The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-21
THE DELEGATIONS RETURN.
THE LOCAL LEGISLATION THAT
WAS NOT ACTED ON.

Modifying and Senatorial Courtesy
said to BE Responsible for the De-
feat of the Commissioner of Public
works BiII-Status of the Local
Legislation stir Before the House.
More Than 200 Bills That Were Not
Passed-LocaI Measures That We're
Passed at the Eleventh Hour.
All of the representatives from Chat
ham are at home again. They took the
first train out of Atlanta after the ad-
journment of the session and arrived last
night at 7:40 o'clock.
They were all pretty well tired out and
to add to their happy frame of mind, be-
ing unable to find out anything about the
change of schedule on the Central, they
had to get up at daylight and then walt
around for an hour or two for the train
to leave One of them said he felt very
much like introducing and pushing
through the legislature a bill TO require
all railroads in the state to publish in ad-
vance ample notice of any changes of
schedule that may be contemplated.
The three legislators are undoubtedly
glad the session is over. They did some
pretty hard work toward the closing
hours, and it was only by strong effort
that the three local bills mentioned i'll
yesterdays dispatches were gotten
through the Senate. In fact, two Of them
were taken up during the last hour of the
session by request of friends of the Chat
ham delegation.
Maj p W. Meldrim said there are more
than 200 bills which were in various
stages, upon which no final action was
taken, because of the fact that so much
of the time OF the session was taken up
with elections and important general
measures, including the tax bill and the
general appropriations bill, which were
required to be passed at this session for
the ensuing two years. These facts were
responsible for the failure to dispose of
much of the legislation, both local and
general, that is now before the general
assembly.
'"There we're two reasons for the de-
feat OF the bill to abolish the office of
commissioner of public works." Maj. Mel
drim said, when asked about the action
of the Senate with regard to that meas
ure. ut was taken up in the House at
which il was sent right over to the Sem
ate. In the first place there was great
deal of lobbying done against the bill,
and in the second place it is almost
impossible to get local measure
through when the representative or sena-
tor from the county or district to which
il applies, is opposed to ii. In this case as
is well-known, it was the senator, and the
measure was defeated in that body"
"Will this measure be taken up again?
was asked.
THAT l am not prepared to say" Maj.
Meldrim replied. II cannot tell yet what
may or may not be done in the matter
Several of the local measures introduced
by the Representatives from Chatham took
their course along with the other bills
that were not finally acted upon by the
general assembly. Some of them had pass
ed their second reading in the House. while
others are sull before the committees
which have them in charge. Before the
House committees the Representatives had
no trouble a all in securing favorable re-
concentrations for the passage of their
bills.
Among the local bills which go over
are the bills repeating the acts creating
the fire, police and water commissions,
which were reported favorably by the
House committee. which had them in
charge. The bill to change the law gov
erning the city court is still before the
House committee, as are also the meas
ures sent up from Chatham county to
reduce the number of Observation-Disclosures
on the governors staff, and to change the
military laws so as to provide for addi-
tional stan officers under certain circum-
stances These are the local measures,
with one or two others of minor impor-
lance, which viii go over to the next ses-
sion in the fan of 1887.
In the mean time, comes the city cleo
tion, and upon the result of that it ap-
pears great deal is predicated by both
factions. In the event of a Liberal Club
victory it is believed by the members of
that faction there will be no trouble in
passing the bills for the repeal of the COM
missions as well as the city court bill, as
they are to a certain extent issues in the
coming contest Such a victory they say
would mean that the people of the county
want these bills passed.
Among the bills passed was that amend
Ing the act creating the park and tree COM
mission, so as to give that commission the
power TO employ its own labor and to di-
rect the affairs coming within its prov
tnce. The county commissioners bill which
was passed, merely gives the board the
power to fill vacancies by electing other
members itself instead of going to the ex-
pense of having a general election by the
people.
The members of the Chatham delega.
ton did a good deal of work on the i'm
portant general measures that were at
tended to. and they also did a great deal
of committee work Maj Meldrim is a
member of the committee which was an.
pointed to investigate the charges made
by Senator Yaneey Carter against certain
superior court judges. This committed
will report at a special session Of the leg,
stature to be held in February. Mai
Meldrim said he did not think any of the
local legislation would be acted upon al
that time. as it was likely the session
would only get through with the specia
business for which it will be called To-
gether.
M mAr,n - INrrrnn,.u.,