Pocahontas star herald., 1923-03-16

IT
signed by the governor Thursday
morning and a short time afterward
the senate in spirit of pIque aud
retaliation expunged from ITS Jour
nal all record Of the passage of the
Agricultural bill. Commissioner
Ferguson has however, certified re.
cords from both the house and sen.
ate showing the passage OF his bill.
The senate record was made, before
the action was taken to expunge. 1t
Is contended by Mr.. Ferguson and
the governor that the bill Is legally
law, but others contend that its
validity must be determined by an
action In the courts.
As the situation exists now with
reference to the Highway Depart
ment, 1t is operating under precisely
the same law as that which existed
before the present session convened
except that 1t has been given the
proceeds from the three cents per
gallon tax on gasoline provided by
the Emory bill to the extent of TWEEN
tytive per cent and the remaining
rs per centgoes to the counties.
No change Is made in the personnel
of the department and the salaries
are the same.
Gov. McRae is known to be dis.
pleased with the situation and while
he intlmated that a special session
might be called to adjust the high
way matters, it Is known that he is
very carefully considering the pro-
position and will exhaust all possl-
BILE resources in an effort to avoid
the necessity of calling the general
assembly in extraordinary session.
! One feature of the highway admin
istration in which Governor McRae
was especially interested Is the fail
ure of the Legislature TO provide for
, the state treasurer to be made custo
dian of all highway funds, Laws
passed by the legislature also fail
, to provide for maintenance of roads
and among the laws that we're killed
> were proposed acts which would
have gwen the counties twenty per
, cent of the annual receipts Tor road
3 purposes to refund existing Indebt.
: edness. There will be no extra ses.
D sion If the governor can avoid IL.
' The administration of the gasoline
/ tax is placed in the hands of the au
{ dIlor oil state. Refners and whole
: salers must report TO him the amount
e sold and at the same time pay into
J the state treasury three cents on ev-
v cry gallon.
i The administration of the sever
b ance tax Is somewhat uncertain.
e The Tax Commission has been sbol
ished and It's duties have already
o been taken over by the railroad com
mission. No provision, however,
q is made for increased Office force or
! cost of enforcement.
A bill making an appropriation
for the expense OF collecting the sew
e 'ance tax was passed for tax COM
mission, but now that 1t is abolish.
ed 1t is a question whether the ap
preparation follows the Office. A
precedent is cited IN the case of the
former corporation commission,
whose appropriation did not go to
the railroad commission under a de-
cislon of the supreme court. The
question Is in the hands of Attorney
General Utley, who said he had not
yet reached conclusion. Another
question Is the collection Of the fran
chise tax which amounts to about
$3.50, 600 year. 1t must be decld-
ed whether this Is to be collected by
the railroad commission.
The Arkansas National Guard has
an increased appropriation from
$40, 900 to 500, 900. No change is
made IN abe personnel but the oiii
GERS state that they will oe able 10 !
organize a more effective ciuzen's
soIdie-y.
The inheritance tax commissioner
is given a new lease Of life, the
house bill abolishiDg his Office hav