VOL. VI.
McCROIlY, ARKANSAS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1907.
NO. 14.
ARKANSAS _
tsTATE NEWsf
Whole Acre Lifted Out of Place.
Propelled by some force beneath
the surface, an entire acre of ground
near Underwood farm, seven miles
from Danville, lias been raised and is
no» from six inches to two feet above
the level of the surrounding land.
Formerly the land was on a level with
the land surrounding it. The change
too'K place in a single night. Farmers
in the vicinity claim that last Satur
day night they heard a strange noise
ns of a cyclone, but could not account
for the noise until it was discovered
that this acre of ground had been
raised from a level with the surround
There is no one here who can ac
count for the peculiar phenomenon,
but it is the belief of many that it was
caused by gas. At the end of the
raised land there is a clear break, and
the land is several inches higher than
the land immediately adjoining it. To
ward the center of the acre the land
Is about two feet higher than near
the edge. Hundreds of persons living
In the vicinity have visited the scene
In the last few days, but no one is
aide to give an explanation for the
peculiar condition. Many fear that
the lifting of this acre means that an
extinct volcano has broken loose and
fear that other sections of land in the
vicinity will be lifted out of place.
A Narrow Escape.
Leon Goldman of Little Rock, had
a narrow escape from asphyxiation
recently, and his life was only saved
after seven hours hard work by his
physicians. Upon retiring it is thought
that he struck the key jet with his
thumb after turning off the light, and
turned the gas on again. He owes
his life to the fact that the jet was
only about one-fourth on.
Two Widows Contesting for Dower.
A novel contest is pending in the
Polk County Court at Mena. It Is
the contention of two widows over
the ‘-state of R. F. Johnson, who was
killed about a year ago near Big Fork.
The ‘state is valued at about $2,500.
The status of each widow has not been
fully explained to the court, and exi
dence is to he taken within the next
few days which Judge Prickett hopes
will enable him to render a just de
cision.
For Killing Negro Child.
L. Honeycutt, Bob Moss and Jim
Hester, white men, were convicted of
involuntary manslaughter in the
Lonoke Circuit Court and sentenced
to 12 hours in the penitentiary. The
three men were charged with kill
ing a negro child. It was alleged that
a son of Honeycutt became involved
in an altercation with John Lewis, a
negro, and that on the following night
the three men armed themselves and,
loing to the home of the negro, de
manded admittance. The negro, being
frightened, refused to admit them
and threatened to shoot if they did
not leave. It was alleged that the de
fendants then shot into the house,
hitting the baby which was sleeping
on the floor beside its mother. The
men denied any connection with the
shooting.
Mines Still Closed.
•■'■i ihe coal mines in the Spadra dis
nct, Johnson county, are idle, pend
agreement between the miners
en<1 mine-owners under the mine
llm “w- Tire mines are flooded and
S'oat damage is being done as a re
fu Business of every class is para
yn i on account of the suspension
MtIv at the mines. A committee
ivn mine-owners and business men
er-'- to Little Rock recently to pre
e|.i their side of the case to the
legislature.
Dsastrous Fire at Pine Bluff.
-i.e which covered an area of
tm e “inure Blocks, destroyed about
“e hundred and fifty dwellings, and
in l*' 1'10 'oss °f two lives, occurred
vh, 1,ne B1ufl recently. The two men
er .‘?St tlleir lives were John Spring
w,c 1 a man named Reed. Springer
caiinw6,88611 in sal' aSe work and was
tnfkib.etVee" Uvo freight cars and
e(i d to death, and Reed was burn
neath in a rooming house.
of Greene County Indicted.
ty ha^f E’ E' Penn>’ of Greene coun
in office16'lndi?ted for non-feasance
the 16 indictment cliarges that
dutitw tw .failed t0 discharge his
placed in m 'k failed to serve PaP®rs
the !?*“ hls hands. and failed to keep
Bonjetimf °Pen as required by law,
tyTor ,!3 remaining out of the conn
rest <5-h„5j» at a time. Upon his ar
aignation'1^ PeDny tendered his re
AMe9ed F°rger Arrested.
