2 January 1900 (1900-01-02) – 12 March 1900 (1900-03-12)
2nd
7 January 1902 (1902-01-07) – 5 March 1902 (1902-03-05)
The 1900–1904 Mississippi Legislature was convened in two sessions: a regular session that lasted from January 2, 1900 to March 12, 1900, and a special session that lasted from January 7, 1902, to March 5, 1902.
History
Members were elected on November 7, 1899, for four-year terms.[1] The 1900–1904 Legislature met in two sessions.[2] The term's first session, and the legislature's 76th overall, met on January 2, 1900, for both houses.[3][4] This was considered a regular session.[3] That session ended when both houses adjourned on March 12, 1900.[4] During this session, the legislature passed a bill funding 1 million dollars for the construction of a new state capitol building.[5]
The term's second and final session, and the legislature's 77th overall, met on January 7, 1902.[6] This was called as a special session.[6] The Senate adjourned on March 5, 1902.[6] This was the last Mississippi Legislature session held in the Old Mississippi State Capitol, as the state government moved to the new and current state capitol in September 1903.[5] The term officially ended when members were sworn in for the 1904–1908 session on January 5, 1904.[7]
Officers
Senate
J. H. Jones, as Lieutenant Governor, served as President of the Senate at the start of the term.[3] Senate officers were elected on the first day of the session.[3] First, elections of offices held by non-senators were held.[3] John Y. Murry Jr. was unanimously elected Secretary of the Senate.[3] A. R. Govan was elected Sergeant-at-Arms, defeating three other candidates in three ballots.[3] H. J. Thornton was then elected Door-Keeper in four ballots.[3]
Next, the election for President pro tempore was held.[3] Twelfth District senator William Gwin Kiger nominated 16th District senator John R. Dinsmore for the office, and 25th District senator S. M. Meek seconded the nomination.[3] A voice vote was held.[3] Dinsmore won the office, with 42 of 45 senators voting for him.[3] (Two senators, Wesley G. Evans and W. P. S. Ventress, were absent that day, and Dinsmore voted for Kiger.)[3] Later during the 1900 session, the newly inaugurated Lieutenant Governor James T. Harrison replaced Jones as Senate President.[3]
Dinsmore died in office on April 27, 1900.[8] On the second day of the 1902 session (January 8), the Senate elected a new President pro tempore.[6]Edmond Noel nominated Kiger.[6]Richard Abbay nominated 30th District senator E. H. Moore, and Elias A. Rowan seconded Moore's nomination.[6] Moore then requested his nomination be withdrawn from consideration.[6] Then a ballot vote was held.[6] As the only candidate remaining, Kiger won the election with 37 senators voting for him, and 7 absent or not voting.[6] Kiger was then sworn in as president pro tempore for the 1902 session.[6]
House
Officer elections were held on the first day of the 1900 session.[4]Washington County representative E. N. Thomas nominated Lauderdale County representative A. J. Russell for Speaker pro tempore, and Russell was elected unanimously.[4] Alcorn County representative T. N. Underwood nominated L. Pink Smith to be the House Clerk pro tempore (a non-representative-held position), and Smith was also elected unanimously.[4] Then, elections for permanent positions were held. Russell was nominated and then won the election for Speaker with a 130-3 vote, with two members absent and Russell not voting.[4] Smith was then elected House Clerk with a 131-2 vote and the same absent representatives not voting.[4]
Personnel
Senate
Forty-five senators were elected to represent 38 different districts.[1] All senators were Democrats.[1][3] Three senators were sworn in during the 1902 session to fill vacancies.[6]
