NO. V.

Requesting our Congressmen to Support the Bill making the Commissioner of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture, and Member of the Cabinet.

WHEREAS, Recognizing the fact that agriculture is the chief feature of all American industries; that the farming classes comprise a majority of the voters of the United States, pay more than half the taxes, and cultivate three hundred millions of acres of land, valued at more than ten thousand millions of dollars; that upon the proceeds of the soil our Republic is dependent almost entirely for her prosperity and the support of government; that the census of 1880 reveals the fact, that of the entire exports of this country, eighty-four per cent comes from the farms, forests, mines and fisheries whilst only sixteen per cent is the product of machinery; that the cotton of the South, and the grain of the West, hold a dual control over our material properity; and,

Whereas, We believe that agriculture should be better fostered and more encouraged by the general government, and that the Department of Agriculture should be elevated to a dignity commensuate with its great importance to the nation; therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Arkansas in General Assembly:

That our Senators and Representatives in Congress, be requested and urgedto support the bill now pending in Congress, to make the Commission of Agriculture, a Secretary of Agriculture and Labor, and a member of the President's Cabinet; also to favor the increase of appropriations to that department to such an amount as to render it of more value to the people and the government.

Resolved further, That the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution (after its passage by both Houses) to each Senator and Representatve in Congress from this State.

Approved January 23, 1887.

NO. VI.

Requesting our Representatives in Congress to call the Attention of the Secretary of War to the Causes by which Navigation is Impeded in the Mississippi River, etc.:

WHEREAS, Levees or embankments have been built on both sides of the Mississippi river, extending from the Balize up to the City of Helena in the State of Arkansas, and on the east banks of said river from the last named point up to the high lands in the vicinity of the City of Memphis, in the State of Tennessee, by the States bordering on said Mississippi river, together with the assistance of the general government, through the agency of the Mississippi Commission; and,

Whereas, That portion of the west bank of said Mississippi river extending from the mouth of the St. Francis river up to the high lands above the City of Cairo, in the State of Illinois, is left without any sufficient embankment, so that the overflows, which pour down from all the large tributaries above, are permitted to inundate all that region of country lying between the Mississippi river on the east and the St. Francis river on the west, thereby inducing shoaling in the channel of the Mississippi river near Norfolk and Commerce in that State, and Walnut Bend in the State of Arkansas, delaying and obstructing the navigation on said Mississippi river during the low water season, lasting from August until December; a state of affairs brought about by such dissipation of the flood-water over such a large territory of country, which also desolates farming interest in that region; and,

Whereas, The levee constructed along this portion of the river by the "swamp and overflowed lands" fund in 1850, and subsequently by the Congress of the United States was destroyed by the belligerents during the civil war so that but little is left standing; and,

Whereas, The sparse population of that Valley is utterly unable to build an embankment to restrain the overflows, and

the condition of the finances of the State of Arkansas forbids the undertaking of so expensive a work; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas:

That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to call the attention of the Secretary of War and the River Commission to the above condition of the Mississippi river and the impeded navigation from causes above stated, and urge upon them the great necessity of closing the gap in the embankment from the mouth of the St. Francis river to the high lands near the City of Cairo, on the west bank of said Mississippi river.

Approved January 25, 1887.

NO. VII.

WHEREAS, We believe gambling, commonly called speculating in futures, so far as it relates to grain of all kinds, cotton and meats, to be injurious to the interests of the laboring people of our country, in a manner that causes them to receive less for their products, and pay more for their supplies, than they would naturally receive for their products and pay for their supplies, were this pernicious evil not in practice; and,

Whereas, We feel that it is our duty as representatives of the people, to do all in our power to unstrap the burdens of labors from their backs, without violating the natural laws of man, or trespassing upon the Constitutions of our State and Union; and,

Whereas, We believe that the toiling class of people in the United States would cry out for joy were this, one of the many burdens of oppression, removed from their overly weighted and already bowed shoulders; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas.

That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be, and are hereby urged and requested to use their ablest and best efforts to pass a bill preventing and totally destroying the ruinous practice.

Approved January 25, 1887.

NO. VIII.

Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arkansas, the Senate concurring:

That a Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, to be composed of two Senators and three members of the House of Representatives, be appointed for the purpose of investigating who stole the Railroad Bill and the Insurance Bill during the session of the twenty-fifth General Assembly, and report recommending what steps should be taken, to convict and punish the thieves, and that they are hereby authorized to send for witnesses and papers.

Approved January 31, 1887.

NO. IX.

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Arkansas:

That a Special Joint Committee of both houses to consist of seven members on the part of the Senate, and twelve members on the part of the House is hereby created, and that the proposition of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company, for an amicable adjustment and settlement of the back taxes due by it to the State be, and it is hereby referred to said committee, and that said committee be permitted to report by bill or otherwise.

Approved January 31, 1887.

NO. X.

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That the Auditor of State be, and he is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the Treasurer of State to pay for the service of an engineer and assistant engineer to manage and operate the steam heating apparatus for heating the Capitol building, when the amounts due and to become due are properly certified by the Secretary of State, which shall be paid by the Treasurer out of the appropriation heretofore made for "Fuel and Lights" for the State Departments.

Approved February 3, 1887.

NO. XI.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concur

ring:

That a Joint Committee to be composed of three members from the House and two from the Senate be appointed as a Special Joint Committee, to take into consideration the propriety and practicability of establishing, equipping and maintaining a State printing office at the Deaf Mute Institute of the State, with the view and intention of promoting the art of printing in said Institute, and at the same time to have the State printing done at said office.

Resolved further, That said committee report by bill or otherwise.

Approved February 4, 1887.