Ernest Blnr°r“ation furnished by
had trnetaj1 u. er’ a reP°rter, who
Albert t od h,m fronl Mattoon, 111.,
R°ck recAn.fn Was ari’ested in Little
»>« Slyic T,"ok,et cl“ims ,tot
name of ti, t cbecks> signing the
‘non to th Journal-Gazette, of Mat
back to Ryan wi,l be taken
"er to the charges.
Gross Did Not Appear for Trial.
Senator A. T. Gross did not put in
an appearance at Perryville when
court convened, to answer to the
charges of perjury and soliciting a
bribe which have been preferred
against him. No attempt was made
to show why he was not present, and
he was not represented by an attor
ney. Unless his bondsmen can show
good cause why they should not be
required to pay the $2,000 bond for
feited by his non-appearance at Perry
ville, the amount will have to be paid
into the Pulaski county treasury on
the first day of the August term of
the Perryville Circuit Court. Dr.
Parchman and Tom Wallace, both of
Van Buren, are the two men on the
bond which was forfeited. A bench
warrant has been issued for Senator
Gross' arrest on the same charges,
but the warrant cannot be served, un
der the law which exempts legislators
from arrest during the sittings of that
body, until the end of the present
session of the legislature.
Largest Ever Known,
The penitentiary deposit according
to the books of the state auditor is
$S0,300.17, the largest sum ever to
the credit of the penitentiary since
any record has been kept of the
amount of money on this one fund.
Two months ago the fund reached
$30,000 and it was declared by state
officials then that the penitentiary
management had far exceeded even
the fondest hopes of those who be
lieved in the present, method of handl
ing the penitentiary. The present de
posit is $20,000 larger still. Members
of the Penitentiary Board and Super
intendent .1. A. Pitcock believe this
deposit tells for itself the story of
how- they have managed penitentiary
affairs. The only debts unpaid out
of this money are some of the bills
for the past month, which have not
Public School Building at Clarendon.
yet been drawn. These amount to
less than $1,500.
Gigantic Plan Proposed.
J. C. Bonnell, industrial agent Of
the Frisco railroad system, is in Fay
etteville in the interest of a proposed
system of interurban railways. Ac
cording to the plans of the company,
lines will extend to Harrison, Eureka
Springs, Siloant Springs, Batesvi'.le,
Carthage, Mo., and other cities in
this section. Batcsville and Carthage
will be terminal points. Motive pow
er for this big system wil lbe furnish
ed, it is proposed, by a 75,000 horse
power plant on White river near Fay
etteville. From this plant it is also
proposed to heat and light all towns
within a radius of 100 miles. Unlim
ited Eastern capital is said to be lie
hind the enterprise.
To Be Tr.ed at Ozark.
Henry Bell and Bob Richardson,
negroes, charged with the murder of
Deputy Constable Jones in Crawford
county, will be tried at Ozark. Bell
was tried at the last term of the Ozark
Circuit Court where his case was taken
on a change of venue, was convicted
and sentenced to death, but was saved
by the Supreme Court, to which the
case was appealed. Richardson, who
testified in behalf of Bell at the lat
ter’s trial, was arrested for compli
city in the murder.
Superintendent Res gns.
Martin A. Eisele, superintendent of
the government reservation at Hot
Springs has resigned after a request
from President Roosevelt to that ei
fect, and W. Scott Smith, secretary
to Secretary Hitchcock of the Interior
has been appointed in his place. This
office pays $2,500 per annum and pro
vides a handsome home for the super
intendent. The office has been con
trolled by local politics and this is
the first time a non-resident has se
cured the plum.
Plaintiff Given Damages.
