The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-17
GEORGIA'S PENSION TAX.
SOLDIER ISSUES CUT FIGURE IN
The LEGISLATURE.

For Debate-The Clause Ruling Out
Widows With Homestead Limit of
$1,000 Causes G Lively Debate.
ATLANTA, GA, Nov. 17.-Confederate
soIdiers' questions promise TO be important
issues before the present legislature. and
from present indications the veterans are
apt to come out at the small end. The first
issue was raised to-day on pensioning wild
ows of confederate soldiers, and at the hour
OF adjournment things were beginning TO
warm up. The general assembly passed a
law making widows pensions 800 per
Anuum, and appropriated $4,000 to meet
the demand. This amounted to only drop
in the bucket and $500, 900 was required to
meet the claims of those entitled to pensions
under the act. Gov. Northen had calcu-
lstion made for the coming year and dis
covered that at the rate Of 500 per aDnum
S45O,OO0 would be necessary. In his mes
sage be called attention to the danger of
putting a tremendous pension burden on
the taxpayer and suggested reduction to
$72 year.
REDUCED TO $50.
Representative Fleming of Richmond in
troduced bill to this effect and the finance
sion to $50, and inserted clause prohibit
ing any widow with homestead of 81 600
from enioyinR the benefit OF q pension.
Mr.. Fleming demurred to the amendments
and determined to fight them on the floor
Of the HOUSE. When the bill came up for
third reading this morning Mr.. Fleming
made a stirring speech against reducing the
pension 20 800 and appealed to the mem
bers not to be niggardly with the wives of
the men who sacrificed their lives for their
state.
Mr.. Ashburn Of Dodge called for the yeas
aud nays, which resulted In the adoption OF
the $50 amendment by vote of 90 yeas to
47nays. Messrs. Osborne and Guerard
voted in the affirmative and Mr.. Doolan in
the negative.
FLEMING FIGHTS.
Mr.. Fleming then began fight on the
homestead clause on the ground OF uncon-
stitutionality.
RENDER DEFENDS THE AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Render Of Meriwether the author
of the amendment, made a fiery speech
in support of it, He said Judge Hall
of Spalding, the leading constitutional
lawyer of the House, bad declared
she homestead clause constitutional. He
Donors the memory OF the confederate
soldier as much as anybody, but was OPP
posed to pensioning the wealthy. Many
women were widows when the war broke
out and gave up their sons to the countrys
cause yet under the pension law they get
nothing but must pay tax TO furnish
women OF comparative wealth with every
thing they themselves needed. II the legis-
lature has the right TO grant gratuities, In
Mr. Renders opinion, il also has the right TO
say who shall be the benefoiaries.
LEGAL ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Fleming followed with a strong legal
argument on constitutional law. The pen
sion clause Of the constitution, he said, |
stipulates no property qualification aud the
legislature has no right to pass law which
the constitution does not allow. Mr. Fleming
ridiculed the stand that pensions were
granted the widows of veterans TO keep
them from starvation. The spirit of the law
ia a tribute to brave mems memory, and
widow worth 600 is as much entitled to
recognition from the state as one not worth
dollar. Any court would declare the law
unconstitutional with the homestead clause
Judge Hall answered in an able srgu-
ment His construction of constltu-
tional law is that the legislature has a right
10 pass any law which il does not prohibit
HAMS OBJECT.
Mr.. Ham said he favored the amendment
to keep down the pension burden. II things
were allowed TO go on the state would soon
find itself as bad comparatively as the gen.
erAl government with pensions The people
of Georgia are already too heavily taxed
and are crying out for reform, and the pens
sion law is the best thing to start reforming.
Mr.. Ham concluded his speech at the hour
of adjournment, 10 o'clock, and further dis
cusson was postponed until tomorrow
morning at o'clock. The outlook for q
long debate is very promising.
Besides the pension matter but little i'm
portant business was considered by the
House. A lot of bills were introduced, the
most important being that by Mr.. Boyd OF
McDuffie. providing that the state furnish
the children in the public schools with
books.
NR. DoOLAN's FIRST BILL.
Representative Doolan, OF Chatham, in
trodncsd his first bill. 1t provides for re- |
cognition of the South Bound Railroad Com
pany in Georgia as chartered in South |
Carolina; authorizes leasing Of the road and |
also extends its charter.
Mr.. Doolan also introduced a memorial |
from the city council Of Savannah praying
for repeal of the act exempting lawyers and
doctors from municipal taxation.
An invitation from the East Tennessee.
Virginia and Georgia railroad to the legis-
lsture to visit Chicago and inspect the ex-
position arrangements was accepted. A
Joint committee from the House and Sen
ate will be appointed to make the trip. A
bill will be introduced In few days pro-
viding for an appropriation for state ex-
hibit.
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
The finance committee, after an exciting
session lasting all the afternoon,
decided to report favorably on the
acceptance Of the confederate soldiers
home. This means red-hot fight on the
floor Of the House, and probably even more
exciting scenes than those which marked
consideration of the measure at the last SEES
sion. Representative Guerard fought the
bill in committee and recorded his vote
against it
The only contest before the House, that
Of Harrell VS.. Sears, from Webster county.
was disposed Of to-day. The committee re-
ported in favor OF the sitting member Mr.
Sears, and was supported unanimously by
the House.
The penitentiary committee start to-mor-
row on a tour of investigation of the North
Georgia convict camps.
The military committee will report its
measure IN the morning.
Chathams representatives to-day received
telegram from Etfingbam county stating
that the grand jury asked that they oppose
Senator Nrlghts bill abolishing the Eding-
ham county court. The bill has passed the
Senate and will be read the second time III
the House tomorrow. Mr.. Wright saws
the court is one Of the worst institutions 10
Dillingham; and diSpraca