The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-10
GOLD CLAUSES IN GEORGIA.
BRANCH INTRODUCES A BILL TO
KNOCK THEM OUT.

KNOCK THEM OUT.
The Measure Provides That All oh
legations in This state Can Bc Dis
charged by Payment in Any Kind
of Legal Tender Money of the
United States-Make-up of the
Committee to Look Into the EIec-
ton Laws of the state.
Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 9.-The House met at
10 o'clock this morning and rushed busi-
ness at such a rapid rate that everything
had been cleared up from the clerk desk
at l1:20 o'clock Friends of the different
senatorial candidates were thick in the
hall and much confusion existed.
Mr.. Branch of Columbia introduced the
first financial bill of the session. 1t pro-
vides that any note, bill, bond, draft,
check, exchange, contract, mortgage, pub
lie and private obliga lions, or pecunlary
liabilities hereafter made or contracted,
which may provide for payment in a spe-
ciic kind of legal tender money of the
United States, may be paid, or discharged
in any kind of legal tender money of the
United States current at the time of it's
maturity or collection, at it's face value,
such stipulation or agreement to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
In speaking of the bill, Mr.. Branch said:
Congress has stipulated that the silver
dollar and the Sherman notes shall be
legal tender except when otherwise stipu-
lated in the contract. and the result is
that most notes, mortgages and debts are
made payable in gold. The object of my
bill is to do away with this feature in
Georgia and allow debtor to discharge
his debts in any kind of legal tender
money
Speaker Jenkins has announced the fol-
lowing committee under the resolution to
look into the election laws of the state and
see what amendments are needed:
Messrs. Calvin of Richmond, Boynton OF
Calhoun, Hall of Coweta, Henderson of
Forsyth, Fielder of Fulton, Craig of Bibb,
Burwell Of Hancock and Charters OF
Lumpkin.
The first gun of the fight that is to come
up over the convict lease was fired by Mr..
Mcdonald of Gwinnett, in the shape of
a joint resolution, which provides for the
appointment of a joint committee of six
from the House and four from the Senate,
whose duty it shall be to take under con-
sideration the best plan for working and
caring for the convicts in the future. I'm
der the resolution this committee is au-
thorized to sit during the recess of the
general assembly, and shall, if necessary,
visit other states, to see the manner of
working convicts there. The per diem
! of the members and travelling expenses,
| when they are in session, shall go on the
same as if the were on duty in the House.
The committee is authorized to report by
bill or otherwise to the session of the
House in 1897.
Mr.. Watkins of Gilmer introduced bill
providing for more fires in the state than
can now be kindled according to law. I'm
der the law, as it now exists, woods in
Georgia cannot be burned, except between
Feb. 20 and April l. Mr.. Watkins bill
seeks to lengthen the time so as to allow
the woods to be burned from Jan. l to
April l.
Mr.. Watkins also introduced a bill to
pay all witnesses in criminal cases at the
rate of 75 cents a day. AS the law now
stands, no witness can be paid unless he
goes out of his own county to testify.
Mr.. Duncan OF Chatham introduced a
bill to require the testimony in certain
cases in the city court to be reported by
the official stenographer.
other important bills introduced were:
BY Mr.. Hall of Coweta-to make it un-
lawful for fire insurance companies not
incorporated but legally authorized to do
save through regularly licensed agents.
BY Mr.. Bennett of Glynn-To provide
for holding superior and city courts out
side of the court houses when necessary.
BY Mr.. Bond of Madison-To relieve
confederate soldiers of the payment of the
poll tax.
BY Mr. Stone of Walton-To require
judges of city and county courts to write
out their charges and furnish them to ju-
res when so desired
The Senate met at noon, and was call
ed to order by President Berner. A joint
resolution was offered by Mr.. Battle of
the Twenty-fourth district that commit
tee of two from the Senate and three
from the House be appointed to consider,
and report on the special report made to
the governor as to the Western and At
iantic railroad. The resolution was agreed
to and President Berner appointed on the
part of the Senate Messrs. Battle and
Gray.
Mr.. Dunwoody of the Fourth district,
offered a bill to give title to ungranted
lands in certain cases.
Mr. Stephens of the Eleventh district,
introduced a bill to change the time for
electing members of congress in Georgia.
The bill provides that hereafter they
shall be elected on the first Wednesday
in October, the day of the state elction,
instead Of on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November.
The resolution from the House, express
ing regret at the death of Hon. Charles
f. Crisp, came up for consideration, and
after several minor changes was adopted