The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-07
SIX DAYSLEFT THE SOLONS.
Then the Legislatures Time Limit
Will Expire.

tlonal Convention,
Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 6.-But six more
days remain to the general assembly.
There yet remains a large amount of bust
ness to be done, and in order to get
through with as much of it as possible.
for there is sure to be a good deal left
dead when adjournment arrives, the
House to-day inaugurated afternoon and
night sessions. while the Senate actually
put in full time.
For the fourth time within the past
few years the House this morning sat
down on the passage Of a uniform text
book law for the state. The bill killed
to-day was offered by Mr. West, of
Lowndes Like its predecessors, it pro-
vided for the creation of a book commits
sion to advertise for bids and adopt
system of books for the public schools.
The committee on education had already
given it black eye, by reporting it unfa-
vorably, but there was a motion to disa-
gree to this report, which was cham
pioned by Messrs. West Mcdonald and
Sears, chiefly on the idea that the cost of
text books would be much decreased were
viz AilLlOL III y oNNlll NOtl ~ tAClCu lOEs
Mr.. West, of Lowndes, the author of
the bill, urged that the books now used
were too expensive, bought as they were
at a profit OF l25 per cent. to the sellers.
and these prices would be SO lowered by
the book commission that, at least, Sl00
coo would be saved to the parents Of the
state who bought the books
HAM OPPOSES IT.
MIR Ham, chairman of the educational
committee, replied. He denied that the
cost would be less. On the contrary, in
Louisiana, where such law was in force.
the same books sold for more than they
sell for in Georgia. He looked upon the
Uniform text book proposition as an out
rageOus one. 1t was one of the first meas
ures the scallawags and carpet baggers
and snollygosters had saddled on this
people after the war, and it was one of
the very first to be expunged from
the statute books when democracy
reasserted itself. He said that under
this bill the legislature at one fell swoop
would destroy the property of60, 900 school
children. The same bill had been killed
three times before in the legislature and
it would be killed this time. MIR. Ham
said the bill was from the hands of the
state school commissioner, who had been
trying to push the bill through because he
did not understand II. he said some one
had asked II he was not an agent for
school books. He was an agent, he said,
but If the questioner thought that would
influence him on the floor of the house. he
hurled it back into his face with the con-
tempt it deserved.
MIR Smith, of Gwinnett. gave notice of
motion to reconsider tomorrow.
no CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The house also killed the bill providing
for a constitutional convention. 1t was
introduced by Mr.. Reagan, of Henry. The
bill appropriated $25 900 for holding the
convention. The friends of the bill took
the ground that the present representa-
tiOn i'll the general assembly is unjust.
and representation should be based on
population Instances were cited
where two counties having the same
population were represented, one by two
representatives and the other by one. A
number Of other points in the present
constitution requiring convention were
brought out, among them that no new
counties can now be created. and the
state cannot appropriate money to adver-
tise her resources or protect her health.
Speeches were made against the bill by
Messrs. Harrison, of2Quitman; Guerard
Of Chatham; Branch, of Columbia;
Wheeler, Of Walker; and in favor of it by
Messrs. Reagan, Of Henry; Hodges, OF
BlO0, ana smith, OF Gwinnett
NEW GAME Law.
At its afternoon session the House
passed new game law for the state
which supersedes all local game laws
The game season for hunting birds is
made from Nov. /. to April |, except for
doves, which may be hunted from August
to April. Netting and trapping are pro
hibited and to offer for sale, TO sell or to
buy game out of season is misdemeanOr.
The bills providing for the establish
ment OF state reformatory as suggested
by the governors message, and also to
establish reformatories by counties and
municipalities were taken up at the after
noon session.
The Senate to-day reconsidered its ac-
tiOn Of yesterday in indefinitely postpon-
ing action on the report of the committee
which Investigated the dams across the
Savannah river at Augusta, and the mat
ter will now come up in order.
JURY EXEMPTIONS.
BY vote OF 10 to IS the bill introduced
by Mr.. Persons to wipe from the statute
books all jury exemptions, except officers
of court, physicians, pilots and railroad
engineers, ministers of the gospel and
school teachers, was lost. It had
been reported adversely by the commit
tee. Mr.. Persons thought there were too
many exemptions. He wanted the mill
tary furnished with arms and an annual
encampment, but they took out OF the
jury box some Of the best men In the state
Mr., Wootcn opposed the bill. He
thought the bill would cripple the mill
tary Of the state, as we'll as the volunteer
fire departments.
Mr.. Fleming said that in his county
there was such a scarcity Of jurymen
that a great number of the men who
were over age or exempt had gotten to-
Fether and had their names put back in
the jury box, and agreed to serve when
drawn, and therefore he favored the
ill.
Mr., Reese opposed the bill, and de-
Tended the report of the committee.
Mr.. jenkins did not think the mill
tarY system Of the state should be built
up at the expense of the state. He was
willing TO appropriate money to keep the
military but opposed the bill.
Mr.. Hackett opposed the bill He thought
the military were necessary and that
they should be compensated By exemption
from Iury duty.
MIR. Wilson of the Eleventh district
opposed the bill
Mr.. Humphries opposed the passage of
the bill and urged that the exemptions be
not taken from the military.
Mr.. Daily said he was opposed to all
jury exemptions. He thought the Jury
box ought not to be robbed of some Of its
best material. He said the exemptions