The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1922-01-18
THE LEGISLATIVE. SESSION.
Bill to Consolidate Chancery and Circuit Clerk Spon-
sored by Senator Cohn-Vernon Has Bill to Prohibit
Bulls and Bears Running at Large.

Jackson, Miss, Jan. 17.-Departure
today of the secret seven" committee
for Clarksdale to continue it's investi-
cation of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta
Levee Board, passage by the Senate of
a bill to consolidate the offices of the
chancery court clerk and circuit court
clerk in counties of less than, 10000
population and the Kiger game and fish
bill, and passage of two bills by the
House for requiring cattle and hogs to
remain at home were important devel-
opments in the Mississippi legislature.
The bill for consolidating the Offices
of chancery and circuit clerks was in
stroduced jointly by Senate President
Pro Tempore Fred B. Smith and Senator
A. A. Cohn. Senator Smith relinquish-
ed the chair and took the floor in be-
half of it, The bill will be applicable
to sixty-eight of the eighty two coun-
ties in the state, only fourteen having
an excess of 10000 in population. 1t is
estimated that it will save taxpayers
of these counties more than $15O,000
year and is the largest retrenchment
measure yet to pass either body.
SAVING POINTED OUT.
Senator Smith urged the passage of
the bill, asserting that many circuit
clerks had but few duties and in GER
tain months of the year had little or
nothing to do. He declared it would
bring about considerable saving in the
public payroll. He and Senator Cohn
declared further that under the present
salary system the saving would be con-
siderable and under the modified fee
system, which appears probable of en-
actment by this session, it would be
even larger
Various amendments were offered by
Senators Abbott Love. Shields and Mix
This was one by Senator Shields pro-
viding the measure should become ef-
fective Immediately upon the conclu-
sion of the terms of the present hold
ers of the offices.
Senator Mixon's amendment to pro-
vide for a submission of the measure
to the voters at the next general cleo
ton for ratification or rejection was
turned down by the Senate in favor of
a substitute amendment offered by SEN
ator Smith to provide that the question
could be submitted to the voters in any
county upon the filing of a petition
signed by 20 per cent of the electorate.
Senator Stockstill entered vigorous
opposition to the bill, challenging the
right of the Legislature to sit at the
capital and pass laws which would
effect the individual needs of all the
counties.
He expressed the belief that the in
itiative to escape the provisions of the
measure should not be placed upon the
electors but that they should have the
right of initiative in getting under it.
The piece of legislation will be heard
from when the Legislature assemblies
here in 1924, he warned.
Senator McCallum responded to this
with the declaration that the sentiment
of mass meetings which has been con-
Quoted all over the state was an appeal
to the Legislature to do just what the
measure provided. The bill finally pass
ed, thirty-nine yeas and three nays, the
three negative votes being cast by
Senators Boatner, Miner and Stockstill
The fish and game bill by Senator w.
G. Kiger was considered section by Sec
tion and consumed three hours of the
Senates time. 1t goes into detail in
the effort to conserve the finny tribe