The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-13
BRIBERY AND THE BUSH BILL.
A LITTLE BREEZE N The LEGIs-
LATURE on THE SUBJECT.

dfgnntfOn-Au Investigating toh-
mIttee Appointed The House
Passes the Bill In Reference TO the
Earnings Of Married women.
Atlanta. Ga. Nov. 12-Mr. Willingham
Of Monroe created a stir IN the House
this morning by the introduction OF a
resolution TO investigate charges of brib-
cry in connection with the effort 10 de-
feat the Bush dispensary bill. For sew
eral weeks past the Wesleyan Christian
Advocate. a Methodist weekly printed in
this city. has been making vigorous war
upon those who are opposed 20 the pas
sage Of the anti-barrOm bill. Last week
the paper contained an article IN which
the charge was made that the liquor
dealers Of the state have organized and
raised fund 70 corrupt members of the
legislature. so as to defeat the Bush bill.
Il was stated that the liquor dealers Of
Macon have already raised $500. and that
they have also raised a fund in savannah
for the same purpose. The paper con-
tains other articles on the same line,
calculated 10 make 1t appear that there
IS a gigantic lobby Of corruption work
ing against the anti-barroom bill.
Mr. willingham Of Monroe. when he
read the articles, prepared a resolution
calling for a committee of five with full
authority to summons witnesses to in
vestigate the truth of these charges. The
preamble of his resolution recites that the
articles referred to are being used in the
interest of the bill. and that they are
slanderous and reflection upon the in
tegrity of the members of the legislature.
In presenting the resolution TO the House
Mr.. Willingham made red hot speech
denouncing them He said that he was a
friend of the Bush bill and intended to
vote for IL up TO to-day, but II there was
no foundation in the reports contained IN
the Advocate he could not get his con-
sent TO support a measure th1t was
championed by such means. lie de-
clared that the honesty Of every
member Of the House was assailed, and
he wanted an investigation. If ii was
corruption fund 10 defeat the Dill he
wanted TO know who was receiving the
corruption money. SO Ihat tney ihlsn 1 pc
blamed. But II il was not true ana ne
did not believe a word of the report, he
wanted to make the editor of the Chris
tian Advocate eat his slanderOus words.
Those who claim that this money has
been raised and is being used against
the bill, should be brought before the
investigating committee, he thought, ana
made to produce their information Per-
sonally, he did not think that there had
been a dollar raised to corrupt the mem
bers of the legislature. all Of whom were
would dare to offer a bride.
Following Mr.. Willingham Mr.. Bush OF
Mitchell. chairman Of the temperance
committee and author of the anti-bar-
room bill, arose to an explanation, speak
ing as the champion Of temperance in the
House. Mr.. Bush said that he had never
seen a body of men more true and honor
able than the members of the House, and
he did not believe that there was a word
of truth in the report that any attempt
was being made to bride them. There was
not enough money in Georgia to buy one
of them he declared, and he said that the
man who wrote the article in the Chris
tian Advocate simply wrote lie when he
wrote about the corruption of the MEM
bers by the whisky men. AS to the APP
pointment Of the investigating committee
he said that he did not know but that II
would be a good idea to have 1t and
TO see where the corruption fund
went to, if there was really such a thing.
The newspapers, he said. had stated that
the money had been raised and If the
newspapers were correct he would like TO
know what became of II. He would like
TO know how il was used. As yet no one
had tried to bride him. Mr.. Bush closed
by assuring the opponents of his bill that
he and his friends repudiated the insin
uatiOn and charges of corruption that
had been made for them, and that they
did not believe that there was a word
OF truth in them.
passed unanimously, and later Speaker
Fleming appointed on the committee,
Messrs Willingham Price Hopkins Bla-
on the committee at first, but asked to
be excused, because he explained that
his service on that committee might have
some effect upon the passage OF the bill.
The committee on temperance reported
favorably on the Bush dispensary, or
anti-barrOom bill this afternoon The full
committee was present, the vote being
eight TO four in favor of the measure.
This action was expected by the House,
as il has been known all along that the
committee had majority who would sup
port the bill
the first thing taken up after the roll
call was the bill by Speaker Fleming to
make the personal earnings of a married
woman her own property and not liable
for her husbands debts, the bill was put
upon its passage yesterday, but the House
adjourned before the arguments We're
finished. Messrs. Middlebrooks of New
ton and Bush of Mitchell, who took the
opposition yesterday, continued to fight
the bill this morning, both making speech
es against il.
ever, were met by Messrs. Worley of FL
bert and Giles of Houston and Melbranch,
the populst leader from Columbia, who
championed the measure.
Speaker Fleming taking the floor, sub
mitted an amendment to the bill by which
Il should not operate in cases of contract
between husband and wife After sub
uniting this he delivered an eloquent and
forceful argument in favor of the passage
of the bill. He showed the injustice of
q married woman working, perhaps in a
only. to have worthless hus-
band step. in and collect her wages
when pay day came around. The speak
er dwelt eloquently upon the boosted
southern chivalry, but declared he would
scout a chivalry that would tip its hat to
a woman and then rob her of her labor
When the yeas and nays We're called on
the bill, the vote stood IS for to %
against, so that if il passes the Senate.
the law in Georgia hereafter will be that
the earnings of a married woman are
her own, beyond the reach of her hus-
band, unless perchance the governor
should veto it, which is not at all likely.
The bill to establish juvenile reforma~
tory which was the special order for to-
day, was postponed until Wednesday of
next week
Mr.. Brannon of Fulton introduced a bill
placing street railway companies under
the jurisdiction of the state railroad COM
missioner. and also a bin making fidelity
and casualty companies good on the
bond of all county officers without other
surety.
The Senate passed most of the session
to-day in reading bills a second time.
Among the new bills introduced was one
by Mr.. Mercer, making 1t misdemeaDor
TO carry on the business of railroad ticket
scalping. The Dodson insurance bin has
been made the special in the Senate for
Friday.
DIR. FORD ARRESTED.