Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-15
THE STATE CAPITAL.
IMPORTANT SESSION OF THE
HOUSE.
ered-The Salaries Of Managers
Reduced-The Bill Again Passed
The Rome Southern Railroad
The Bill Amended and Passed.

Reduced-The Bill Again Passed
The Rome Southern Railroad
The Bill Amended and Passed.
ATLANTA, August 13-The Senate is not
in session to-day, having adjourned over to
Monday morning.
In the House, at the conclusion of the
reading of the journal, Mr.. McBryde, of
Haralson, moved to reconsider the vote on
the convict bill, in order to amend it so
as to reduce the salaries, and for no other
purpose.
Mr.. Miller, of Houston, opposed this mo-
tion, because the bill had been fully dis
cussed before its passage. The salaries
were not too high to secure the best men
for managers, and to reconsider the vote
would open up the whole question for re-
newed and prolonged discussion, and other
amendments would be offered and insisted
upon.
Mr.. Winslow, of Houston, favored re-
consideration, but not solely to reduce the
salary of the Commissioners. He would
amend the bill, and put warden or super
intendent at each camp, and have the les
sees pay him. Mr.. Wlnslow opposed the
passage of the bill, and desired to kill it
under reconsideration.
Mr. Mitchell, of GWinnett, said he did not
fully understand the salary question when
the bill passed, and wished to reconsider
simply to reduce the salary.
Mr. Turner, of Monroe, opposing recon-
sideration, said the subject had been suffi-
cientlY discussed, and asserted that Georgia
ought not to desire to speculate out of her
convicts; the salary was not too great for
such commissioners as ought to be elected.
Mr. Middlebrook, of Newton, said he had
voted for the bill and should support it to
the end, yet he wanted a reconsideration
for the purpose of reducing the salary of
the commissioners.
Mr.. Jones, of Polk, moved to table the
motion to reconsider, but finding great
opposition to it, he withdrew the motion.
Mr. Hammond, of Thomas, stated that he
was one who did not fully understand the
salary question before the passage of
the bill, and he would like to have
it reconsidered for the reduction of
salary from two thousand dollars and
expenses to fifteen hundred dollars and
expenses. This, as compared with
the salary Of our Judges, was ample for all
purposes. But should the House disagree
with him, he would bow gracefully to their
decision. For no other purpose did he de-
sire reconsideration, aud if others desired
to defeat the bill through reconsideration,
he should not assist them In that object.
Mr.. Turner, of Monroe, replied and
strengthened his previous remarks by sew
eral good points.
Mr.. Spence, of Mitchell, moved to table
the motion to reconsider. Lost. Yeas Sc,
nays "a.
The previous question was called by Mr..
Winslow, of Houston, and sustained, and
the reconsideration was carried. Yeas rs,
nays AZ.
On motion of Mr.. Miller, of Houston, the
rules were suspended and the bill taken up
for final action.
Mr.. Hammond offered an amendment
making the salary of each commissioner
81 800 per year and actual (not necessary
expenses while ViSitif9 the convict camps.
The amendment was adopted by large
majority.
The bill was then put on its passage, and
the yeas and nays were called with the fol-
loving result-yeas 90, nays 33. The House
was thin, and many friends OF the bill were
absent.
Numerous committee reports were re-
ceived.
The special judiciary committee reported
In favor of bills creating a City Court In Au-
gusta, and to provide police or patrol for
Richmond county outside of incorporated
towns.
The Judiciary Committee reported in IA
vor OF purchasing certain copies of Martins
Georgia Reports, and against amending the
road law so as to substitute a Communication
tax for work on the public roads.
The Governor announced that he had
signed several bills, including one fixing
the liquor license in Screven county at $10,-
600 per year; also, one reducing the bond Of
the Sheriff of Early county; also, allowing
Clarke county to arrange for the payment
of her bonded debt.
al of
which was put aside by other unfinished
business, was taken up for discussion, 1t
b9ing the bill to incorporate the Rome
Southern Railroad.
MIR. Barrow, of Clarke, moved to amend
section eight, so as not to allow the work of
the company to go on where there is a disa-
greement with the land owner, until such
disagreement shall have been settled and
the land paid for as required by the new
constitution. Adopted.
Mr.. JemisOn, of Bibb, opposed the "per-
petual" succession in the charter, and de-
sired to put it under the general law.
Mr.. Estes, of Hall, stated that the COM
mittee would consent to strike out "perpet-
ual' and accept for ''fifty years."
Mr.. Jemison declined to accept this
amendment, but it was adopted and his own
voted down.
Mr.. Jemison desired to again amend the
bill, so as to require five hundred thousand
dollars of the capital stock to be paid in with
In 'two" years instead of "four'' years, and
the work to be begun within "three" years
instead of "flve" years; also, to amend SO
as to forfeit the charter If the work is not
completed and the road in full operation
within five years.
Mr.. Estes opposed all three of these
amendments, while Mr.. Martin, of Talbot,
and Mr.. Lester, Of Jones, favored the first
two and called for division of the ques-
tion.
The first amendment was lost yeas 48,
nays "a, and the second by "a yeas to GA nays.
The proviso to forfeit the charter unless the
work Is completed within five years created
| lively discussion between Mr.. Jemison
and several members, but the proviso was
voted down.
Mr.. Martin, of Talbot, again sought to
limit the time for completing the road, but
his amendment was lost; yeas 90, nays 65.
Mr.. Jemison of Bibb, also desired to
amend the seventh section, striking out the
provision for branch road from the main
line to the city OF Macon.
Mr.. Miller, of Houston, asked to have
Houston county included in Mr.. Jemison's
amendment, so as to strike Houston county
out OF the bill, as it can hardly pass through
that county, and he didn't see any prospect
that the road would ever be built.
Mr.. Jemison's amendment was adopted,
but Mr.. Winslow, of Houston, differed with
his colleague, and opposed the amendment
as to that county, and 1t was lost.
Mr.. Awtry, of Carroll, moved to amend
so as to bring the main line as near his
county as possible. AdOpted as harmless.
Mr.. Reese, Of Wilkes, moved to amend
the thirteenth section, which provides for
consolidation with any other railroad, so as
to provide that no consolidation shall be
allowed that will destroy competition or
create a monopoly. This being In accord
ance with the constitution, the committee
accepted the amendment, and it was adopted
without debate.
The bill was then put on its passage,
under q call of the roll with the fnllnwinr