R. G. Bruce, who was suing the Iron
Mountain Railroad Company for $5,000
damages in the Eonoke Circuit Court
on a charge of venue from Faulkner
county, was awarded $250. Mr. Bruce
claims that he and another man were
assaulted by the negro porter on a
dining car while they were attempt
ing to climb over the railing on the
car platform, in order not to miss the
train.
To Utilize Water Po-.ver.
Eastern capitalists have been in
Mountain Home looking over a waler
power on the the north fork of White
river with a view of putting in a pow
er plant for the purpose of generating
electricity to be used for development
purposes. The engineers have not yet
made their report, and it has not
been learned just what progress has
been made.
Profit in Sheep Raising.
W alter Davis, who lives near Beaty,
in Benton county, started a sheep
ranch last year with 28 sheep. The
28 sheep increased to 50, the old sheep
yielding wool to the amount of *1.50
each. The wife of Mr. Davis gives
some atention to turkey raising and
from five turkeys last spring raised
thirty, which she sold for $37.
J. M. Baksr Assaulted.
•T. M. Baker of Ashdown was severe
ly cut by a man named Robinson
while on the Kansas City Southern
train between Horatio and De Queen.
It is alleged that the men had been
attending court and been drinking
and became involved in an altercation
on the train. Baker's wounds, it is
believed, will terminate fatally.
Unable to Escape From Burning Build
ing.
•John Ward, 18 years of age, was so
severely burned in a fire at the resi
dence of his parents.at Reeder, that
he died from the effects of liis in
juries two days later. He was sleep
ing so soundly at the time of the fire
that it was with difficulty his father
got him out of the building at all.
Daring Attempt at Robbery.
Mrs. C. H. Boren of Little Rock
was awakened by a burglar who was
attempting to chloroform both she and
her room-mate, Mrs. H. E. Gibson of
Lonoke. The intruder was frightened
away before he secured any valuables.
Burned to Death.
Miss Amanda Barkston was burned
to death at her home near Conway.
How the accident occurred is not
known as she was alone at the time.
It is supposed that her clothing took
fire from a stove or grate and that
she ran into the yard, but burned to
death before help could reach her.
Baby Burned to Death.
The five-months-old baby of Ott
Traylor, living near Magnolia, was
burned to death recently. The babe
was fastened in a high chair front
ing an open fire-place and while the
mother was out of the room its cloth
ing caught fire.
Big Timber Deai.
The Bluff City Lumber Company of
Pine Bluff has purchased 3,000 acres
of timber land in Grant county. A
mill of 40,000 feet capacity is being
erected on the property and will be
operated by the Grant Lumber Com
pany.
Withdrew Suit at Point of Pistol.
The wife of Joe Reed, a negro, liv
ing near Blevins who has filed suit for
divorce against her husband was forc
ed by Reed, at the point of a pistol
to write a letter to her attorney in
structing him to withdraw the suit.
Made Mistake In Medicine.
L. F. Cowling of Washington, while
suffering from a bad cold, mistook the
morphine for the quinine bottle and
swallowed a large dose of the drug,
but the prompt arrival of a physician
saved his life.
Twenty-e ght Cars of Apples.
Twenty-eight cars of apples, mostly
of the Ben Davis variety, were shipped
from Rogers during the month of Jan
uary and several more cars will go
north from there this mouth.
Boy Arrested for Stealing Papers.
A news butcher on the White River
branch of the Iron Mountain by the
name of Livingston was arrested near
Newport on the charge of stealing
newspapers out of the mail.
C. C. Taggart Dead.
C. C. Taggart, a former resident of
Green Forest, but now of St. Joe, died
recently from the effects of blood pois
on caused from an ulcerated tooth.
THE SENATE.
Roth houses of the legislature adjourned
at noun Monday out of respect to the mem
ory of Senator’ Howard Robb, and but lit
tle business was transi ted duriug ihejuoru
Ing session.
