The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-11-09
the LEGISLATURE AND ITS W0RK.

In some respects the present legisia-
ture is an able body. A number OF coun-
ties have sent their best man. A few are
vary feebly represented. So far but lit
tie has been done, and it is feared that,
initiating those that have gone before, it
will work slowly in the early part OF tho
session and give few remaining days TO
the passage of many poorly prepared
measures.
Some measures of Importance will be
ND for consideration. Mr.. Bacon's rail-
road bill will deserve specie attention.
While the country is against monopolies
it does not follow that our Legislature
should be hostile to railroads. They
have done much in developing the state,
in approaching our property, and should
not be mercilessly slaughtered.
Opinion seems divided as to the prop
er course to be taken with the law pro-
viding for boards of equalizers. The
partial trial it has had may be sufficient
cause to abolish 1t. We incline to that
opinion-unless amendments could elm
nate the evil and secure the good.
Following ;the governors recommen-
dalton, an effert will no doubt
be made to abate Che horrible prac-
tice of lynching, We doubt If the
bill already prepared meets the demands
of the case. The taking of human life
without the license of law is barbarOus.
The ignorance, prejudice and passions Of
men are liable to carry it to an extent
that would ieopardize the lives of the
purest and best. Our safety is In wise
laws speedily and impartially admins
tered.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Hill OF Mer-
iwether ought to pass. II is to include
on traverse jury lists The persons select
ed to serve on the grand juries. We
think it is much more essential that the
best and most intelligent citizens should
compose the traverse juries than the
grand jurios.
The pension question is one that should
the legislature. Mr.. Renden of Meri-
wether has intr duced bill on the right
line. 1t provides that no widow who is
worth as much as the homestead allow
ed by this state shall receive pension.
The only trouble with the bill is it does
not go far enough. 1t should also pro-
vide that these Well-to-do AMI wealthy
ex-soldiers who draw their pensions with
80 much regularity should be dropped
from the roll. The present indiscrimi-
nate pension laws of Georgia work an
injustice to b. tn the needy veterans and
tax payers of the state. No one
should receive a pension unless he is in
actual need of it, and then he should be
literally provided for.
In the Senate bill that is worthy of
becom ng law has been introduced by
Mr.. Smith, empowering the state school
board to prescribe the text books used
in the public schools, and when pre-
scribed not to be changed for two years.
Under the present law the county school
boards prescribe the text books, and in
some counties they very frequently
change the books and put the parents to
extra expense. By putting the power to
prescribe in the hands of the state board
one standard of books would be adopted
for the whole state AMI the publishers
could be induced to sell much cheaper,
perhaps for one-third less than present
prices. A uniform line of books would
save the parents of Georgia at least
1925, 900 a year.
As in the last legislature so in this
the ''soldiers' hOme'' will play part.
According to the Atlanta papers the blu
presented by Mr.. Fleming will pass.
These Journals seem to think that it was
an issue in the race, and of course the
t'hOme' will be accepted We think
our avaricous Atlanta friends could haye
rendered more service to that side by
giving some argument. During the last
session it was ably discussed and over
whelmingly rejected. The bare fact that
an alliance legislature passed it Gf argu-
ment was on their side), will hardly cause
the present body, in the absence of new
reasons, to reverse the decision. AS far as
can be seen there are not thirty old vet
Grams who would occupy the home
and these could better be provided for in
another way. Why, then, should the