The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-19
GALATIANS FREE LABOR.
A MEMORIAL LAID BEFORE THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.

STATE LEGISLATURE
Senator DuBignon and Representative
Clifton Speak Highly of the Men Who
Signed the Document-Announc
ment of the Death of Representative
Chsmbliss of Bibb.
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 1s.-In the Senate
to-day, after the reading of the journal,
Mr.. duBignon presented memorial signed
BY a large number of workingmen of Sa-
vannah. Under the Senate rule. he stated
the subject and purpose Of the memorial
The names of many of she signers were
familiar, and Mr.. duBignon stated that
there were in the community which
lie represented no more law-abiding
or deserving citizens and he presented
their petition in pursuance of a public
duty. The authors of the petition, Mr..
duBignon said, represented no particular
order or occupation, but every place OF
employment The subject matter Of the
petition, the speaker said, prevents an evil
more easily seen than reTedied Il includes
the penite tiary of Georgia, as well as the
whole question of governmental control Of
the prison. 1t is the duty of the state to
protect her free labor. The hand of the
honest workingmen hardened by honest toll
should never be fettered by the competition
Of convict labor 1t is the bounden duty
too Of the state t. protect society from con-
Wet CAMPS The convlcts should be quar-
antlned within prison walls. The yellow
fever patient goes abroad only after he has
been given a bill of health, but e convict
goes about still carrying contagion with him.
This petition would tend to arouse public
sentiment on the question. Mr.. Dubignon
81 81 TO fnfafa
mittee on labor and immigration, where at
the proper time he would ask to be heard
upon it at more length. The caption of the
memorial reads:
We the undersigned citizens of the state. who
are by occupation workingmen in various in
dustries and employments, desire to enter our
solemn protest against what we believe to be
an indefensible wrong to the free labor of the
state and one never contemplated by the law
making power For the last few years cer, ain
lessees of the state convicts, who pay the state
for their service mere pittance. and who, in
their greedy desire for personal profit,
have so far disreyarded the rights of free
and honest labor as to bring in competition
with it upon the highways of business in the
conduct Of various private industries the chains
and shackles of the felons AS citizens of the
state who obey and respect it's laws and whose
living is earned by the sweat of Their brow, we
earnestly call to your attention by this memor-
ial our complaint in the premises and respect
fully ask relief and redress
Affixed to the petition were the signatures
of well-known workingmen of Savannah,
of whose character as citizens Mr.. duBig-
non spoke highly.
RAILROAD MORTGAGES
The bill introduced by MIR. Rice to pre-
scribe in what way the minority stock
holders in railroad may obtain al interest
in NOR cages foreclosed upJn tae property,
on account of its importance and with the
consent of its author, will go over to the
summer session.
The resolution received from the House
on the death of Hon. S. C. Chambliss of
Bib was called up by Mr.. Bartlett, and the
president appointed as committee TO at
tend the funeral on the part of the Senate
Messrs. Bartlett, Jones aad Sanford Mr..
Bartlett stated that his position as chairman
of the finance committee would prevent his
absence during consideration of the tax and
appropriation bill, and for that reason
solely he would ask to be excused. The
president recognized the force of the posi-
ton stated By Mr. Bartlett and appointed
in his stead Mr. Edwards.
The special order for the afternoon ses-
sion, the Blair bill resolution, was displaced
and the resolution was made the special or
der for Friday.
THE BRADwELL BILL.
The following is a synopsis of the bill in
troduced in the Senate Monday by Senator
Bradwell:
ITO extend the common school system to
six months, and to designate fund for It's
maintenance The schools are TO run 100
school days any months in the year the
local boards may select. provided all the
schools are closed by Dec. ID, each year.
The fund is the entire rental Of the State
road, the psll tax, whisky tax, professional
| tax railroad tax and specific taxes of every
| description whatsoever The policy is to
| avoid direct taxation by making luxury,
| crime, and every class of our people con-
| tribute its share to the education of the
| masses. The bill provides for state board
| with the state school commissioner as sec
rotary and executive officer, county boards
| with county school commissioner as Sec
rotary and executive officer, for the govern
| ment of schools; but the central idea
| in the government of the schools
| is giving large powers to the
| county boards under the idea of local self
government The deficit caused by taking
| all the specific taxes for the schools can, it
is thought by the author of the bill, be
made up by more stringent assessment laws
which will increase the taxable property to
| that extent that it will not be necessary to
| increase the rate.
T.