The Oldham fellow servant bill, which
protects the rights of employes of railroads
and mining corporations ns to suits for
damages resulting from the carelessness or
negligence of the employes, was passed.
Tlouse Concurrent Resolution .No. 8,
which authorizes the Penitentiary Commit
tee to make a thorough Investigation of
the treatment of convicts on the state
farm and In the convict camps, was taken
up and unanimously adopted.
Among the bills passed were:
Senate Rill No. lots, by Senator Hol
land, which prohibits mine operators front
tunneling under regularly organized cem
eteries.
Senate Bill No. 82. by Senator Amis,
providing that writs of error and appeals
•hall stand for sixty in the Supreme
Court.
Senate Bill No. 123. by Senator Mclven
*le. increasing the Roar'd of Trustees or
the University of Arkansas to Include
one representative on the board from each
of the seven congressional districts.
Senate BUI No. lot>. by Senator Row
land. requiring the state penitentiary phy
sician and his assistant to confine their
services to the treatment of the state con
victs.
New bills in the Senate were :
By Senator Thompson. Senate Bill No.
159.—All act which leaves the settlement
of all questions of fraternity rights or
privileges to the Board of Trustees of the
university.
By Senator Patterson. Senate Bill No.
lt>0.—An act fixing the standard of pay
that a jailer shall receive for feeding
prisoners to be 75 cents per day.
By Senator Oldham. Senate Bill No.
161.—An act to regulate the assessment of
taxes of certain real estate and personal
property.
(By Senator Bush. Senate Bill No. 1R2.
—Au act making It unlawful for any per
son or persons to trap, net. shoot or kill
by any method whatsoever, any quail or
partridge from the 1st day or February
until the 1st day of December of each and
every year, to shoot, kill or pursue by
dogs any wild deer or fawn from the first
day of January until the 1st day of Sep
tember in each and every year, or to trap,
net. shoot or kill by any method whatso
ever any wild turkey from the 1st day of
May until the 1st day of September 111
each and every year. It is provided that
nothing lu the act will be construed to
afreet any person or persons raising deer
for domestic purposes.
Two messages from Gov. Little worp
read In the Senate Tuesday, one asking
that organization to remember the pledges
made to the people in the last campaign
and to assist hint in bringing them to a
realization, and the oilier the appointment
of Abe Dridell of Arkansas City to suc
ceed Senator ltobb.
The first message was as follows:
Greenwood, February II. -To the mem
bers of the Thirty-sixth General Assembly
of the State of Arkansas:
Gentlemen—When 1 assumed the duties
of governor, on January ]r>. I little thought
how soon I would be unable to discharge
them. Gay by day 1 have hoped that a
speedy convalcscense would enable me to
resume my duties, but now my physicians
warn me that 1 can not hope to do so
for two or three weeks yet.
In view of the fact that many matters
of serious concern to the people of the
state are pressing for executive considera
tion, 1 deem it wise to call upon the presi
dent of the Senate to assume the duties
of governor as provided by law until such
time as returning health will permit me
to resume them.
In temporarily severing my connection
with this body, permit me to again call
your attention to my inaugural message.
These policies I discussed with the people
of the state during the last campaign, and
I feel very strongly indorsed by the people
of the state, I sincerely hope your honor
able body will give them the force of law.
I wish to call your particular attention to
two matters at this time. 1 promised the
people of the state a radical change in
the management of the penitentiary, and
there is no doubt that the people very
much desire it, and I heartily indorse that
desire. 1 have been warned that a ma
jorlty of the present board do not intend
to change the present management of
Sollcy. I hope your honorable body will.
y legislative enactment, direct me to fulfill
my pledges to the people.
Another mailer or grave concern to the
state is supplying the needs of a growing
stale without increasing taxation. 1 sin
cerely hope that your honorable body wib
weigh well the consequence of an increased
tax rate upon the growth of the state.
JOHN S. LITTLll.
The House concurrent resolution by Mr.
