11 Feb 1904
Page 1
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Newspaper
Oxford Eagle
Location
Oxford, Mississippi, United States of America
Date
Feb 11, 1904
Page
1
In comment and criticism, a house bill seeks a bureau of mortality statistics to track births and deaths. It would place a head in the capital, possibly the insurance commissioner, with physicians required to report deaths and causes and to report births, with compensation for reports.
A massive blaze roared through Baltimore starting before 11 a.m. at John E. Huret & Co. dry goods, engulfing about twenty blocks. Firefighters, aided by out-of-town engines, dynamited buildings to halt spread, but losses soared past 50 million dollars with hospital patients moved and no fatalities reported at that hour.
Mississippi lawmakers moved through four weeks with about 500 bills introduced yet a small share likely to become law. Committees trimmed nearly all proposals, while the Senate met at 4 p.m. with a governor’s sealed message and actions on bills including livestock compensation in Copiah County and pending adjutant general salary items.
The senate adjourned until Monday while the house spent the morning on private and local bills amid a cold outbreak. A 24 member joint committee advances a plan to restructure Circuit and Chancery Court districts into thirteen proposed districts, each avoiding shared districts for judges or attorneys. Adjournment followed the day's private measures.
The universities and colleges committee completed its inquiry with a report to be read soon. The judiciary panel backs a code bill creating a commission to draft a code for the next legislature. A concurrent resolution seeks to amend the constitution to ban liquor sales with a shift to the November ballot. A Brown motion to refer was tabled 55 to 39. A minority argued the amendment unnecessary and did not concur. No bills were introduced.
The lower house narrowly passed a measure allowing boards of supervisors to make partial payments on public building contracts as work progresses after a close reconsideration vote. The senate advanced bills to curb fraud in contract awards and to bar nonmembers from secret society emblems. The uniform school book bill was postponed, and constitutional prohibition debates continued.
The legislative session moved the Sample amendments to the primary election law to the special order and made good headway before adjournment for dinner. Consideration resumed on a bill to fix penalties on railroad companies for failure to deliver freights and passed in amended form despite court challenges. A senate measure granting illegitimate children and their mothers the same damages rights as legitimate offspring drew little opposition, 28 to 5.
The senate considered a uniform school book system bill but adjourned for dinner with it pending. Committees reported favorably on public roads, court size and terms, office hours, and a cap on interest at 8 percent. Unfavorable on penitentiary management. House backed judge salary raises, Estes proposed state geological survey, Greenville encampment reimbursement bill defeated. Governor contingency fund of 2500 dollars approved to curb lawlessness. No other major actions occurred.
The house narrowly approved a bill to impose the death penalty if a jury deems fit for attempting criminal assault, replacing the current maximum ten years. Debates linked lynching to the bill while the senate discussed tax exemption for money loaned at six percent. The house also set prison funding at 200000 annually plus 17000 for January and made the Hightower roadwork measure a next Wednesday special order.
The legislature moves slowly with large committees hindering meetings and reports. The house measure for common school appropriations sits in the senate committee amid opposition to higher funds. If the senate cuts the appropriation, a conference and return to the house could delay distributing the school fund.
Prohibitionists urge friendly legislators to remain at the capital for several days to secure the constitutional amendment. They faced a smaller initial showing than expected and vow a stronger, three day vote effort. Supporters of local option and anti prohibitionists gain courage from the new phase.
A Mississippi college plans broad tasks for the coming years. A proposed State department of agriculture at the institution will mainly fight the boll weevil. A senate bill by Mr. Boyd calls for a geological and agricultural survey of the state under the experiment station director, to be completed by February 1908, with published reports.
A Denton introduced bill abolishes the prison board of control and places management in an assistant who must post a 50000 bond and be appointed by the governor for four years. The superintendent handles finances, pays the state treasury, and closes accounts annually with a formal report.
The Insurance Commissioner testified before the house committee on insurance about amending the Noel anti-trust law to exempt insurance companies from its provisions. The debate centers on whether the bill constitutes unconstitutional class legislation while arguing the measure applies to all insurance organizations, not granting special benefits.
The bill creates a finance board with the governor attorney general and treasurer and requires circulars to banks with capital over 30 000 inviting bids for deposits. Banks named as depositories must post bonds and the treasurer keeps a separate account. Penalties for violations are heavy and tax collectors settle directly with designated banks.
The Mississippi Experiment Station entomologist describes the Mexican cotton boll weevil origin, life cycle, and habits. He warns this pest could devastate cotton, notes its winter hiding places, rapid summer reproduction, and risks of transporting seed and baled cotton. Mules die from pneumonia amid harsh cold. a train bound for Laurel from St Louis loses twelve of thirty mules, blamed on extended stay in freezing stockyards.
The Gulf and Ship Island road expects to establish at least a dozen canning factories along its line within months. A promoter will organize stock companies among town citizens while the railroad takes a substantial stock in each venture. Truck farming gains support as towns along the line become key in the spring and summer fruit and vegetable market.
