The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-10
LAST DAYS OF LEGISLATION.
A MOVEMENT ON FOOT TO EXTEND
THE SESSION.

A Division of Opinion Among the
Members as to Whether the Two
Days Lost on Account of Thanks
giving and Georgia Day at the Ex-
position should COunt-The FIem-
ing Bill for the Relief OF the SUI
preme Court Again Considered
and Passed.
Atlanta Ga. Dec. e.-Notwiths tanding
the fact that there are only two days of
the legislative session. the House this
morning found it rather difficult TO ac-
complish much in the way of passing bills
The members were disposed to contentious
and there, as a result, several time con-
Stunning debates.
The same order of things prevailed in
the Senate, although that body felt well
enough satisfied with the result of its
days labor tonight to accept the invi-
tation of President Venable to a banquet,
which was served at the new Hotel Gran
lite. President Nenable has made record
for entertaining the senator's. He ban
quetted them at the Aragon when his
colleagues elected him president, and now
that he is about to bid them adieu he
found it a pleasant thing to repeat the
DINING.
The amount of work yet to be done by
the House to-day brought up the question
of an extended session. Some of the men,
bers hold the view that they are entitled
under the law to hold fifty daily sessions
that is if the legislature does not hold a
session on any day during the fifty days
1t may make up this last day at the end
This session two days have been lost one
on Thanksgiving and the other on Geor-
gia Day at the exposition, and in view of
1aa of hfHa
springing the point referred to was dis
cussed by some OF the leading members
to-day.
OF the opinion that the extra days SEES
sion may be held, although there is a
decided division of opinion on the sub
Ject. If 1t becomes apparent tomorrow
that the business cannot be accomplished
an effort to hold the extra session may
be made in the House.
In the House this morning Mr.. Rock
well undertook to get reconsideration Tor
the bill lost on Saturday providing Tor
the office of state pension commissioner
but the motion to reconsider was voted
down.
The House passed the bill providing for
the issuance of $4,000 of treasury notes
for the payment of the INDECENT soldiers
pensions. The notes are to be in dcnom-
redeemable when presented to the state
treasury in lawful currency.
The House voted down the bill appro-
priatng S12,5OO to build a dormitory at
the State Normal College at Athens and
passed the bill introduced by Mr.. Demp-
sey OF Butts, repeating the law under
which the state university can get fifty
years per cent. bonds from the state
upon presentation of other state bonds at
the treasury.
The Fleming bill, providing for the re-
LIEF OF the supreme court by an increase
of the number of judges to six, and al
lowing the court to sit in two divisions
passed the Senate with only five votes
opposing it, As passed by both houses
the bill provides for the election of the
supreme court judges by the people and
with that provision goes an amendment
TO the constitution that will be submitted
to the people at the next
"a that the proposition i to increase crease
the number of judges of the supreme
court viii be ratified by the people, al
though the proposition has twice been re-
Jeeted heretofore. The bill did not get
Through the Senate to-day, however. with
the judges elective by the people. AS was
the case in the House, the judiciary COM
mttee reported an amendment striking
out TINS clause and the Senate had to over
ride the committee in passing the bill
senator n. e. Harris, chairman Of the
Judiciary. committee, made the leading
argument against election by the people.
which he declared was populist idea,
and n, dangerous to the interests
a bill of his own for the relief of the
court-to establish a court of appeals
and he was evidently of the opinion that
Il was the only solution of the situation
senator Harris bill, however, has been
reported adversely by the House commit
tee by an almost Unanimous vote and in
the language OF the senators on the floor.
uoes not stand ghost OF a show to pass
the House, Therefore the only relief in
sight for the supreme court was by the
passage of the Fleming bill.
Senator Cummings made q strong argu-
ment in favor of the bill as it came from.
the House. He said he would vote for thei
bill either with election by the people or
by the legislature, though he believed it
eXpedient to allow the people to elect the
Judges they WOnl0 then he flralx
10 rattfy the amendment providing for the
increase, The interests of the state, he de-
cared, demanded that there be some re-
lief to the court of last resort and il was
me duty of the Senate to sacrifice individ-
t Tai preference or opinion for the plan
needed relief.
Senator's Sneed and McGreggor. nonu-
hsts, made arguments in favor of cleo
uon by the people though as a matter of
politics Mr.. McGreggor said that he would
take the stump and urge the people to
vote against the amendment next year
II required a two-thirds vote to pass
IN me bill; and after the amendments pass
ca by the committee We're voted down bv
pare majority many of those who had
voted in favor of the amendment rather
tnan see the bill lost cast their votes in
As it passed the Senate a slight amend
meht was put upon 1t at Mr.. Fleming's
request, under which Judge Lumpkin one
OF the present Justices whose term ex-
pres next year, will not come under its
PROVISIONS with respect to the length of
term to which the candidates are to he
elected. He is to have ma
regular term, whether he receives the high.
est or the lowest number of votes in the
election ~
Senator Osborne opposed the bill
me Senate to-day passed the bill by
Senator Venable providing for the. estab-
nsnment of state inebriate asylum. The
saloons of the state are to be taxed S95
per year to support the institution The
blll requires an amendment to the consti-
tuition and if it passes the House will have
70 be voted upon bY the neonle ri HE 11nxt