The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-24
BILLS BY THE HUNDRED.
WHICH KEEP THE COMMITTEES
BUSY ALL THE TIME.

The Legislature Business One-Some
OF the Measures Introduced-A Bill
That Might Interest Ex-President
Hayes-The School Book Question.
ATLANTA, Nov. 23.-The present legisla-
ture shows every indication Of being a
thoroughly business one. The members are
in their seats more regularly, and take a
greater interest in local bills than members
of prior legislatures of recent years.
Enough bills have been introduced to oc-
cupy the committees during the entire
afternoon Of each day. For instance. the
finance committee, Friday, was in session
from o'clock in the afternoon until about
10 c'clcck at night. This committee. the
bank committee, the railroad committee.
and the two Judiciary committees have
their hands full.
THE SCHOOL BOOK ISSUE.
Thursday afternoon Mrs. Hunt of the
Womens Christian Temperance Union, who
lectures on the scientific features Of the evils
OF lntemperance. was before the committee
on education.
Elementary school books have been pre-
pared for use III the public schools, and Mrs.
Hunt Is urging the adoption of this series by
the state public school system. She is q
quick-witted lady, and shows devotion to
the work in which she is engaged that is
beautiful to see. Dwelling on the cheapness
Of the books. she held one Of them in her
hand and, addressing Rev. r. II. jackson,
VINO Is chairman of the committee she said
with twinkle in her eye:
Mr.. Chairman, you are doubtless an au-
thority on such subjects. This book only
costs the price of five glasses OF beer-25
cents--and each book may be the means of
making young man turn in disgust and
horror from stimulants of all kinds.n
Mr.. Jackson blushed like a school girl.
even to the spots left bare by absence of
hair.
About thirty books had been brought
into the room for the inspection of the
members, and Mr.. Haruridge, a mer Der of
the committee, framed motion that the
books Immediately be converted into beer
funds and the amount expended.
To this Mrs. Hunt smilingly remarked
that southern gentlemen had such keen
sense of humor.
One OF the suggestions was that the books
be placed in the hands of fathers, and in
this way bring about better order of ex-
ample, which would teach its own lesson to
the sons. This is good illustration of how
a committee puts in an afternoon when it
has delegations appearing in advocacy of
bills pending reports.
MR.. MATTox's DESIRE FOR EQUITY.
Representative l.. O. Mattox of Clinch
county has already some notoriety as the
lntroducer Of unique legislation. There is
always underlying his bills an appealing
question of equity. Mr.. Mattox is a short.
slightly stoop-shouldered gentleman, who
never plays to the gallery When peo-
pie are having the notables of the House
pointed out, rarely does the houoring index
finger point to his seat, where, doubtless
| poring over new bill, he is obvious of his
surroundings. Mr. Mattox's ''cuckIe burr''
bill, which makes it misdemeanor for
persons TO tear down fences in the fall and
thus give sheep easy access to luxuriant
| cuckle burr beds, will before many days
come back from commitment.
MR.. NoRMAE'S BILL.
Mr. Norman of Liberty introduces bill
which is entitled, Gan act to purify the
ballot Its provisions will afford knotty
questions for the judiciary committee. Ex-
President Hayes should study the bill
closely, as it would doubtless yield some
new perspectives to the question, "ShalI
the negro voter If he has time apart from
the requirements of his incubating ma
chine, he will fiud some interesting
phases in the bill. MIR. Norman
says that in Liberty county the
republican negroes on the night previous to
an election are in the habit Of going from
house to house. and, wherever a negro is
found who is supposed to have a leaning
toward the democratic candidate they
threaten all sorts of dire consequences
should ne be caught next day doing so. Mr..
Norman says a similar state Of affairs exists
in other counties in Georgia, and his bill
proposes to remedy this He will make it a
misdemeanor. where it cansbe proven that
any one threatened a voter, and his bill
provides that the vote OF the intimidator
and that of the intmidated shall be inval-
idated, if such conduct can be proven.
4. p. H.