Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-24
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
GOV. M'DANIEL HARD AT WORK
SIGNING BILLS.

hundred Local Liquor Bills Passed by
the Legislature-Chatham Delegation
and the Enviable Reputation Which it
WOn-Amusing Ben Dugger.
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 23.-Since the
adjournment the Governor has been kept
steadily employed examining measures
and passing upon them. To-day he signed
the tax act and general appropriation
bill, and also a number OF public acts,
among them the following act regulating
the service of tales jurors taken from
the grand jury box; the act amending
section 66l of the Code regarding
penalties on Road Commissioners who
fail in the discharge of the duties OF the
ONCE; the act amending section 1419 of
the Code giving to the Ordinary and
County Commissioners discretion to grant
license to sell liquors in greater quantity
than gallon; the act providing for the
discharge of certain articles paid for rent
from the fine of judgment direct or other
process against tenant; the resolution
to relieve thelsureties on the bond of Tax
Collector Polk.
The Governor tonight has forty bills on
the table awaiting action.
The Lunatic Asylum to-day drew
$13,333.
To-day j. A. Hunt, of Thomas, paid
S1OO reward for the arrest in Ware county
OF George Lanier who in June last killed
Edward Lester in Brooks.
James f. Cummings, for years past
proprietor of bucket shop in this CITY.
died at New Orleans last night while on
MS way to Texas, where he anticipated
locating. MIR. Cummings since his resi-
dence IN Atlanta has been one of her most
HnT4rnTIG1nO nd 4 ~.
position was one of the directors. He
was we'll known all over Georgia. During
the war he lived in Macon, where he ac-
cumulated considerable wealth.
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Nearly fifty local liquor bills were
passed at the late session of the Legis-
lature, and double that number were
introduced. Considering the fact that
all of these bills have to be read
three tunes In both houses and 90 through
the hands OF the committees, one can esti-
mate their cost to the State. Frequently
1t happens that a bill is passed to prohibit
tAe sale of liquor within six miles of
Buttermilk Church, where no one is en-
gagged in selling it in the vicinity of the
church. In this case the originator gets
his bill through so that it will be usefnI
some day II an attempt is made to set m
barroom in the neighborhOOd of the
church. The general local option law.
after going through the Senate like a flash
and meeting with hearty reception in
the House, died in the arms of a majority
from blows struck by stubborn minority
The summer session will be as interest
ing as the one that has Just closed was
uninteresting. Harris, of Bibb, has his
chronological bill; Pringle, o Washing
Ton, MS general I?cal option bill; FELTON,,
OF Barlow, his reform peEitentiary bill; 4;
his Dill to break up the pooling system by
the interference of the commission, and
bis measure to prohibit the manufacture
or sale of liquor in Georgia. Gordon, of
Chatham, has his bill to give the railroads
the power OF making rates subject to ap-
prOVal by the commission, and so on.
Mr. Gordon made fine impression here
as legislator. He devoted a great deal
of time to a careful ANALYSIS of all
the important measures. An investiga-
ton of his record will show that his vote
In every instance was backed by law,
good Judgment and an eye to the best in
terests OF the State. AS a careful legisla-
tor he had no superior. FELTON, or Little.
OF Muscogee, could give him point or two
occasionally In parliamentary tactics,
on account of their schooling in that line,
but that was all. In every other respect
the gentleman from Chatham was the
equal of either.
CHATHAM MADE NO MISTAKE
in sending Mr.. Gordon to the Legisla-
ture, nor did she when she Sc
lected Reilly and Hartridge to come
with him. The former is holding
his best efforts back for his military bill
and fOrtifying himself for the struggle.
Hartrldge, The Junior member of the dele
cation and the youngest member in the
House, is paving the way to bright fu-
ture by his watchfulness of everything
that transpires and a careful considera-
ton OF every measure before he casts his
vote.
THE MOST AMUSING CHARACTER IN THE
HOUSE
to look at was Ben. Dugger, of Fannin.
lie was sort OF walking curiosity, as he
only opened his mouth to vote. At the
regular election held in Fannin. Dugger
and Chastaine his opponent, got the same
number OF votes, and a new election was
held. This event occurred only a short
time ago, when Dugger was elected. He
was sworn in about ten days before ad-
J0urnment, and day or two after he took
his seat a resolution was introduced to
pay him his per diem and mileage from
the opening of the session. When the
resolution came up the House refused to
pass 1t. Dugger voted for the resolution,
and seeing that the House was opposed to
the passage of the resolution, called for
the yeas and nays and voted again. 1t
was novel sight to see the old man from
the mountains fighting against big odds
tor his pay. He said that he wanted a
list of the members who voted against
Ben Dugger getting his pay, and desired
it to go on record that every man got his
money except poor old Ben Dugger.
understand that there is a member of
the House from one of the upper counties
VINO returned the complimentary railroad
passes sent to him with thanks. He saws
that he never rode on a railroad free in
his life, although he has been in politics,
State and national, for ten years.
senator Falligant made quite a reputa-
tiOn for himself. AS an orator he stands
in the front rank. 1t is doubtful if there
is in either House member who is
heard with more pleasure. His readiness
and fupncV are sOmnthInU rom a ri bIo