Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-23
MATTERS OF STATE INTEREST.

an Interview with Mr. W. W. Gordon on
the Work OF the LegislatuEe-=Thes state
Finances.
The members of the Legislature from
Chatham county arrived home Sunday,
that body having adjourned on Saturday
until the second Wednesday in July. Mr..
w. W. Gordon, who played a very
prominent part in the Legislature, par
ticularly in matters of financial legisla-
ton, although BE- was new member,
was interview by a News reporter last
evening upon the work of the Legisla-
ture and the outlook for future action.
''The local option BILL" said Mr.. Cor
don in answer to a question, (which at
tracted great deal of attention, has gone
over until July. Judging from tho votes
taken in the House, L think it likely that
it will pass that body, provided it IS so
amended that there will be no question
about its being a general bill. The ques-
ton OF eonstitutiOnality has been raised
and | do not care TO pass upon that.
There are now some 80 counties where
temperance laws of one kind and another
are in force. The pending bill is of a general
nature, but the bill provides in section 8
that mo election shall be held under the
provisions of the act for any county, city,
town or other place of the State where
by law the safe OF spiritoug liquors Is
already prohibited, either by high license,
local option or other legislation, so long
as these local laws remain in fOrce.' L
quote from the bill. General laws must
be uniform in their application. 1t is
claimed that this bill 10 not uniform be-
cause it does not apply to these sixty
counties, and is, therefore, local bill. II
II is a local bill it must, of course, be
advertised thirty days in accordance with
the law covering local bills.
"What seems to be the temper Of the
Legislature toward the Railroad Com
mission iawt"
sit is very clearly in favor OF change.
A change has been recommended by the
Governor and by the Commissioners
themselves, and the general feeling is
that change should be made. The only
trouble is the difference Of opinion as to
the extent to which an alteration should
20. feel hopeful that at the summer
session there will be such a modification
of the law as will relieve the railroads
from the difficulties under which they
now labor"
''Can you say anything about financial
legislatiOnT
ITO discuss the question fully would
take more time than either of us would
care to give. l can give a general idea,
however, in few words. The discussion
in the matter of Issuing the new bonds
turned mainly upon the bonds to replace
the Nutting bonds issued in 1873, and
which fall due in 1885 and 1886, many of
the members of the House holding that
under the provisions OF the act authoriz-
ing the issue OF the Nutting bonds,
it was required that they should be
kxr
levied for that purpose. The discussion
in reference to the appropriation for the
new capitol building turned upon the
wording of the original capitol act, which
required that the money for the capitol
must be taken 'Out of any surplus in the
treasury An amendment to the apprO-
priation act provided that a specific sum
should be expended in 1885 and 1886. In
other words, it changes the money to be
expended from an indefinite amount in
the surplus to a specific appropriation"
"What was done in regard to the fertil-
Izer trader?
'There was a good deal of discussion
on this point, but was confined chiefly to
committees. AS I was not a member of
the Agricultural Committee, | can only
speak from hearsay. The impression
gathered Is that the views entertained
by extremists will net prevail. There is
sOOu uedl VI COln pIdlub. anu IL WOulu
seem to be desirable that some plan
should be adopted for a second sampling
of the fertilizer at the time
of its purchase by consumers,
and for the preservation of such samples
as evidence to he used in the case of a
suit based upon the failure of considera-
tion."
''Now as to general results,'' continued
Mr.. Gordon. Having large number
generous about suspendiEg the rules for
the introduction Of local bills than was IN
the end found 20 be desirable, and at the
close the general feeling was that if the
members had adhered closely to the regu-
lar order of business more would have
been accomplished"
''Do you think at the summer session
the substitute of Georgia marble for
oolitic limestone in the capitol building
will be authorizedw
81 think such authorization very doubt
full