The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-31
STATE NAVAL MILITIA.
The LEGISLATURE Asked TO Provide for
It's Establishment.

All Men Identified With Shipping and
water interests to be Eligible to
Menbership-The Term of Enlist
rnent to be Two Years-speaker At
kinson IN the Chair-Election of
Judges and one Solicitor.
Atlanta, Ga, Oct 30.-Speaker Atkin-
son has fully recovered from his. recent
illness and occupied the chair of the
4 House of Representatives this morning.
Il He made an appropriate address to the
members in calling the house to order.
At12 o'clock the two houses convened
in Joint session for the purpose OF electing
q number of judges and one solicitor gen
ersl There was a contest in only one
cireuit-the Flint, in which Judge John
!. Hunt, the present incumbent, was op-
posed by Hon. j. H. Cotton, Of Thomas
ton. Judge Hunt was present while the
election was in progress and so was Judge
Bovnton, whom he succeeded. When the
. vote was announced Judge Hunt had re-
ceived $40 and Mr.. Cotton only 81.
For the Patoula circuit, Judge Griggs
was unanimously elected
H. c. Sheffield, who is now filling the
solicitors place in the Pataula circuit,
was duly elected.
Judge c. L. Bartlett was nominated by
MIR. Hodges, Of Bibb to fill the judgeship
OF the Macon circuit, and there being no
opposition he was elected
Nearly every county in Georgia was
represented by the gentlemen who rose to
4 Ioh affnsa ION Of
Lumpkin and he was unanimously elected
FUND TO AID UNFoRTUNATEs.
Mr. Nunnally introduced bill intended
to relieve future suffering in Georgia from
rovidential causes. He wants tax
levied upon the taxable property of the
state sufficient to amount to $4,000 to be
used as a fund by the governor to ale
viate suffering from yellow fever or other
epidemics. 1t is also to be devoted to the
benefit OF those reduced to extreme want
through being in the track Of cyclones.
Mr. Mershon, of Glynn, wants the state
to establish a state naval militia He in
trOduced bill this morning which pro
vides that in addition to the companies of
Georgia volunteers which are now al
lowed there, be allowed in time of peace
a naval battalion, " organized by volun-
tary enlistment for the defense of the
coast harbOrs. The battalion is to be
composed of three companies Of naval re-
serve artillery and one naval reserve tor
pedo company. In case of war, insurrec-
ton invasion or imminent danger, the
force can be increased to four companies
The cOmmander-in-chief can altar annex,
divide, consolidate or disband the bat
talon whenever, i'll his judgment, the
efficiency of the state service is enhanced
thereby. The term of enlistment is
made two years. The higher Off
GERS are to be one lieutenant to
act as executive officer and oneulieuten-
ant to act as navigator. All seafaring
men and men engaged in the navigation
of rivers or other waters, all persons en-
gagged in, the construction of ships or
other crafs, together with ship owners,
members of yacht clubs and all ex-offi-
GERS and former enlisted men of the navy
are made eligible to membership in the
battalion.
The chair announced several new COM
mittee appointments. Mr. Fleming, of
Richmond was made chairman of the COM
mittee on finance.
The House bill to prohibit the sale of
cigarettes was received in the Senate and
referred to the general judiciary commit
tee.