1900–1904 Mississippi Legislature

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

In the 1900 session, the House had 131 Democrats and 2 Populists.^[1][4] In the 1902 session, five new members were sworn in to fill vacancies.^[9]