Walls, which asks for a joint committee
\to Investigate certain statements that
Doodling had been attempted in the pres
ent session of the Legislature was indefi
nitely postponed by a vote of 17 to 8.
Seuator Amis presided temporarily
throughout the morning session, but there
was no quorum in the afternoon, and after
a messenger had summoned a sufficient
number to open the Senate there were two
bills introduced and adjournment was then
taken.
Acting Governor Moore called the Sen
ate to order Wednesday, after which the
gavel was relinquished to Senator Arnold,
his name beiug next in oader under the
rule applied by the president of the Senate
aud acting governor.
A hill providing for the abrogation of
the contract between the Arkausas lirlck
and Manufacturing Company assignee of
the Arkansas Chair Factory and the State
Hoard of Penitentiary Commissioners and
the superintendent of the Arkansas peni
tentiary. under which the brick company
leases a number of convicts was Introduced.
This is the convict contract known as tne
Dickinson contract which has figured so
largely in political campaigns for the past
eight years. During the discussion whicn
followed the introduction of the bill,
charges were made that the convicts are
mistreated. On the other hand, the repu
diatlon of contracts was opposed by aome
of the Senators.
The first educational bill to come itp rot
discussion was the Hush bill, which cre
ates common school districts in unison with
township lilies.
Senator Lee offered a concurrent resolu
tion at the afternoon session of the Sen
ate, authorizing (he secretary of the Sen
ate and clerk of the House to purchase
25 cents worth of stamps each day for
each member of the legislature out of tnr
contingent fund of the legislature. The
resolution was not debpted and passed
the Senate by a vote of 12 to 11.
Other bills Introduced at this session
were :
B.v Senator Amis. Senate Bill No. 182.
—An act requiring railroad companies to
file schedules of all property in the state,
giving the value of the property aud t*¥!
incumbrances thereon.
By Senator Ilamiter. Senate Bill No.
183.—An act preventing Sabhath break
lng and prohibiting public exhibits on Sun
day.
By Senator Greenhaw. Senate Bill No.
184. An act prohibiting the sn’e of adul
terated drugs In the state.
By Senator MoKnight. Senate Bill No.
185.—An act relieving all persons from
the payment of poll tax who have passed
the age of 70 years. Referred to the Ju
dfclary Committee.
By Senator Browning. Senate Bill No.
186.—An act which provides that service
may be obtained through publication re
garding dtainage questions. i
Tim Senate spent the greater part ot
the morning session Thursday in dismissing
liie Montgomery bill, which pros lUes for
the working of convicts on the public
roads. Adourmncnt at the morning hour
found the measure pending and it was not
taken up again during the day.
The bill dividing the slate into four
districts for the purpose of establishing
state agricultural and horticultural schools,
to be under the supervision of I lie com
misisoner of agriculture was passed The
bill appropriates $1100,000, or $50,000 for
each district.
A bill by Senator Rowland, which gives
persons worth less than $.’00 the right
to bring civil action without paying the
customary court fees, after the circum
stances have been proved to the satlsfac
tlon of the courts, was passed : also the
bill by Senator Browning. which makes
effective the provisions of the eighth amend
ment to the constitution which was sub
mitted to the people at the last election.
The bill places the tax levy at 1 3 4 mills
for general purposes, and 3 mills for school
purposes.
Among the bills introduced were :
By Senator Patterson.—An ait giving
the right to county collectors to designate
where tlm collections shall be made in the
several townships.
By Senator Hamiter.—An set making It
the duty of the prosecuting attorney of any
district to represent the state before Police
I'ourts when called, and providing for fees
for tlie same.
By Senator Arnold.—An act making the
Boyle standard of measuring lugs legal
and binding.
By Senator I.ee.—(By request I An act
providing for the weighing of coal in all
mines, and in effect repealing the screen
lug act passed two years ago.
