The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-09-21
WHAT THE CONVENTION HAS
DONE.

WHAT THE CONVENTION HAS
DONE.
It has stricken from the bill o
rights everything that was offensive
to the people of Georgia.
1t has made the term of office Of
the Governor two years, and de-
clared that he shall not be eligible
to re election, after second term,
for the period of four years.
1t has taken from the Governor
the power of appointment Of Judges,
Attorney General, Solicitors, Nota
ries Public and other officers, save
in cases of vacancies.
/ 1t has reduced his salary from
four thousand to three thousand dol
lars per annum.
1t has reduced the pay of hi'
clerical force from the sum of ter
thousand to six thousand dollars.
1t has given the election of Treas.
urer, Comptroller General and Sec
rotary of State to the people.
II has forbid them receiving for
the mselves any fees or perqaisites,
and compcls them to pay these into
the treasury of the State.
1t has limited the pay Of their
clerical force.
1t has made il penal for the Treas,
urer to receive any fees, interest or
reward from any bank, corporation
or person for the use of the money
of the State.
It has reduced the term of the
Supreme Court Judges from twelve
to six years; the Superior Court
Judges from eight to four years.
II has reduced the pay of these
officers for the present, but author
ICES the Legislature, by two>thirds
vote, to change their salaries.
1t has given the election of Judges
and Solicitors General to the Legis,
lature.
1t has given the election Of Attor>
ney General to the people.
1t has restored the Grand Jury
system.
1t has restored the right of appeal
from one jury to another.
1t has made the session of the
Legislature biennial, and limited its
duration 10 forty days. 1t has re-
duced the pay of members from sew
en- to four dollars a day; mileage
from twenty-five to ten cents. 1t
has reduced the term Of Senators
from four to two years.
1t has ordered that the public
printing shall be given to the lowest
bidder.
1t has limited the pay of the Clerk
of the House and Secretary Of the
Senate.
1t has forbid railroad corporations
buying up competing roads, or to
take stock in other roads, thus pre-
venting them from involving them>
selves ruinousIy in debt, and utterly
impoverishing the honest owners of
stock
1t has forbid their making ruinous
or unjust discrimination against any
town, city or community.
1t has made their property sub,
ject to taxation as the property OF
individuals.
And, better than all, il has limited
the powers of taxation to certain
specified purposes; it has forbid the
creating Of any debt, except to pay
existing debt, to supply casual def
cheney in revenue, and to repel in>
vasion or suppress insurrection.
1t forbids the State lending her
credit to any individual, company,
corporation or association, or becom-
ing an owner or stakeholder in any
company, association or corporation.
1t also forbids the General Assem-
bly, from authorizing any county,
city or town to do the same, except
for schools or charitable purposes.
1t forbids the State assuming the
debt of any county, municipal corr
poration or political division, except
ia cases of invasion, instruction or
war.
It makes it felony for any officer
Of the government to receive inter
est, profit or perquisites from the
use or loan of public monies.
1t declares forever null and void
all bonds SO pronounced by the peo>
pie in their vote on the lst of May
last.
1t authorizes the sale of the inter-
est the State owns in railroads, the
proceeds to go to the payment of the
bonded debt of the State, and to no
other purposes.
In the language of Gen. Toombs,
Git has locked up the treasury and
put the key in tho pockets Of the
people"
1t has given the people the right
to locate their capital, and choose
either the old" or the "new |"
nnaofaod