The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-25
RUM AND THE RAILROADS.
TWO IMPORTANT SUBJECTS BE-
FORE THE LEGISLATURE.

Bill Proposing to Make Saloonkeep-
ers Responsible for the Acts OF
Drunken Men-A New Judicial Cir
cuit-The Question of Betterments
Sprung by Senator Brown.
ATLANTA, GA, Nov. 24.-The signs ara
that the end Of temperance legislation with
the present body is not yet Each day
seems to bring forward some new idea
providing and Amending" the whisky
traffic. In addition to the bills
already introduced on this line one is prom
ised which will make saloonkeepsrs liable
for damages resulting from illegal acts Of
intoxicated persons to whom they have fur
nished liquor causing the intoxication, or
for injuries to Others done Ia their drinking
establishments. The supreme court the
other day held that such damages could not
be recovered from a saloonkeeper in this
state, there being no statute authorizing tho
same.
BILL ON THE SUBJECT.
bill will be offered for the purpose of
supplying legislation on the subject The
case referred to was brought by widow,
Mrs. Belden, against G. 7. johnson, an
Atlanta barkeeper, for the value of her
husbands life. he having been killed by a
party named WhitloclT in Johnson's sa-
| loon.
Mr.. Martin introduced a bill providing
that dispensarles of whisky for medicinal
and mechanical purposes be established In
counties whore the dry ticket" has won, IL
the voters so desire. Tow of 1900 in
| habitants are to be entitled to one such
| establishment, and in towns Of $500
or more two are permitted.
This bill is favored by the prohibitionis:s
The bill creating a new judicial circuit,
the Tallapoosa, of Polk, Paulding aud
Haralson counties, passed the Senate to-day,
and will soon become u law. The circuit is
formed of the Rome circuit, and candidates
are already in the field
THE QUESTION OF BErTERMENTs.
Railroad matters came in for big share
OF to-day's deliberations. The old Western
and Atlantic betterment claim is up again.
Gov. Northen submitted to the House and
Senate the following letter from President
Brown, and it was referred.
TO His E1ceHeHcv. Hon. W. J Northen.
DEAR SIR--On Dec. "a next the present lease
OF the state road, entered into between the state
OF Georgia and the Western and Atlantic Rail-
road Company, will expire. The claim of ths
lessees for Improvements upon the property
and taxes paid In Tennessee. aggregating
taccordipR to the report of the commission to
the general assembly OF 1899 about S550,001 re-
mains unad1usteu. Inc lessees osllsve the claim
to be entirely Just II 10 should not all be, a
| portion Of IL seems TO be conceded There is
therefore, in my Judgment some action by the
| general assembly advisable In order to prepare
| q way for an amicable settlement. The lessees
desire In every way possible TO avoid any COM
plications which might grow out of failure to
/ reach fair settlement. May We not therefore,
respectfully ask that you invite the attention Of
the general assembly TO the question: am, very
respectfully, JOSEPH II. BRowN, President.
RAP AT BLAoKLIsTINa.
| Mr.. Good win introduced a bill, reading
| "To make ii unlawful for any person, firm,
| or corporation, to circulate any damaging
| reports to any other person, firm, or cOrpo-
ration about discharged employee TIE bill
aims at the custom of "blacklistng,"
| reported to be common with railroads,
factories, and other enterprises employing
| large corps Of men. The railroad practices
were had In mi d in framing tho bill for
forwarding or giving currency to damaging
reports The offender will be fined from
| 800 TO $500. II the true reason Of discharge
| is made the subject of the report, the dis
charged employe must be furnished with
a copy of 1t.
TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR gRAKEMEN.
Mr.. Martin comes to the aid OF the brake
men by introducing bill requiring rail-
roads TO send out with every freight train
a crew of three brakemen, exclusive OF a
HukLudu. "a ltsseE HuuDsT wiz % per
| mitted IL three cars of the train have power
| brakes in good order.
| Mr.. Ryals' bill to make 10 unlawful for
| any railroad to work its men on passenger
| trains more than twelve hours day, en-
bodies long strnding complaint Of railroad
employees The mileage system, by which
they are paid by tho number OF miles
| Travelled; puts premium on disregard of
the employees fitness for duty running over
time Is encouraged and passenger trains are
| frequently run by sleepy engineers. In
| case OF an accident the law can be departed
| from. The bill also makes it unlawful to
| work men until they have rested ton hours
The bill introduced by Mr.. Wright, regu-
| latrng the sale OF whisky in Efingham
county passed the House.
The bill was passed giving the techno-
| logical school board of seven, instead Of
| five. 80 that local members might have con-
| troll Of the school where minor matters re-
| quire consideration.
Mr., Sibley offered resolution, requiring
| the keeper OF the capitol to have the eie-
vator put In order. This was objected to
ON the ground that the members could
climb the stairs and save the state the cost
of operating the lift. The resolution was
tabled.
Dr. s. w. johnson Of Appling county
asked leave of absence to-day. He will
marry Miss Anthony at Spring Hill on
Thursday
The contest over the seat of Mr.. Norman
of Liberty was to have come up to-day, but
was postponed until tomorrow. r. w.
Meldrim. representing the negro, James,
could not attend. A.. S. May will represent
Mr. Norman, "ths man who elected Gen.
Gordon"
Mr.. CLIFroN's BILLS.
To-day Mr.. Clifton secured the consent
Of the general judiciary committee to
withdraw House bill No. Z in reference to
all corporations being subject to damage
suits for injury sustained by employees
He says he introduced the bill by request
and never was attached to it. He will
introduce bill Tomorrow to amend the
charter OF the Savannah and Isle of Hope
railroad, aud also bill to pay jurors of the
city courts the same amount as superior
court jurors.