By Senator Harrison.- -An act giving
corporations and companies the right to
alter tile capital slock at special meetings
of the stockholders called for this purpose.
By Senator Montgomery. -An act pro
hibiting the running of stock at large and
establishing what snail be termed a legal
fence.
By Senator Itrowning.—An act providing
for the printing of the Arkansas Supreme
Court reports and appropriating the sum
of $50,000 to pay for same.
By Senator W'ingo.—An act Axing the
passenger rareg on mixed trains on lines
longer than 15 miles, at - cents per mile.
Senator Browning presided during I he
day’s session under the procedure estab
listaed by President Moore.
The Senate was only In session during
(tie morning Friday and devoted most of
its time to the consideration of House
measures. Among the bills passed was
that for tile payment of salary to Gover
nor John S. Little during his Rbsence from
the state on account of illness.
The following Senate bills were read
the third time and passed :
Senate Bill No. 2, by Senator Holland,
requiring life Insurance companies to date
receipts for premiums from the day the
money is actually paid Into the hands ot
agents.
Senate Bill No. IS. by Senator Simms,
fixing the liability of employes and pro
viding for punishment for violation ot
contract.
Senate Bill No. 40. by Senator Bush,
providing for the payment of mileage to
Jurors.
The Senate adjourned at noon until Mon
day morning.
THE HOUSE.
The House of Representatives was the
only body of the General Assembly in ses
slon Saturday and it adjourned ai noon
until Monday. The most important busi
ness was tlie making of the Cartwriglit
Wcbb contested election case a special older
for Thursday morning. When the contest
was called up, Mr. Hunt, who wrote the
majority report, was absent and
in deference to him the matter was
not taken up.
llepresentatice lloyle’8 bill to make pub
lic ginners public weighers of cott-m was
amended so as to apply only to Bradley,
Ashley. Drew, Calhoun, Nevada and Wood
ruff counties.
The House. In Committee of the Whole,
considered the bill by Mr. Itoby to reim
burse Ashley county and the town of Ham
burg for money expended In enforcing the
yellow fever quarantine in 1905. and by a
vote of .">4 to 51 decided to return the
bill with the recommendation that It pass.
(inly on bill was passed, that of Mr.
Foster requiring the Cotton Belt to estab
lish a dqiot at Kedron. and to stop one
passenger train dally each way at Draughau.
both-stations in Cleveland county.
Four bills were Introduced at this ses
sion. They were :
Bv Mr. White, changing boundary of
fencing district No. 2 in Hogan county : bv
Mr. Bullion establishing the Tupelo drain
age district in Faulkner county: Bv Mr.
Black repealing an act of 1905 relating
to salary and fees of clerk of Marion
county : bv Mr. Abercrombie, for altering,
opening and vacating of streets In in
corporated towns.
Several resolutions were Introduced !n
the House Monday morning. One by Mr.
Killough to investigate the condition ot
the state's finances, was adopted In order
that the Speaker could appoint the pro
vided committee on finance In this work.
Another resolution was that Introduced
by Mr. Jackson, providing for a thorough
investigation ot' the conditions prevailing
at the convict camps and the state farm.
This resolution was adopted without a
dissenting vote, and was sent to the Sen
ate immediately, when it was passed in
less thau an hour, making the record for I
quick work in this Legislature.
The resolution follows :
Whereas, It has been reported and the
opinion is prevalent over the state that the
convicts are Inhumanely treated at the con
vict camps and farm : and
Whereas, It is doubtful whether the joint
committee on penitentiary has authority
to visit these camps and the farm and
properly investigate these charges; there
fore. be it
Resolved by the House of Representa
tives. the Senate concurring therein. That
the joint committee of the penitentiary
be and Is hereby authorized to visit and
thoroughly Investigate the past and exist
ing state of affairs of said convict camps
and the farm, and be empowered to sum
nton witnesses, administer oaths, send for
persons and papers and take depositions
tending to establish or disprove such
charges as may be brought against the
management of said convict camps and
farm ; provided, such a thorough Investi
gation Is deemed necessary by the aald
penitentiary committee.
