The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-29
CLAY CoUNTYs HOT CONTEST.
Maj. MELDRIM REsENTS A CHARGE
OF JUNKETING.

troduced-New Offices For Women.
Atlanta. Ga. Nov. 2S.-The lower branch
of the general assembly had lively
scrimmage to-day over the proposition to
go behind the returns in the contested
election case from Clay county, where the
sitting member. ]. II. Foster
pop, is sought to be GUST
ed by Kulingsworth. DEM, upon
the ground that votes cast simply for
"Foster," without giving the initials of
the candidate, should be drawn out. Mr..
Fosters majority on the face of the re-
turns was only three votes, and the throw
ing out Of these ballots would give the
seat to the contestant When the case
first came before the committee on priv.-
leges and elections a subcommittee of
three was sent to Clay county to open
the ballot boxes, which the ordinary had
refused to do, and recount the votes. The
recount showed the facts alleged with re-
gard to the irregular votes, but the COM
mittee was unable to determine whether
these ballots should be thrown out or not
This morning Mr.. Burwell of Hancock,
chairman of the committee of privileges
and elections. offered a resolution pro-
vided another Subcommittee should be
sent to Clay county to again count the
votes, and to take patrol evidence from
voters who had cast the ambiguous bal
lots, so as to see for whom they intended
to vote. Mr.. Burweu supported his res
olution in a clear and able manner.
Mr.. Johnson of Hall led the opposition,
and made an emphatic protest against
going back of the returns. He grew
somewhat personal in his remarks by de-
claring that the trip of the first sub-com-
mittee was nothing but junket, and the
next trip would also be a junket.
This brought Maj. Meldrim of Chatham
who was a member of the former SUBJ
committee, to his feet He warmly resent
ed the remarks of Mr.. Johnson and drew
that gentleman over the Goals in a sar-
castle manner for his reference to the
work of the committee as a junketing COM
mttee. Maj Meldrim made strong APP
peal to the House for the sacredness of
the ballot box, and upon a final call of the
roll the resolution providing for the sub
committee was passed.
The committee and those who supported
the resolution take the position that the
sitting member should not be deprived of
his seat because certain ballots did not
bear his name in full or with the proper
initials If by Summoning the voters who
cast these ballots il can be shown that IL
was their intention to vote for him. 1t is
an unusual proceeding, but it is in line
with the prevailing sentiment among the
members of the legislature that the voice
of the people at the ballot box must be res
pected without regard to party lines and
without taking advantage of technicalities
to GUST the opposition when this would be
defeating the real will of the people whom
they represent.
Mr.. Boifeuillet of Bib county to-day
I'M
reformatory for Juvenile criminals, which
was prepared by Hon. Marion Harris of
Macon at the instance of the Women's
Christian Temperance Union of the state
and the Kings Daughters The bill pro-
vides for an appropriation of $4,000 with
which to establish the reformatory and
maintain 1t until JAM /, 1898 1t Is pro-
posed to have branches Of the reforma-
tory in eight counties of the state, these
being the counties which make the larg-
est contributions for it's establishment but
the preference being given to Glynn, Chat
ham, Muscogee, Bibb, Richmond. Fulton.
tloyd and Clarke. None of the REFORM
atorles are to be- established within the
limits OF any incorporated city or town
but all are to be in the country districts
OF such counties as they may be located
IN. Inc management of the reformatory
as well as its establishment. is to he
vested in board of managers appointed
py the governor and approved by the
SENATE, II the bill passes this board haino
appointed to begin their terms Feb 1907
rms board is to have full power over Tho
institution making annual reports to the
governor. The members will receive sam
Per year each, being seven in number The
courts are 10 sentence juvenile Offenders to
ansutution Tor all offenses not capital and
the governor is TO have the right to CON-
mute the sentence Of prisoners now So
ing IN the penitentiary to the reformatorv
IL Is DeileVed that if the bill is passed tbat
much or the property necessary for the
reIormatories in the different counties will
DC donated and the women of the Christia n
temperance Union and the Kings Daugh-
teTs propose to make 1t their business to
prosecute the good work all along the
line. 'e 'iie
me House to-day passed the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Bennett of Glynn. MAKING
changes in the law relating to pilots. His
amendment provides that hereafter that
pliots Detore receiving their commission.
shall have served three years apprentice,
ship upon the deck of some piIot boat of
tne port IN which ne is licensed. The bin
also provides that the number of nilots
on the Brunswick bar shall not be added
70 until the number falls to ten, fifteen be-
ing the maximum number.
AT st. Mary's there is to be no addition
10 the number until Ii falls to Ain this res.
pect the port of Savannah is not affected
az all, though the amendment relating Ia
tne apprenticeship of three years before 4
pIot can be licensed applies to that mort
as well as to all the others of the state
Mr.. Reese of Floyd county to-day intro.
onced a bill prohibiting fishing of ali
Kinds IN Christmas Creek, which runs be.
tween Big and Little Cumberland I'm Cam.
oeh county without the written permission
OF the owners of the adjacent property
ANS prohibition does not apply, however
10 the proprietors of the Hotel Cumberland
snd the guests of that hotel
Mr. Meldrim of Chatham to-day offeref
resolution providing that a COMMITTEES 81
three be appointed to inquire into the FEAST
bihty of preparing and publishing a di
gest OF the laws Of the state bearing upor
cities, towns, and villages. These law,
are now scattered through many volumes
Mr.. Brown OF Pulaski offered a bill pro
vidlng that sex shall not render anyon,
ineligible TO any school office in the state
III this bill passes women will be eligibl,
20 the position of county school commits
sion, or they will be eligible to places or
the county board of education.
Mr. Fielder Of Fulton introduced a resolu
ton to refund 1922 to Miss Ella Powell o.
Atlanta, for an act Of patriotism on hel