The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1948-02-26

changes in the party primary elect
ion system.
Aid for counties and cities of the
STATE got some serious attention from
finance leaders as the week ended
but with no definite plan agreed on,
lotion is still lacking.
A bill to appropriate S5O0O,0OO
from surplus state cash now avail
ole, for $3.50 split between coun.
ties and cities was offered in the Sen
ate; if passed, 1916 bill providing
for split by the state with the
cities and counties of a stated sur
plus, would be repealed. Since the
House ways and means committee
killed the Senate-approved bills cut
ting the amusement tax rate, it was
apparent that several proposals to
give all or greater part of this tax
TO the cities is being seriously con
sidered.
Another controversial issue popped
up when several northeast Mississip
pi representatives dropped in a bill
asking for a $l00,000,000 highway
bond issue for county highway aid.
Full faith and credit of the state
would be pledged for retirement of
the bonds, but they would - noiC
out of the present gas tax, which, ac-
cording to Rep. Phil Mullen, one of
the authors. brings enough revenue
t the present rate to pay them off
He said the bill plans a system OF
feeder all weather roads leading
rom rural centers to main high
ways.
A bill to split the offices of sheriff
and tax collector hit the Senate; Sen.
Bee McAlpin (Mize) and R. E. Gen
try (Mt. Olive) would make the
sheriff strictly a law enforcement
officer and provide for a separate
office of tax collector, both paid a
salary.
Other actions of the week included
these:
A Legislative Investigating Com
mittee suggested the tax of two per
cent of natural gas produced, be re-
placed by gas severance tax, sim
liar in rate and operation to the
TX per cent oil severance tax.
After hearing at which sports.
men filled the hall, the House wild
life conservation committee killed a
bill asking transfer of S500,000 sur.
plus in the Game and Fish commits
lion funds, to the states general
fund; and killed bill which would
take away from the commission the
right to set or change open seasons
for game and fish.
Hearings were held on series Of
bills aimed at simplifying court pro
cedure. under which the Supreme
Court prescribe general rules -simil
ar to a Federal act.
The House passed bill prohibit.
ng the sale of tickets to any sports
went at more than the established
price.
The House passed four Military
Affairs bills, one of which clarifies
the Veterans Farm and Home bill sc
that veterans buying farms or homes
will be eligible for Homestead Ex'
emption.
The House passed several bills to
increase salaries of clerks in county
md state offices, most of them paid
by the state.
The Senate, after heated debate,
passed CT to I'D bill making wo-
mems jury service optional.
More than 100 members of the
louise introduced resolution setting
March 20 as adjournment date; it
was sent to the Rules committee.
Killed in the House was a bill
which would have called for election
Of supervisors in different year
than general elections.
The House passed the necessary
three consecutive days. and sent to
The Senate, a resolution calling for
3 Constitutional amendment election
on annual meetings of the legisla-
ture, limited to so days, instead of
The present biennial no-limit ses-
sionS.
A House bill was offered to make
Kinds county separate chancery
court district, putting Copiah, Lin
coin and Franklin in an additional
district, due to added work of oil
lease land titles.
Both Houses finally approved U
:. Constitutional amendment limit
ng any president TO two terms.
After an open hearing, at which
representatives of daily newspapers
from throughout the state appeared
| 70 protest the House Labor commit
tee struck from its proposed Child
, Labor Law bill provision prohibit
ing boys under 16 from carrying
| paper routes.