A message from the governor announced
that he had approved tne following House
bills :
House Bill No. 1 (Rossi, filing the rate
for passenger fare on railroads more than
85 miles In length at 2 cents per mile.
House Bill No. 55 (Shannon), making
valid the official acts ot the Board of D1
rectors of the Slloam Springs school dis
trict.
House Bill No. 77 (White), to require
the Rock Island to stop two passenger
trains dally each way at Magazine, Logan
county.
House Bill No. 82 (Barker), for the re
lief of Dr. S. C. Robinson and others for
services during a smallpox epidemic In
Drew county in 1905-1906.
House Bill No. 92 (Black of Marlon),
appropriating J50.000 to pay the current
expenses of the state penitentiary rrorn
September 1. 1906, to April 1, 1907.
House Bill No. 87 (Moore of Independ
ence). to require the Iron Mountain to
erect a depot at Paroquet, Independence
county.
House BUI No. 71 (Van Hook), to repeal
an act of 1905 establishing two separate
judicial districts In Union county.
New Bills introduced In the House were :
By Mr. Ruff, to remove the headquarters
of the state prison officials to the state
convict farm In Lincoln county; by Mr.
Jackson, to abolish all Greek letter frater
nities at the state university; by Mr. Po.v
nor, designating the Arkansas Normal Col
lege at Eureka Springs as the official nor
mal school of the state.
The House adjourned at noon out of ra
spect to the memory of §enatw Robb,
The House passed the Amis anti-pool
jelling bill Tuesday by a vote of H'.t to ts.
The bill was passed by the Senate last
week and It only remains for it to be
enrolled and signed by the governor for It
to become a law. It Is provided In the
bill that it will become effective Immedi
ately after passage.
IXr. Klllough of Cross introduced a bill at
the morning session providing for the pay
ment of Governor Little's expenses during
his absence from the state.
The House insurance committee reported
favorably on the Halch bill permitting old
line Are Insurance companies to do business
In Arkansas. Under the antitrust law,
passed at the session of 1905, old line com
panles were driven from the state by a
provision that barred any Insurance com
pany that was a member of any combine
tion, pool, etc., made Id this state or else
where, for the purpose of fixing Insurance
premiums on property In Arkansas or else
where.
Senate Bill No. 63 (McKenzie), to au
thorize the immediate construction of coun
ty bridges by order of county courts where
they have been removed, and authorizing
counties divided by a waterway to build
bridges over same, was read the third time
and passed.
The House adjourned at 5 o'clock until
Wednesday morning.
Speaker Ilamiter waa presented Tuesday
with two gavels made by ltalph Wiley, a
student In the carpentry and cabinet-iiiak
ing department of the Arkansas Hear-.Mule
Institute. /
The House spent most of its time Wed
uesday in consideration of the Barker and
Coleman demurrage bills. Amendments ;o
both bills were adopted, and a considers
tion of a motion by Mr. Coleman to make
bis measure a substitute for the Barker
bill was deferred, by consent, until Wed
nesday of next week.
A concurrent resolution providing for
the appointment of a Joint committee to
make an investigation into the conduct
of the Confederate Home was adopted.
Mr. Klllougli introduced a bill to auth
orize the secretary of the Senate and the
clerk of the House to furnish each member
of both bodies with 40 copies of dally
newspapers or 280 copies of weekly news
papers publishing complete reports of legls
iatlve proceedings and 2o cents worth of
stamps daily. The bill provides that mem
bers shall be furnished with any paper In
the state they designate, and reiiufrea that
all papers furnished shall publish the full
text of ail laws passed that are less than
seven sections, and a synopsis of nil acts
of more than seven sections, and that copies
of the papers shall not cost more than
2 cents a copy.
