The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-18
BILLS STILL PILING UP.
Mr.. BOURQUIN'S EOAD LAW LAID
BEFORE THE HOUSE.

ton of Household and Kitchen I ur-
niture Proposed-A Measure to In
crease the Powers of the Railroad
Commission.
ATLANTA, GA, July IA notable
feature of this session is the unprecedented
amount of new matter. Still it comes.
Nearly 100 new bills were introduced in the
House to-day.
The Senate adjourned until Monday The
House refused to do this, but granted forty
one leaves of absence, including one to ex'
cuse until Monday all members that have
not already been granted leave. This was
done inadvertently. of course, all the appll-
cations being granted by one vote.
The Senate went into executive session
to-day for the first time this session. and
the following appointments by the governor
were confirmed: B. J. Edwards. to be
county Judge of Walton county; r. d.
Sheffield, To be solicitor of the county
court of Early county for the unexplred
and full terms; r. d. Meador. TO be solicitor
of the county court of Glynn county FRED
W. Gilbert, to lie county llicltor OF W likes
county; Frank Harrell, to be solicitor OF
the county court Of Decatur county ror the
unexpired and full terms.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
A vigorous effort was made this morning
In the House to reconsider the pass ige OF
the bill passed yesterday 70 keep physicians
and prescription clerks sober, ana TO forfeit
their licenses for getting drunk while
actually engaged in practice or offering to
nractice. Mr.. Lewis of Hancock led the
fi0ht He said the bill was unconstitu-
tional, prohibiting to one class only what
was not prohibited to others. The punish
ment for drunkenness must be uniform.
His other point was that the bill as 1t stood
proposed to forfeit a mans property with
out giving him trial by jury. The reply
of DR.. Baldwin of Randolph was that there
were seventeen doctors in the House, and
every single one of them favored the bill.
The motion to reconsider was lost.
The Senate resolution providing for a
Joint committee on pensions was concurred
In.
Mr.. Burge of Barlow put in a bill re-
curing that any person in making return
of taxable property shall, in addition to the
description now required by law, state the
uuantom Of interest he may own in the
same, whether fee simple or otherwise, and
also any reservation Of mineral or other in
terest, or any qualified estate owned by any
other person in the property returned.
Mr. Boifeuiller of Bib introduced by re-
quest bill to amend section l, ASS of the
code. The bill has been sent to a senator
whose constituency are about evenly divided
on the issue, the fence law and whose only
safe course was to get the bill in. but not in
his own name.
4 Mr.. Ryals of Chatham introduced bill to
amend the act Incorporating the Savannah
Savings Bank and Mortgage Company.
Mr.. Harris Of Catoosa introduced a bill
to define the duties of the railroad commits
sion. Its object is to provide that state rates
should not be higher than interstate rates.
This is regarded as impracticable and unde-
sirable even if 1t were practicable, as its
first effect would be to raise the interstate
rate.
THE ROAD LAW.
Mr.. Clifton of Chatham introduced a bill,
drawn up by Chairman Bourquin, of the
board of road commissioners Of that county,
to amend, revise and reconsolidate the road
la VS. of the state. From experience" writes
Mr., Bourquin, 1--WE find that it is nearly
impossible to enforce the old road laws. 1t
is q matter of strife between the commits
sioners and hands, and in case of sending
defaulters 10 Jail, it is a very serious
matter, rs the oounty's finances for work
ing roads now are very different 10 what it
was during slavery. The only remedy !
see is a general tax. The tax proposed is
very light, and / do not think it would
meet with objections. l have studied the
matter carefully, and should my bill pass,
it will make the road law very plain and
short, and prevent many lawsuits in taking
it from the hands of the ordinary.
will say that he was never the
proper head for the roads. He could not
be expected TO know anything about roads
and bridges when he never sees them. The
commissioners, on the other hand, go over
the roads very frequently and certainly
ought to know what is necessary, and | see
no good reason why they should not be the
custodians of our public roads. Before put
ting this bill before the committee in charge
l would request that you see the governor
aud get him to indogse it as presi-
dent Of the congress. By enacting
their few laws we have everything neces-
sary for maintaining our roads aud we do
away with seventy seven sections of our
code, which has become obsolete and worth
less. The matter of the travelling public
paying toll is one of the greatest nuisances
of the age and should not be tolerated 1t
is a matter of continual strife and lawsuits.
the city of Savannah now being engaged
in an expensive lawsuit on that subject"
Gov. Northen writes after examining the
bill: "Some legislation should be enacted
upon the line indicated. 1t occurs to me
that the tax raised under this bill would
not be sufficient to meet the demands
made"
Mr.. Lark of Clay introduced bill to
amend section 1927 OF the code.
ANOTHER BILL ON DRUNKENNESS.
Mr.. O'Neal of Coffee had bill read
making it penal for any judge or justice,
state, county or municipal officer, or judicial
or municipal officers to get drunk A second
ofense forfeits the commission, and makes
the offender ineligible to reelection.
Mr.. Atkinson of Coweta introduced bill
to make the state school commissioner an
ex-officio member of the board of trustees
of the State University.
Mr.. Jones of Dodge introduced bill to
make the issuing of federal revenue license
evidence that the person licensed is a dealer
in spirituouS and malt liquors.
Mr.. Kemp of Emanuel introduced a bill
to increase the powers of the railroad COM
mission. The object is to cut down railroad
earnings to "a reasonable interest upon the
actual value Of each road" Free passes are
TO be given out only through the commits
sion.
Mr.. Goodwin Of Fulton introduced an
important bill ito provide a general law
for the incorporation of companies to op
srate street and suburban railroads.
A patriotic bill is that introduced by Mr..
Norman of Liberty, ito prevent the use of
books IN the public schools of this state,
which refer to the late war between the
states as the war of the rebellion
Mr.. Pope Of Oglethorpe introduced bill
70 create the office of railroad inspector
This is very similar to the dill already in
reduced by Mr.. Boifeuillet of Bib.
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION.
Mr.. eagle of Pickens put in a bill to ex.
smpt household and kitchen furniture and
arm implements from taxation.
MIR. Fleming of Richmond introduced &
1907