The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-05
SOLICIToRSHlPS SETTLED.
THE LEGISLATURE ELECTING THE
CAUCUS NOMINEES.


The Work Not Completed at Yester-
days Session of the Assembly.
Messrs. Fraser and Osborne on
Hand to Watch the elimination
of Their COnteSt-An Australian
Ballot Law Proposed.
Atlanta, Ca, Nov. 4-The legislature did
not do much to-day aside from the cleo
toin of judges and solicitors. These were
all the nominees of the caucus held last
week, and consequently their election was
merely matter of form as required by
the law. The call of the roll upon each
one of the candidates, however, took up
a great deal of time, and when the joint
session finally adjourned this afternoon,
they had not completed the work
While the elections were in progress the
members, many of whom left their homes
yesterday just after casting their votes,
in order to be here among the first for the
renewal of the senatorial campaign had
plenty of time to devote to the senator
ship, and this was the feature Of the day.
The recess of three days served to give
the members an oportunity to learn the
sentiments of their constituents on the
senatorship, and they took full advantage
of it. When they came together again
to-day, they wanted to compare notes and
exchange arguments and suggestions on
this point. 1t is as yet Impossible to tell
what effect the election adjournment
will have on the final result. Some of
the members found that their people were
against another gubernatorial election and
others found that the people whom they
represent were willing to have another
campaign if Gov. Atkinson was deemed the
most available man for tbs Senate. Still
others apparently did not get any infor-
nation at all from their constituencies.
And so the talk went on.
Before the meeting of the joint session,
however, there were several important
bills introduced. One of these was by
Mr.. Fielder of Fulton, and provides for an
Australian ballot law for the state. An
other was by Mr.. Watkins of Gilmer, pro-
viding for the election of judges and So
licitor generals by the people. A bill
similar to this was introduced in the SEN
ate last week by Senator Hopkins In the
event of the passage of either, the consti-
tuition will have to be amended. Bills for
the same purpose were before the last leg
islature but they were killed. The sue
cess of the election of the supreme court
judges by the people under the recent
amendment will no doubt have good
deal to do with the fate of these bills in
this legislature.
Mr.. F'elder's Australian ballot bill pro-
vides that the governor shall appoint
ca1r ,e.Y-ffaf tan don't Of oil
ty to serve for a term of four years. In
all elections then all voting shall be by
| secret ballot. The superintendent of cleo
tons shall receive the names of ali the
| candidates and have official ballots pre-
pared at the expense of the state, county
or municipality as the case may be. The
names of the candidates and the politi-
| cal parties to which they belong will be
| printed in plain black type of the same
| kind on the ballots Election booths, into
which the voter must go to cast his bal
! lot, are provided for. The voter is to re-
| ceive his ballot from the managers in the
| booth and cannot take any ballot in with
| him. He will designate the candidate or
| candidates for whom he desires to vote by
| making a check mark on the
ballot. No workers are to be
| allowed nearer than fifty feet of the booth,
| and If a blind man should desire to vote
the superintendent of elections will go
| ballot for him. The author of the bill
wants the legislature to go to work on
| it and cure its imperfections He compiled
it from the laws of other states, and in
troduced it as a ground work only for
the evolution of the system best adapted
| to the needs of this state.
Mr. Armstrong of Wilkes to-day intro
| duced a bill to amend the act providing
for the hiring of misdemeanor convicts
in the northeastern circuit, so as to eX-
| empt Wilkes county.
The House to-day adopted the recon-
| mendation of the committee on rules
| ahoushing the two committees OF general
| and special agriculture and providing for
| the appointment of only one committee,
| to be known as the committee on agricui-
| ture. Speaker Jenkins Is al work upon
| his committees, and will probably have
I them ready to announce the first of the
week.
Accompanying the Chatham delegation
| which arrived to-day were Messrs. Os-
| borne and Fraser, the erstwhile opponents
| for the solicitor generalship of the east
ern circuit. Mr.. duBignon also came UP
| to-day The Chatham delegation is placed
| solidly In the Atkinson column by the gov
| errors friends, although none Of the men,
| bers have authorized the statement made
| for them that they would support the can
| didate. In connection with the Savannah
| delegation, it is understood that Gov. At
! hlhSoh IS receiving the support or both
| Messrs. Osborne and Fraser, and their
| friends. Mr.. Osborne, 1t is understood
| had the governors friendship in the recent
! solicitorship fight, and he gives his sup
| port in return for that, while, so the story
goes. Mr.. Fraser Is supporting the govern
| or because he wants to do something
against Mr.. duBignon's own possible cam
didacy for the Senate on account of the
| fight he made for Mr. Osborne. Mr.. Os-
| borne's election is generally attributed to
! the management of Mr. duBignon