The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-15
.SWELLSOF The CHAIN GANG.
4 LawmakGT Wants TO Put ali Con-
ViCtS on the Same Level.

Convict Labor Utilized to Reclaim
Swamp Lands-A Bill Introduced to
Prohibit Drunkenness in Public Places.
Two Important School BiIls-Trouble
over the Military Appropriation
Feared.
Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 1.-THE penitentiary
was favorite subject for legislation with
members of both houses to-day.
Representative Williams of Schley this
morning aimed a Knockout blow at aris-
tocratic convicts of the Harry Hill and
Lord Beresford class. He introduced a
bill to prohibit convicts from holding
clerical positions under any circum-
stances. If this bill becomes law it will
reduce to the ranks several Of the swell
Georgia convicts that are now enjoying
immunity from the hardship of manual
labor on account of their pull.
Representative Reagan of Henry intro
duced a bill to enlarge the powers of the
principal keeper OF the penitentiary so
as to make him also inspector of the
county chain gangs in the state. This
measure is intended to correct the abuses
reported to be practiced in the county
chain gangs over the state The bill also
provides for the creation of the office of
assistant principal keeper of the peniten-
fiary.
Mr.. Reagan went further into the con-
vict question and introduced a bill to
prohibit the working of convicts at night
and on Sundays. In speaking of the
matter Mr. Reagan, who is chairman of
the penitentiary committee, stated that
on his recentvisit to the Dade coal mines
he found number of convicts compelled
to work all night. but allowed to sleep
during the day. He also found a number
of convicts who worked all day Sunday
for 81 a. day extra.
Mr.. Armstrong of Wilkes also handed
In a bill to provide for a commission in
each county, appointed by the grand jury,
TO visit convict camps where INSIDE
meanor convicts are confined at least
twice a year.
In the Senate the convict question was
involved in a bill by Senator Mercer.
which bore the title of IAN act to re-
verse the Office of state geologist and
provide for a geological, meteorological
and physical society of the state" The
bill provides for the selection of two COM
petent assistants to the state geologist,
and that as soon as an outline of state
geological survey is made of the state,
the biologists shall divide and proceed to
make a careful geological survey of
the state. 1t also made the duty of the
state geologist to make a survey of the
water courses, ponds and lakes in the
swamp region of South Georgia, and to
submit plans for their drainage and the
estimated cost of drainage and the value
of the lands so reclaimed. These esti-
mates shall be made before the convict
lease expires, with view of having this
work done by the convicts of the state
After a stout but warm debate the
House to-day killed the bill requiring
county officers to publish a statement
of their projects from their offices in
counties where daily papers are published.
The bill had been unfavorably reported
by the general judiciary committee.
Rev Mr.. Moore of Heard introduced a
bill TO prohibit drunkenness in public
places, making il a misdemeanor for any
person to appear in a drunken condition
on the streets, at public gatherings or
at a private house not his own.
State Treasurer Hardeman to-day sub
mitted detailed report of the amount
of state money on deposit in the various
state repositories at the end of each
month for the past two years, pursu-
ant to the Branch resolution passed last
week. Following this statement Mr.
Branch introduced a bill providing for a
permanent school fund for the quarter
ly payment of teachers, the bill being pre-
dicated on Treasurer Trademarks report
the fund to be made available by drafts
on the state repositories.
Another important educational bill in
troduced to-day was by Mr.. Walker of
Pierce, providing that the state school
commissioner shall be elected by the peo-
pie hereafter, the same as other state
house officers, instead of being appointed
by the governor.
Mr.. Polhill Of Bib has introduced
bill for the establishment of night schools
ner1,f he ,f,l,
a per ratio share of the school fund.
There is likely to be some trouble over
the militray appropriation this year
Twenty-Five thousand dollars per year is
10 be asked for the encampment, and it
is the intention of the populists to OPP
pose the appropriation solidly.
To-day Mr.. Hodges of Bibb in order to
bring about a better appreciation of the
values of the military and the state en-
campment, introduced bill providing for
the appointment of a board of visitors
to the state encampment composed of a
member from each congressional district
The report of such a board, IT is believed.
would help the military greatly in the
estimation of the legislature.
The other important general bills intro
duced to-day were:
Mr.. Bennett of Wayne-To amend the
code making the penalty for desertion
Two years.
By Mr.. Mcdonald of Ware-To grant d.
vorces for scriptural causes only and
make them perpetual.
BY Mr.. Barnes of Richmond-To appro-
pirate $3.50 to carry into effect an act order
ing the publication of certain charters.
Also to require railroad charters to be
published.
BY Mr.. jenkins of Putnam-To author
ize sheriffs and constables to levy execu-
tions on property in the hands of receiv-
ers.
By Mr. Dodson of Sumter-To protect
small villages in Georgia from rough
characters who may come there at polit-
ical or other gatherings by making II the
duty of the governor when he is applied
10 to authorize the sheriff TO swear in
deputies to act as policemen, and provide
FOR their payment.
BY MI Rockwell of Chatham-To amend
the game laws so that deer can be killed
from oct. IS to March /, instead of Jan l.
as az present.
Mr.. Gray OF Houston created something
OF stir by introducing a bin 20 provide
Tor the registration of the legal voters Of
Taylor county. This county Is represent
ed by y. r. Montford, a populist. and ev-
crybody looked toward his seat Mr. Gray
stated that he had been requested by