The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-02
GEORGIA'S LEGISLATURE.
THE "OLIVE BILL" IN A NEW FORM
INTRODUCED.

CCSNAAS0'
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. An important
bill was introduced simultaneously in the
House and Senate to-day. Its Senate
author ostensibly is Senator Nunnally. In !
the House it was marked "Mr Pope of |
Oelethorpe, by request" The real author. |
it is understood, is the Alliance president, L. |
F. Livingston. 1t is the Olive bill IN a very
modified form. 1t begins with this pre-
amble:
WHEREAS, The policy of this state is to pre-
vent monopoly and to secure the benefits OF
competition through the operation Of the rail
road commission; therefore, etc.
THE PROVISIONS.
Section provides that'all copies Of con-
tracts or agreements, Of every nature, for
the control aud operation of any railroad in
this state by such corporation other than
the company chartered to own the same,
shall be- within thirty days from the passage
of this act, filed with the railroad COM
mission of the state by the company parting |
with the control or operation.
Section provides, further. that whenever |
any railroad corporation of this state or |
doing business herein shall have made any |
contract or agreement with any other cor |
porstions Of this state, or elsewhere, which |
shall have the effect or be intended to have
the effect to defeat or lessen competition. or
encourage monopoly, it shall be the duty of
the railroad commission to investigate the
same and If the same has the effect afore-
said. 1t shall be the duty of the said COM
mission to render the same imperative by
taking such action in regard to freight and
passenger rates charged over such roads as
will keep the same at such just and reasona-
BILE figures as In the opinion of the said COM
mission would have prevailed had the said
contract or agreement never been entered
into thus preserving to the people all the
benefits OF competition.
Section provides that in determining
whether or not any contract or agreement
promotes monopoly or defeats competition,
the said commission shall have evidence
as to the operation of said contract or
agreement, and its effect upon increasing.or
lowering rates both in aud out of the state,
for passenger and freight transportation
herein shall consider what competition it de-
feats and lessons and what competition it
promotes, If any, OF is intended TO defeat or
lessen or promote both in and out of this
state, SO that the final effects of such con-
B tracts or agreements can be determined,
and such contracts as tend to increase said
rates and defeat more competition than
they create, shall be held to be in violation
of the constitution of the state. and as those
specified in the preceding sections OF this
act. The decision of the said commission
Eshall be final.
! Section provides that this act shall not
be construed to prevent any person who is
otherwise entitled to bring any suit on
account of any such unlawful contract or |
agreement from still doing So and in the |
trial of the same the court shall consider |
ethe same matters and be- governed by |
Sthe same rules of construction in deter |
mining whether such contract or agree |
sment is in violation Of said constitution as |
us provided in the preceding section to be |
considered by the commission.
Section provides that if any railroad
company located in this state, or doing bus
tness in this state, shall violate any of the
rules or regulations prescribed by the rail-
road commission OF this state, or the inter
Estate commission, under the provisions of
Nthis act. and shall fail within thirty days
after notice of such violation from the said |
commission TO make full and complete |
compensation for the wrong DONE as di- |
rected by the said commission, 1t shall, for
each offense, incur penalty of not less
than 5000 nor more than $4,000.
AN IMPORTANT TAX BILL.
An important bill by Mr.. Crowder of
Monroe was passed to-day. 1t provides
that each and every person engaged in the
business of lending money in this state for
or as the agent Of any nonresident person,
firm, company or corporation, shall be re-
quired to return for taxation all money on
hand on April l Of each year, and all notes,
mortgages. bonds and other evidences Of
debt taken in the course of such business
and not paid off, aud the taxes
on the same shall be assessed and
paid as on other property Of like character
IN this state. All nonresident firms, cor
porations or companies furnishing the tax
receivers OF the several counties in this state
with certificates or receipts properly signed,
showing that they have paid the taxes in
other states on their claims against parties
In this state, shall be reliey ed OF the tax
provided for. The bill was ordered i'm.
smediately transmitted to the Senate
REVISION OF THB CRIMINAL LAW.
The special order for to-day was the
criminal law revision resolution By Mr.
Williams of Richmond. 1t provides for the
appointment of "a commission of three
lawyers at a salary Of $500 each. The
work, it was estimated, would take from
three 20 six months. The commission is to
revise and codify all the criminal laws of
abe state and to make their report to the
next general assembly.
First an amendment was offered to have
only two commissioners instead OF three.
This was lost. Then several amendments
were offered to reduce the salary. IL was
finally fixed at 81 $50. The resolution was
then passed without word of opposition.
THE CONGRESSIONAL APPoRrIoNMcNr.
The House passed the congressional ram
portionment bill to-day inside of three min.
utes. 1t would have taken less than one
minute to dispose of it, but Mr. Gilbert of
muscogee made a speech "as chairman of
the committee" There was not one dis
senting vote and 1l6 in favor of the bill |
The bill was then ordered Immediately
transmitted to the Senate.
Mr.. Phillips OF Habersham introduced q
bill to-day prescribing that all county Off
clals shall make their advertisements in the
paper or public gazette of their respective
counties which has the largest bona flde cir
culatlon In the county in which the adVera
tisements shall take effect, provided where
there Is no newspaper or public gazette pub
hshed In the county of said county officials;
then, IN that case, some public gazette pub
lished outside, which has the largest bona fide
circulation in the county. The mode pre-
scribed for determining the circulation Is as
follows: The sheriff, ordinary and clerk of |
the county shall meet, and after inspection
of the subscription lists and having such !
evidence as is necessary, they shall pass |
upon and decide the question of the circu- |
lation, a majority ruling.
MIR. Scruggs OF Rabun introduced bill |
to-day to repeal the act that established the |
department of agriculture, the same to take |
effect at the expiration Of the terms of the |
present officers
; THE ALTAMAHA CIRCUIT.
Maj. Ryals stopped a bill on third reading |
to-day and had it summarily recommitted. |
This was to create new judicial circuit to
be known as the Altamahs circuit The |
bill was introduced on Aug. and read a
second time on Aug. Is. Its author is Dr.
johnson of ADDiiDQ The ORIGINAL hill WAS |