The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-19
STANDS BY AN EXTRA SESSION
THE HOUSE REFUSES TO RECON-
SIDER IT'S DECISION.

1t Also Votes Down "A Resolution
Empowering the Committee to In
Vestignte the Charges Against
Judges Reese and Sweat to In
ouire Into Charges Against
OtbersJudges-ScnatO Carter Init
mates That He Has Other Charges
Up His sleeve.
Atlanta. Ga. Dec. 1S.-The investigation
of the charges against Judges Sweat and
Reese was the main feature of the session
of the House again to-day. 1t took up a
good deal Of the time al both the morn
ing and the afternoon sessions, despite the
fact that the adoption of the resolutions
last night providing for the investigating
committee and the extra session seemed to
have disposed of the matter.
When the House met this morning there
were number of members who had chang
ed their minds upon the subject and they
wanted to place themselves on record. Mr..
West of Lowdnes made motion to recon-
slider the action of last night in passing
the resolutions and made speech argu-
ing that the legislature should not entail
the great expense upon the people that
would follow an extra session for the I'M
peachment of the judges, and after all the
committee might find that they had not
been guilty of Improbable offenses.
Mr.. Blalock of Fayette also fought for
reconsideration He made the point that
fhe passage of the resolution last night
was not regular. anyhow. It was in con-
nict with the rules of the House, he de-
,lared because the House had al
ready agreed to resolution
providing for an adjournment tomorrow,
and 1t could not without a reconsldera-
ton of that resolution, which was not
had, pass another resolution providing
for a recess only.
Mr. Copeland of Walker in his speech
against the resolutions called the atten-
ton of the House to the fact that there
is no petition from the circuits in WHICH
the accused judges preside, and that their
people would certainly have taken some
action if the charges were sufficiently Sc
rious to warrant action. AS it was, the
charges had been going the rounds for a
year or more and nothing was done.
Mr. Mclaughlin of Meriwether was
among those who voted for the resolu-
tion last night, but changed his mind
this morning, and wanted it reconsidered,
and Mr.. Watkins of Gilmer also support
ed the motion to reconsider because he
believed that last nights action had been
hasty. The charges themselves having
grown out of a lot of fuss and feathers.
Upon a final vote. the motion to recon-
slider the motion was lost, so the appoint
ment of the committee stands.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Boyd intro
duced a resolution providing that the COM
mittee shall have power and authority to
investigate charges against any and all
members Of the judiciary, If such charges
may be preferred during its existence.
This resolution set the House in a tur-
moil and it took all the afternoon to
straighten it out by finally tabling it,
Therefore, the committee will have pow
er only to investigate the charges against
Judges Sweat and Reese.
Senator Carter intimated that he has
other charges against other judges up his
sleeve ready to spring if given the chance
by the committee, but the action of the
House cuts off these, at least until after
the present investigation is completed.
The House reconsidered the bill
by Mr.. Johnson of Hall abollshing
the three days of grace, which
which was lost last night.
The House passed the bill by Senator
Blalock authorizing the state railroad COM
mission to compel certain parties to pro-
duce books and papers relating to the bus
mess of transportation, and also the Sem
ate bill reducing the bond Of tax receivers
one-half.
Tonight the House adopted a Joint reso-
luton providing for the adjournment or
recess Of the general assembly tomorrow
TO the first Wednesday in February to
hear the report of the committee appoint
ed to investigate the charges against the
judiciary. When this is concurred in by
the Senate, the recess will be assured, as
the House by the resolution passed last
night, could not take the recess or pro-
coed with the investigation through its
committee in vacation. The Senate will,
of course, concur in the resolution to-
morrow, or the onus of refusing to pro-
vide for the trial of the judges against
whom it was instrumental in bringing for
ward the charges, will be upon it.
The populist members of the House
tried to defeat the passage of the resolu-
ton tonight. They do not want the in
vestigation. After getting the democrats
in hole, so to speak, they would prefer
TO see the matter hang fire.
The House tabled the Senate resolution
providing for a committee to investigate
the question of disposing of the convicts
the committee having authority to visit
other states.