The Little River news., 1921-03-12
M'RAE PROGRAM PARTLY
 ACHIEVED THIS SESSION
But Two Boards Remain Which the Governor Sought to Abolish.
 One Badly Crippled.

AltIlc IlOCh, MdTCu II-AuJOuIH- IT. ment of the legislature yesterday saw the accomplishment of less than half of Governor McRae's abolition pro- gram.
 Embodied in the governors inaugu- ral message and in the platform of the Democratic party, were specific re- quests for the abolition of the High way Commission, the Board of Con- trol, the Corporation Commission and the Penitentiary Commission, and the substitution of honorary boards to take over their functions. Of this program, only last named was com pletely successful. The Penitentiary Commission has been abolished and an honorary board now is functioning in charge of the prison system. The Corporation Commission also was abolished, but the substitute Railroad Commission was created, with the consent of the governor.
 Board Is Badly Crippled.
 Repeated efforts to abolish the other two boards have failed. The Board of Control, however, is badly crippled. Although the House twice has passed abolition bills, they have been defeat ed in the Senate. The last attempt at abolition was made yesterday, when hn cd to death." Senator Deisch moved in- definite postpcnment of the bill and Senators Johnson and Wilson of Union both opposed the measure. They de- clared that the direction of the char itable institutions, and especially the State Hospital for Nervous Diseases, requires direct supervision of a cen tral control board located in Little Rock, and not a board with members scattered about the state such as an honorary board would be.
 Senator Collins gained the floor in against it until the noon recess, when Senate business ended. This left the bill on the slate calendar without ac- tion. However, a counter move was made in the House yesterday in the defeat of the boards appropriation bill. As the board now stands it is without appropriation for salary and maintenance, and is lacking one mem- Der who can be. appointed on1y by the governor. The vacancy left by the resignation of z. M. McCarrol1 several weeks ago has not been filled, and the two remaining members are w. H.. Hall and B. J. Reeves. Since the board is not abolished, the members may continue in office until the ex- piration of their terms, and a defi- ciency bill may be turned in to the legislature two years hence.
 Highway Department Remains.
 Machinery of the Highway Depart ment is unchanged, although measur- es were introduced in both houses to take away the automobile tax, the departments principal source of reve-
 New Revenue for 1923.
 nue, and to attach the duties of the department to the Agricultural De- pertinent. The latter measure was defeated, and out of the various auto tax bills introduced a joint compro- mise measure was introduced and passed under which the counties will receive 70 per cent of the auto license collected within their boundaries, and the department the remaining 30 per cent. License fees are based on a sliding scale governed by the weight and horsepower of the car, and it was said that 30 per cent which will go to the Highway Department will yield almost as much as the present 100 per cent under the $10 flat rate.
 No Salary for Inspector.
 The salary of the state mine in spector is held up under the action of the House in killing the appropria- lion tiil. but the office itself is con tiEued Several efforts to abolish t!e rffice of inheritance tax attorney a,sO have a,,td, and the appr,pr,a- tion bill was passed by both houses. The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of John Carter, inheri- tance tax attorney, who had been ap- pointed by former Governor Brough. The confirmation was made in 1n- formal executive session, as were the appointments of A. l.. Hutchins and l.. s. Dunaway as members of the State Normal Board of Directors.
 Probably the most important meas ure enacted by the legislature is the Vaughan revenue bill, which revises the entire taxing system of the state, The Dill requires the assessment of all property at full loo per cent valua- 9tion with the rate of taxation based on the assessed valuation of the state