Washington telegraph., 1923-02-02

tOWhIu lIOuluB out general IOdu leg
islation which will be satisfactory to
the two branches OF the general as.
sembly. and to the people Of the
state. The resolution provided that
a joint committee OF the two branch
es be appointed by the speaker and
president OF the Senate to draft road
legislation The resolution after a
heated debate, passed by a vote OF
SO to 10.
Almost in the same breath, how
ever, the House defeated a Senate
concurrent resolution providing that
the speaker and president OF the SEN
at appoint a joint committee TO be
known as a Steering committee"
for the assembly. This resolution
was lost by a unanimous vote after
Representative Herndon declared
that "the next thing we know OF they
win have a committee to tell us how
TO vote" and the first time a chair
man of the steering comittee" comes
around and tells me what to do,
more sergeant OF arms will be need.
ed in the House to keep the peace"
The Rutherford resolution declared
that "the road situation OF the state
is very complicated and the legisla-
ture in its effort to work out leg
islation to meet the needs OF the
state is confronted with many diff
cultles, and,
Whereas. II any legislation OF I'm.
portance is framed it is necessary
that the House and the Senate be
drawn together on a full working bas.
Is.
Therefore, be II resolved by the
House of Representatives the SEN
ate concurring therein, That a com
mittee of five be appointed from the
House to confer with a committee
from the Senate in the effort to work
out legislation upon which both the
Senate and the House agree that will
be satisfactory with the people OF
the state"
Debate against the resolution was
opened by Representative Ward Of
Clay county, who has been active
against every effort seeking more
amicable relationship between the
House and Senate and efforts to Sc
cure general road legislation to the
state as a whole. Mr.. Ward declared
that he knew what his people want.
ed" and he didn't propose to be
bought by any committee bill or
any bunch in the statehouse on the
road question"
Supporters OF the resolution, in.
cluding Representative Dewitt Of
Benton county, one OF the strongest
"antis" in the House, who admitted
he was the Houses "hardest-boiled'
member on road questions, explained
to the member from Clay that the
resolution was an effort to give the
peupie Of the state remedial legisla.
tion, something they wanted, and
that for this reason they believed the
resolution should be passed.
Senator Thompson's bill, similar in
purpose to measures whcih have been
presented biennially since the Tur-
ner-Jacobson bill of 1909, provides for
the 100 per cent assessment of all
property for state purposes, and a
sliding scale of taxation. The rate
depends on the value of property as
shown by the assessment. The meth.
! cd of ascertaining the rate, as Civ.
en- in the bill, consists in dividing
500 by the number of millions OF dol.
lars representing the aggregate as.
sessments, carrying the division to
four deciamls. To the result of the
division .05 is added and the sum
is the percentage of 81 to be assess.
ed against each 800. For instance,
II the aggregate assessed valuation
OF property in the state under 100
per cent assessment totaled sS42,614,
22o. a more or less accurate estimate,
the rate of taxation, or the levy
would be .644 on each 500 Of value
This figure is obtained by dividing
S42, the number of millions Of dol
lars representing the aggregate as
sessment, into 500, obtaining a re.
suit of .594 and adding .O5. The bill
carries the distribution Of each dol.
lar received in taxes to the various
state purposes, as follows: .345 for
the common school fund, $50 for
pensions, .139 for charities, etc.
In the Senate the following general
bills were introduced:
Johnson and Thompson.-Provldinp
for the removal of the University Of
Arkansas to Little Rock
DuLaney.-Giving the Arkansas
Railroad Comission concurrent juris.
diction with cities and towns in Ger.
tain utilities.
Wilson OF Union.-To validate ac-
knowledgment of notaries public
who have removed from county.
Caldwell.-To authorize circuit
Judges to suspend sentences in Ger.
tain cases. Referred to judiciary
committee.
Misunderstanding an annual in.
spection of all telephone and tele.
--a,1, Itnou Paod tvvica. committed