The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-12
GEoReIA'S LAWMAKING GRIND.
THE LEGISLATURE To BEGIN ITS
WORK ON OCT. %.

Fifty Days of IL Before the Afflicted
PeOpIe-The state House Officers nj
work on Their Annual Reports
and the Governor on His Message.
The Fight Over the Dispensary Bill
to BE one of the Most interesting
Features of the Session.
Atlanta. Ga. oct 1.-THE legislature
meets in its regular annual fifty days ses-
sion one week from next Monday. on OCT.
q. and the approach Of the meeting has
set all the state house officers TO work
preparing their annual reports, while the
governor is getting his message in shape.
The coming session will be in striking
contrast to the last so far as interest in
its proceedings by the public is concerned.
There will be no politics in it at all. ana
so far as can be seen ahead, with the
exception of the dispensary bin. when
has become a very live issue with the
prohibitionists of the state. and one or
two other matters Of general Importance
the session viii be a grind. Nothing APP
preaching the exciting scenes of the last
session can be expected. Then there were
lot Of judges and solicitors to elect, the
United States senator and judges of the
state supreme court, with the contested
election cases. as we'll as the inauguration
of Gov. Atkinson.
The convict lease system viii probably
be discussed some at the approaching ses-
sion, but 1t cannot be disposed of until the
next legislature is elected and convenes,
as the lease does not expire until 1898.
Gov. Atkinson's message will contain
some very interesting and important mat
ter, especially with reference to reforms
which he has accomplished during the
nrst year OF his administration. Under
this heading viii come the regulation of
the state repositories, which have been re-
quired TO pay interest on the states
money in their vaults for the first time
although the law requiring them to pay
interest has been on the statute books
for years.
Another important thing TO be brought
TO the attention of the legislature by the
governor is the fact that the $4,000 APP
preparation at the last session for the pay
ment OF the INDECENT soldiers pensions,
under the recent constitutional amend
ment is entirely inadequate to meet the
claims approved by the pension depart
ment- II VIII take something like $4,000
10 pay these pensions, and the legislature
Will have to make an additional appropria-
ton to meet this demand upon the pension
fund; As yet, none of the old soldiers
entitled to be pensioned under the new
law have been paid. Part of the applica-
tions approved could not be paid unless
all were.
1t is possible that the legislature will
take some action looking to the DISPOSE
ton OF the Northeastern railroad which
has become the property of the state since
the last session, Gov. Atkinson having
bought it in at the sale provided for at
the last session,
In the matter of appointments the most
important office to be filled by the COVER
nor and confirmed by the Senate is that
OF railroad commissioner, the term of
commissioner Jordan who was appoint
ed by Gov. Northen to fill the uneXpired
term OF the late Virgil Powers having
expired on the first Of the present month.
The office Is very important one, both
70 the railroads and to the public, and
Gov .Atkinson's appointment will be
The most prominent applicants for the
place are Commissioner Jordan, Hon. T.
Z. Crenshaw OF Griffin, Jack Martin of
Atlanta and Dr. Hillyer of Rome All
have very strong endorsements, but it
may happen that the governor, as he did
in several other important appointments
VIII 90 outside of the applicants for the
man to fill the place.
In addition to the railroad commission
er the governor will have to fill a number
OF vacancies in the offices of judges and
solicitors Of county and city couAs.
Among these there are to be appointed
two city court judges in Atlanta, Offices
that pay 5000 per year and over which
there Is a lively contest. The appoint
ment of the judge of the criminal branch
of the court is especially interesting from
the fact that John Berry, who was named
at the last session Of the legislature, was
rejected by the Senate. President Vena-
BILE, who led the opposition to Mr. Berry
1t Is understood, now has withdrawn his
through all right this time If he is named
again.
A solicitor FOR the city court of Allan
ia, another very fat Office, is also to be
appointed, and a half dozen lawyers who
Were friendly to the governor in his cam
paign are making contest for IL.