The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-01-16
Legislai,il
Brings End
Week
Controversial
Issues To Face
Group Next Week
BY The Associated Press

Jackson, Miss, Jan. 15-Mis-
sissippi's senate shortly before
noon today knocked off for the
weekend, and the house indi-
Gated it would soon follow suit,
thus bringing to a close the Sec
ond week of the new legislature.
More committee appointments
today brought nearer to perfec-
ton the law-making body's in
ternal organization, in prepare
ton for the handling of major
issues that will be presented in
Governor Fielding L. Wright's
inaugural address Tuesday.
The senate-before recessing
until 1880 p. m. Monday, an hour
before the scheduled Inaugural
ton of Lieutenant Governor
Sam Lumpkin-passed three mea-
sures, one of which was a house
bill that is now ready for signing
by the governor.
II would re-appropriate ST, $685.
FOG as the unexpended portion of
$4,000 900 fund set up by the 1916
legislature for use by the build
ing commission in aiding county
school construction.
Without such legislation the I'M
expended portion would revert to
the treasury at the end of the BIZ
ennium on June 80.
Other senate bills would pro-
vide for increasing the pay of SUI
preme court stenographers from
$3.50 to $500 per month, and would
appropriate out of state highway
funds $4,000 for paying for license
tags for the period of January 1
to June 80 of this year.
Controversial Matters
By the time the legislature gets
down to dealing with legislative
matters again on Wednesday-af-
ter the lieutenant governors in
auguration on Monday and the
governors installation on Tues
day-the machinery is expected
to be ready to thrash out contro-
versial matters.
In addition to whatever requests
the governor will make the has
already advised creation of a uni
formed state police force) other
developing issues include:
Q)
of petitions from churches, urging
its continuance in legally dry"
Mississippi ard one from a Nat
chez Christian Citizens League
recommending a state police to
enforce the law, which in the city
of Natchez is generally disregard
ed.
~ Black Market Taxa bill
was introduced in the Senate yes
terday to repeal this state tax on
illegal sale of liquor. Previously
a similar bill had been introduced
in the house.
90 Money for cities-A Mu-
nicipal Officers Association con-
ference with legislators and the
governor, yesterday indicated that
a plan to return one-eighth of the
money collected from Mississippi's
sales tax to the municipal govern
ments, received slim support from
legislators. The governor said he
will go along with any plan the
lawmakers decide for financial
relief to cities.
"a Workmen's compensation -
Representatives of labor, manage
ment, and the legislature met in
conference last night to help a
committee in its pre-
p~aration to draft a workmen's
compensation law.
Senator Earl Evans of Canton,
who called the conference, said
TOO many of the people who
attended the meeting tried to talk
against the compensation act in
stead of offering ideas to put it
in. l don't think we accomplished
much tonight"
Fred Ross, Meridian attorney,
raised the question whether a
workmen's compensation act
would place negroes lin the same
position as whites in regard to
the amount of compensation paid
for similar injuries.
Marshall Dawson of Washing
ton, member of the Department
of Labor, answered: ANY en-
ployed will receice a percentage
of his wage" in the event of in
jury while on duty.
Originally. only $4,000. 900 was
appropriated for the office build
ing and 100000 for the hospital.
Both houses received bills to
appropriate a half-million dollars
to build oyster reefs on the Gulf
Coast.