The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-09
FARMERS NOT ORATORS.
TIE PRESENT SESSION GIVING NO
TIME TO DEBATE.

Some Members Think There is Dan.
Eerous Lacx of Conservatism-sena
tor Culver Proposes That the State
Publish Books for Use in the Schools.
Senator Todd's New Bill.
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. S-As compared
with former assemblies the present legisla-
ture presents some striking contrasts. One
Of the most notable, in the Senate mora
especially, though the remark is in great
measure applicable also to the House, Is the
Rbsense of takers. The farmer legislature
don't discuss, it acts. As a consequence it
has almost no leaders, recognized as such.
on the floor and possessing unfailing inhu-
ence with the waverers. Conser vati5m
Is lacking, as some members
themselves admit, almost to dangerous
extent From this very fact brief session
is now, if ever, possible. Bills. no matter
how startling, go through with a rush.
Seldom has any one much to say before
explaining them. Even when two opinions
exist, which Is comparatively rare, they
are not prolific OF long-winded speeches
The name OF at least one senator might be
mentioned who last year uttered more
words than have all the members of the
present Senate combined.
PUBLICATION OF SCHOOL BOOKS.
This morning another of those bold prop
ositions for which the existing assembly has
become famous was put forward in the
Senate and accepted in a jiffy, without the
slightest elaboration. Its object was the
breaking up of tine alleged monopoly in the
publication of school books, and if
practicable the assumption by the
state of such publication The resolu-
irtr hxy M (Yrlu
1t declared that through the instrumentality
of the pool existing among school book
publishers monopoly had been created ana
prices advanced several hundred per cent.
thus burdening the entire public and placing
the purchase OF text books beyond the reach
of the poor; that the constitution Of this
state authorized the breaking up of monop-
olies, and that the policy of one or more
other states had been to publish their own |
school books.
Therefore, resolved. That the state school |
commissioners il possible naugarate, a system or
plan for furnishing books at greatly reduced |
rates, and inquire into the feasibility of the |
state publishing school books. and report TO the |
adjourned session of the legislature, provided |
one is held otherwise to the next general as |
sembly.
PROVOKING EXPERIENCE.
It was scarcely necessary for the one |
senator who advocated the resolution with |
words to relate the provoking experience OF |
his county school board with book agents, |
TO secure the immediate adoption of meas /
ure which the conservative Senate of last /
year would have fought. slept and prayed |
over. That the resolution will slip |
as easily through the House cannot |
with safety be asserted, but that |
the language In which it is drafted, full as
1t is of such expressions as pools" mo
nopolies,n high prices" Schools" and |
poor people," will commend it to body,
many members Of which think and dream |
of nothing else. can't for an instant be
doubted.
DISHONEST CONTRACTORS.
Senator Todd again came to the fore this
morning with a bill TO prevent dishonest
contractors from running off with the nav |
of laborers and furnishers of building ma
terlaL 1t provides that such material
when neither paid for nor worked into the |
houses for which it may have been ordered,
shall be legally removed by the |
furnlsher from the premises in case |
the contractor jumps his contract and /
the owner of the buildings does not paw for |
II; that in such cases laborers, mechanics |
and sub-contractors shall also have the |
right TO enforce their claims, and failure on |
their part to complete their contracts when |
thus abandoned shall be no bar to recovery. /
IL Is declared a misdensanor for con |
tractors to purchase on credit /
material for one building and |
apply it to the erection of another without |
the written consent OF the seller The bill |
also requires contractors to furnish accounts |
10 the owner by whom they are employed. |
Tue latter to be kept open for inspection by |
the formers hands There is a good deal |
Of this bill. Mr.. Todd has a way of crowd |
buried