The log cabin Democrat., 1921-02-04
WOMEN ELIGIBLE
 TO PUBLIC OFFICE SENATE ORDERS RECESS House May Adopt Two Night Sessions
 Each Week-Reject Exposi- ton Claims

Little Rock, Feb. 4.-Act No. 59 of the general assembly of 1921 will au- thorize the women of Arkansas to hold any office elective or appointive in the state. The bill was put through the legislature by Represen- tative P. R. Andrews of Phillips coun- ty and was signed yesterday by Gov ernor McRae. The first commission issued under the new statute was for the appointment of Miss Margaret Boyce of Little Rock as a notary pub- lie and a few minutes later second commission was issued to Miss Mary Fein of Little Rock as a notary public These are the first women notaries in Arkansas legally appointed. Gov ernor Jones attempted to appoint women as notaries public but the mat ter was carried to the supreme court several years ago and the appoint ments declared invalid.
 Every bill on the calendar in the senate was as far advanced Thursday afternoon as any member desired to have it go at that time. After being in session twenty minutes, a motion to adjourn till Monday afternoon was made. It was shown that no senator had any business for transaction even though President Cazort had left the bars down so that any senator could introduce a dozen bills if he had them but chairmen of several committees announced that if given an opportuni- ty they would return quite a few gen. eral bills on Friday morning. The motion to adjourn until Monday was then withdrawn, but as the house pass ed but few bills to be read in the sen- ate Friday morning, the session today cannot be extended length. Last Fri day the senate indulged in an all day session on the abolishment of the pen itentiary commission. It is not prob able that any further abolition meas ures will be taken up this week as Senators Shockley and Emory, admin tratlon supporters, are on the sick list. As the vote on such measures
  be expected to risk a roll call without full representation present
 The senate Thursday afternoon passed the McFarlin bill giving the state printing board the right to re- ject bids which indicate combination between the bidders.
 Three bills to abolish the corpora tion commission are now before the senate. The public service corpora ton committee has returned the Elm ory-Walls administration measure with favorable recommendation The Stewart bill was sent back without recommendation and Thursday after noon Senator Johnston asked that his bill be withdrawn from the committee. There was no opposition to this and it is now like the others, subject to final action. Senator Johnston's bill is directly in accordance with the re- concentrations of Governor McRae in his inaugural speech. The governor asked that the commission be abol- ished outright in oredr that its mcm- bers not have such inducement to lob- by against substitute provisions.
 The house is seriously considering the adoption of a resolution providing for night sessions Tuesday and Fri day of each week for the last half of the session. These will be devoted strictly to the consideration of local bills. It is admitted by all that un less some expedient like this is adopt ed it will be impossible for the house to dispose of anything like a majority of the bills now pending.
 The members of the house seem to determined that the Panama-Paclfic claims shall not be allowed, The de cisive vote against the bill on Wednes- day indicated the opposition to the measure and this was further demon strated yesterday when the house re- fused to grant Colonel F. B. T. Hollen- berg of Little Rock. one of the chief claimants under the bill, permission to address the body for a few minutes
 in explanation of the claims. The motion was made by Mir. Kennedy of Sebastian who said that it was noth- ing more than justice and fairness to permit MT. Hollenberg, an honored cit izen of the state, to answer certain charges that had been made on the floor in the consideration of the bill.