Sherman Fox was killed last week near Arkabutla in Tate county after a debt of one dollar led a companion named Andrew Brown to threaten payment and then shoot him. Brown, empowered to collect the debt for a Negro woman, warned death if not settled by the next day and carried out the threat the following morning. Brown is jailed at Senatobia.
Contract to widen the Gulf and Chicago division track from Pontotoc Mississippi to Middleton Tennessee, known locally as the Doodle Bug Line, will be awarded within days after bids are reviewed by several prominent contractors.
Hon Wallace M Ssarin reports growing sentiment for W R Hearst among Democratic national committeemen in the North. McLaurin says Hearst is the leading candidate and would likely win if nominated, noting his record of delivering results.
The Jackson police report two murdered infants found within a week and Aberdeen records a dead child in a yard, with no clues about the killers. Gov. Vardaman plans to reappoint D. G. Pepper to the Yazoo Mississippi levee board, a longtime figure in levee matters and an advocate for federal levee control.
Natchez citizens work to secure an appropriation for the harbor by pushing a special bill. They criticized the rivers and harbors committee report and sent petitions to Congressman McLain of the Fifth district and Congressman Ransdall of Louisiana a committee member urging action before adjournment.
Capt. Rigby of the Vicksburg National Park Commission says only park commissioners, a stenographer, and a few laborers will be kept on salary through July to repair washouts and road work. All other national park activity will be halted due to lack of funds.
The Rankin farm, long a drag to the penitentiary, surprised by earning $6,000 net plus $6,438.99 from grading Capitol grounds. It was once thought prudent to sell the farm, but this year it stood out as its best performance ever.
Chairman Miller has not yet convened a meeting of the Democratic State executive committee to arrange a state convention and name delegates to the national convention.
State Land Commissioner E. H. Nall reports January land sales totaling $11,407.14, far above the same month last year. Of the total, $750 covers trespasses and $152.50 accounts for fees.
Will Mileski of Biloxi smothered by charcoal fumes aboard a schooner. He built a charcoal fire in the hold and went to sleep leaving it burning last week.
Arthur Fridge of Ellisville was sworn in as adjutant-general of the Mississippi National Guard last week before the clerk of the Supreme Court.
Governor Vardaman is asked to grant clemency for T. B. Keene of Yazoo County convicted of larceny and sentenced to three years in the penitentiary, alleged to have been influenced by liquor. He is also petitioned to pardon Wilt Lee of Lincoln County convicted of attempted murder.
Scott county authorities probe a murder mystery after a hunting party discovers a bloody hat with buckshot holes a small mirror a razor and a handkerchief in the woods. No victim or suspect found yet and search continues in a dense wild region.
Fire department officials in New York received a request for assistance from Baltimore. Chief Croker ordered a fast response and coordinated with the Pennsylvania Railroad to dispatch engines and crews on a special train.
Berlin reports a rumor that the main Japanese fleet has left the Japanese coast before Japan announced severed relations with Russia. The rumor also says Japan occupied all of Southern Korea. Public opinion is divided with middle class sympathy for Japan while German government leanings favor Russia.
In Doddsville Mississippi on February 7 1900 Luther Holbert and his wife were burned at the stake for the murder of James Eastland and his companion Carr. A large crowd gathered as the fugitives captured near Sheppardtown were taken to the scene after a three day chase through four counties. The 16 year old son of the couple was released.
St Petersburg reports Japan recalls its legation and demands immediate Russian withdrawal, signaling a rupture that many expect to spark full scale war. The official note cites Tokyo's decision to end negotiations and recall staff, with Baron Kurino and Baron Von Rosen ordered to depart.
Washington reports confirm Russia and Japan have severed diplomatic relations. Hostilities are expected soon with actions possibly preceding or following a formal declaration. Count Cassini and M Takahira discussed fresh advices while state officials scramble to assess the crisis.
Paris reports that Japan has effectively declared war on Russia by withdrawing its representatives from St. Petersburg. The Foreign Office convened a cabinet meeting and French officials expect Harmand in Tokyo to handle Russian affairs during hostilities.
Tokyo reports a special cabinet session attended by the mikado and elder statesmen. War and navy departments are in feverish activity with army and naval chiefs daily addressing loose ends of an impending campaign. Censorship is strict and only strategic troop and ship movements may be transmitted.
A British cabinet conference is slated for tomorrow to decide Great Britain's attitude as hostilities between Japan and Russia continue. A St Petersburg report claims the Russian foreign office told Sir C. S. Scott that England’s aid to Japan has proved deeply displeasing, though unconfirmed.
London reports a unanimous English press mood praising Japan for challenging Russia and breaking its delay tactic. The tone echoes Rudyard Kipling’s "The Trace of the Bear" as the nation’s sentiment centers on swift decisive action.
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