The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-23
DEPOSITS OF THE STATE.
Mr.. Humphreys Proposes an InyeSti-
CATION.

AaA4TOdu A5&lsldIlOn 1hIrOQuCSu IN
the House.
Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 22.-The following
resolution, offered in the Senate to-day
by Senator Humphreys, has occasioned
no little discussion in legislative circles;
Whereas, 1t has been reported to the House
and Senate that large amounts of the states
money, over and above the amounts of the
bonds of the different repositories of the
state, have been deposited nthe state depos-
tories; and,
Whereas, It is but justice to the taxpayers
of Georgia that the finances OF the state
should be carefully guarded and conducted
upon safe business principles: and,
Whereas. The people should know the
true condition of the financial affairs and the
true administration of the same on the part
of the states officials; be 10
Resolved, BY the Senate, the House con-
curing, that the joint finance committee be
requested, and IL is hereby authorized TO in
vestigate thoroughly and report the exact
amount OF the states money held by each de-
posi- ory, II said committee deems IL neees-
Sary they shall have power to subpoena wit
nesses to ascertain the true status of the
money affairs OF the state also to visit each
depository if the committee deems IL neces-
Sary to make n full and accurate report of
the finances OF Georgia: IL being the object OF
this resolution to ascertain accurately the
real amount OF the state S money held by each
depository,
MAY LEAD TO A SENSATION.
Behind this resolution there is material
that may work out into sensation of inn
portant proportions. Since the report of
the joint committee created to investigate
the condition of the state treasury and
the introduction Of Senator Persons bill
to prohibit the state treasurer from al
lowing any one bank to have more than
,f OF. 70 10, I,ns,
which was a direct result of that commit
tees investigation, there have been many
reports in circulation touching the admin
istratiOu of the state depository law.
This report showed that the Bank of Co
lumbus, Ga, had on hand $276, 900
of the states money the bank
at LAGRANGE Sl76000 and the depository
in Atlanta 100000, while the other state
repositories had correspondingly small
amounts, though all of them gave bond
of $50, 600 each. Then these banks it APP
pears do a fine business on the states
capital. Although the law says that the
state shall have interest for her money,
none of the repositories pay it but bank
on the states capital for nothing. Why
this is so nobody as yet appears to know.
If Mr.. Humphreys resolution goes
through, light will be thrown upon the
reason. Nobody questions the integrity
but that the law permits discriminating
practice is the point that sticks. Another
peculiar circumstance in that a bank
which gives the state only $50, 900 security
should have state money TO the amount
of nearly 100000
THE BANKS TO MAKE A FIGHT.
Senator Persons bill, aimed at this
evil went through the Senate unani-
mously, but a determined offort is being
made to either have it killed in the House
or so amended that the three banks which
hold these large deposits will not be
forced to disgorge at once. Hon. l.. II.
Edward and eX-Judge Martin, of Column
bus, are leading this movement. They
propose to amend the bill 80 that the gov
ernor may allow these deposits TO remain
at least temporarily, by requiring of them
a sufficiently large bond to amply protect
the state against loss. II is understood
that one of the reasons for this
amendment is that the withdrawal
of these large sums on demand
would be a hardship on the banks.
Inasmuch as these banks are in this con-
dition, simply through practice in force
for some years, it is conceded that some
amendment to the Persons bill ought to
be made to give them fair show in meet
ing the states demand.
The depository law, however, explicitly
stipulates that the banks should hold the
states money subject to check, though 1t
provides that the state treasurer shall
only check it out as needed to meet the
expenses Of the government.
The Humphreys resolution will proba-
bly, be taken up and the sentiment Of the
depository question will be live topic
for legislative heads.
AN IMPORTANT RAILROAD BILL.
Senator Scaife introduced an important
railroad bill to-day 1t provides that
where railroad receives a shipment Of
freight and accepts the statement of the
shipper regarding It's weight without
reweighing IL the shippers weight shall
be taken as the true weight. The bin
also provides that where a road takes
freight and hauls it over connecting lines
it shall be responsible for all overcharges.
II further directs that there shall be
no prepayment Of freight shipments on
any class Of freight unless there Is like
prepayment required Of all other shippers
on the same class of freight.
The Senate in executive session con
firmed the governors appointment Of J.
NJ Denton as solicitor Of Coffee county. 1t
refused TO confirm the appointment OF A.
L. Massey, TO be solicitor OF the county
court Of Walker on the ground that he is
a republican. This is the third time the
Senate has refused to confirm him.
In the House the bill Of Mr.. Walkers
abolshing all teachers Institutes was re-
considered II will be changed so as TO
refer only to monthly institutes and then
passed.
DISTINCTIONS IN THE RIVER.
Several days ago Joint House and SEN
ate committee was appointed TO investi-
gate and report upon the distractions in
the Savannah river. IL was responsible
for lively proceeding in the House for a
short while to-day. Two reports were
submitted. One was by Bryan Cumming,
Of Richmond county, chairman OF the
committee. Mr.. Cumming reports that the
committee had gone TO the clocks, p" eight
miles from Augusta, where dam of solid
masonry was formed TO turn the water
into the Augusta canal This dam was
broken about midway, where there are
three openings, each twenty feet wide,
and another near the South Carolina
shore, in which was constructed an open
ing for a fish way. The report said that
fish could not reach the dam because Of
nets stretched many miles below from
bank TO bank during the shad season No
investigation was made as 10 what inter-
ests were dependent on the maintenance
of the dam, nor under what authority or
by virtue Of what right the dam was built
and is now maintained. Mr.. Cumming,
therefore, asked that inasmuch as the
investigation was superficial or incom-
plete, that il should not warrant any ac-