Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-20
GE0RGTA'S LEGISLATURE.
THE GENERAL LOCAL OPTION
BILL TO BE DEFEATED.

i
Friends OF the Measure Said to Have
Been Advised That 1t is UncOnstitu-
tIOnaI and to Abandon it in COnse-
quence-senator FaIligant Grows Flo
quent.
ATLANTA, Dec. 19.-In the Senate to-day.
on motion of Mr.. Thornton, the bill amending
the act in reference to pensioning soldiers so
as to extend the benefit of the law to such per-
sons as have lost limbs since the war, by rea-
| son of injuries received in the field, came up
for consideration. The amendment was ad-
vocated by Messrs. Cabanss, Mitchell and
Falligant. the latter making a beautiful ap-
peal for the extension of the provisions OF the
bill. His remarks moistened the eyes Of sew
| eral Senators and won him much reputation.
| The motion, after much discussion was lost
| by vote of Is to lS.
A number of local bills with reference to
! prohibiting the sale of liquor in certain locaH-
| ties, in corporations and towns. and amending
| charters and Others, were read the third time
and passed.
The afternoon session was taken up cOnsld-
| ering the appropriation bill. Its conclusion
| was deferred until tomorrow. The clause
with reference to the appropriation for the
capitol has not yet been reached.
The Senate's session tonight was devoted
to reading House bills the second time.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Harrell, of Webster, representing the
minority of the kif knce Committee, ASKED to
| have read the report against the funding i'm
Jerest on the public debt.
Mr.. Crenshaw urged that the bill was still
in the hands of the committee, and that there
was no majority report.
Mr.. Harrell wanted the minority report
read as a protest, which was not allowed, as the
reading of the journal showed that the bill
had been recommitted.
The JOINT report of the committee Of con-
ference on the tax bill was taken up on mo-
tion of Mr.. Harris.
Mr.. Gordon moved to table it until the ap-
preparation act came before them, as they
ought not to close the tax matter until they
knew what was to be raised.
On the previous question Mr.. Gordon called
for the yeas and nays. The report was adopt
ed by vote of 80 yeas to so nays.
THE GENERAL LOCAL OPTION BILL.
Consideration of the general local option
law bill was then resumed.
Mr. Bartlett moved to take it up by sections
and made short argument on that line, ap-
pealing for Hberality at the hands of the
friends of the measure.
Mr.. Pringle said that it would consume too
much time.
Mr.. Bartlett responded that an attempt Wss
being made to force the measure down the
thrOats of the opponents of the bill by gag
law, and for one he protested against such ac-
ton.
Mr.. Middlebrooks favored consideration of
the bill by sections. and Mr.. Garner opposed.
A general firing into the measure from all
along the line then took place.
BEATING THE BILL.
When the vote was reached consideration
by sections was lost.
On motion of Mr.. Hawkes. the words ''for
barrOoms" and "against barrooms" were
stricken out and "fOr prohibition" and
against prohibition" substituted, after
hard fight.
The remainder of the day was taken up
arguing another amendment by Mr.. Hawkes.,
which was to strike out that section of the
bill which prohibited physicians from pre-
| scrbing spirituous or malt liquor for medi-
| cinal purposes.
Late in the afternoon session, the leaders in
| favor of the measure concluded to give up
| the fight, and agreed to adjourn until morn
| ing. Well informed members say that the
| bill is unconstitutional, as it was introduced
| in the Senate instead of the House, it being of
local character and as such should have
| originated in the House. 1t is also intm ated
| that legal lights, high in their profession, have
communicated this much to the friends of the
measure, and they have concluded to give up
the fight for the present.