The House spent the day considering the
newspaper and stamp bill, and the Webb
Oartwrlglit contest case from Stone coun
ty. The former bill. Instructing the clerk
of the House and secretary of the Senate
to furnish each member with forty dally
papers and 23 cents in stamps, passed after
a lively debate, by a vote of 44 to 41.
The contest case ended In favor of Cart
wright, the democratic contestant. Tha
committee, with onlv two dissenting votes,
reported in favor of Wohb, the sitting re
publican member, but the House adopted
the minority report, by a vote of 4G to
34. seating Cartwright.
At 3 o’clock the House adjourned.
The House Friday passed the bill by
Senator Toney providing for the chang
lag of the day for holding the stale gen
eral elections from the first Monday In
September to the second Monday in "that
month.
Mr. Roby presented a petition from
druggists and physicians of Ashley coun
ty protesting against the passage of either
Senate Bill No. 06 or House Bill No. 111.
both of which seek to regulate the sale
I and manufacture of patent or proprietary
I medicines.
The Arnold till requiring railroad com
panies to settle within thirty days for
stock killed or Injured by railroad trains,
was passed by the House, also Senator
Rowland's bill to increase the pension or
widows and mothers of Confederate veter
ans from $50 to $100 per annum.
New Bills In the House were:
By Mr. Saunders. to amend Section
8558 of Kirby's Digest, relating to fer
ries. by providing that when any city or
town may own shore, and the public 'con
venience may demand, it shall have au
thority to ask an order by the Couut.v
Court for the establishment of a ferry
In addition to others already established,
and the ferry licenses shall have the right
to land passengers and freight upon the
opposite shore, notwithstanding that he
may own land on either shore.
By Mr. IMnney. to give the council of
any city of the first class the power to
require any railroad company operating
its tracks through the city to construct
and maintain viaducts, as may be deemed
by the council necessary for the protec
tion of the public.
By Mr. Rowell, to relieve the owners of
all property of whatever description de
stroyed by fire in the conflagration at
Pin" Bluff on February 15. from the pay
ment of taxes for 1900.
The House adjourned at 4 :55 until Mon
day morning.
President Moore of the Senate Is acting
fovvrnor during the absence of (jovernor
Ittle in Texas. In assuming the oflfee he
said to the Senate :
“I regret more than words can express
the conditions that require me to leave
this body and temporarily occupy the gov
ernor's chair. I shall agree to all bills
that pass both houses, and no opposition
should be expected from me on any mea
sure that the legislature thinks Is good
for the state of Arkansas.
I have given serious consideration to the
quetlon of how m.v successor here should
be chosen. There Is nothing In the statute
by which we can proceed. Therefore. I
ask the leave of the Senate to temporarily
appoint presiding oflioers from day to day
until the law of the matter Is fully deter
mined.
I shall begin at the beginning of the roll
call and go down the list day bv day. To
day the president of the Sena's will be
Senator Amis."
Senator Abe Preidell of Arkansas City
who was appointed to succeed Senator
Howard Robb, took the oath of ofilca
Thursday.
Lost His Too,
While out hunting Percy Hammond,
a young man of Stephens, rested the.
barrel of his gnu on his foot, when
it was accidentally discharged, the
load taking effect In the big toe,
which had to be amputated. Ham
mond had been preparing himself for
examination to enter West Point, but
the loss of the toe will bar him from
taking a course in the institution.
Model County Farm Buildlny.
Efforts are being put forward at
Fort Smith to build a county farm
building that will be a model for every
county in the state of Arkansas. It
is proposed to invest $25,000 in the
construction of the building. Plans
have been agreed upon, and as soon
as practicable the work on the build
ing will be commenced.
Struck With Axe.
A quarrel between members of a
surveying party near Mena resulted
in the serious wounding of J. C. Witt
who was cut across the head and
shoulder with an axe by a man name*
Calhoun, who afterwards skipped out
and nothing Is known of his where
abouts.