
ment of a law to carry into effect the
provisions of the anti-mob amend
ment to the constitution and legisla-
ton to provide for improvement Of
the public school system of Ken
lucky, particularly in the rural dis
tricts, where are being taught 80
per cent of the children of Ken
lucky, the Governor said.
Governor Morrow recommended
that the arbitrary power Of the
State Tax Commission to increase
assessments be limited and that
counties which might be increased
by the State Board be given the
right to take their case to the Court
Of Appeals. He recommended legis-
lation that might be necessary to
take both the schools and the courts
out of politics, with change in the
constitution to permit this to be
done with regard to State and cOun-
ty superintendent of Schools.
The Governor also recommended
legislation that would permit him to
keep his promises to the people in
regard to the State Board of Con-
troll, and the entire. complete and
thorough elimination of the fire
putters-out" as a factor in State pol
ttics by the abolition Of the State
Fire MarshaPs office and the placing
of the office under the direction of
the Commissioner Of Insurance.
Declaring that the primary cleo
ton system had proved faulty inso-
far as it related to State matters. the
Governor urged the legislature to
amend the law so that it should not
apply to nominations for State Off
GERS, saying that the system deferred
men of standing who might other
wise be induced to run for public
Office from entering what would in
evitably prove to be an expensive
contest to cover the entire State.
The State of Kentucky. through
it's Legislature. ratified the Federal
constitutional amendment, granting
suffrage to women Tuesday after
noon, by an overwhelming vote in
DOtn HOUSES
In the Senate the vote stood 80 to
S, and in the House Of Representa-
tives the measure carried 70 to rs.
Bourbon's Representative, James H.
Thompson, voted for the ratification
of the amendment.
1t was the twentyfourth State to
officially endorse the amendment.
News that Rhode Island was the
twenty-third State to ratify the
measure was hailed with delight.
The Legislature. after spending
considerable time in wrangling and
becoming adjusted to conditions, ad-
journed Tuesday until next Monday.
This is in accordance with the
usual custom. the interim being
created for the purpose of allowing
for the selection of standing commit
tees, and for the formation Of rules
which will govern procedure in the
two houses. In the Senate the all
Democratic rules committee selected
Monday will fulfill both Of these du-
.ias under the direction of Chair