The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-10
SMELLING OUT THE SHEKELS.
THE HOUSE AGAIN TAKES UP THE
APPROPRIATION BILL.

Normal SchOOI-The Bill Providing
For the sale of the Northeastern
Railroad Reconsidered and Sent
Back to Committee.
Atlanta. Ga, Dec Reconsideration OF
the appropriation bill was resumed by the
House to-day. There was no motion for
reconsideration of the bill giving $4,000
to The State Normal School, which was
lost yesterday If this institution gets the
money for the new dormitory needed to
accommodate the 2O0 applicants for adj
mission now on file with President Brad
WELL it will have to be put on when the
bill reaches the Senate, which may be
done.
Before taking up the appropriation BILL
on motion of Mr. Branch of Columbia,
the bill providing for the sale of the
Northeastern railroad, which passed yes
terday, was reconsidered. and sent back
TO the railroad committee.
1t is reported tonight that an offer has
been made to withdraw opposition and al
low it to pass. The parties who made the
offer were requested by those who want
to buy the property to put their offer in
writing. so that it could be considered.
The appropriation bill was taken up on
the paragraph appropriating $2SO0O0 for
1897 and $2900OO in 1888, for the support
and maintenance of the state lunatic asy-
Inm. Mr.. Chapman of Muscogee, who
offered an amendment yesterday to re-
duce the appropriation for 1897 to S265'W0'
offered an amendment to his own amend
ment to make the appropriation S2lOWo
He said that he had found that the cost
of maintaining the asylum was S21s cents
per day for each inmate, and the esti-
mated number of inmates for next year
is 300 He estimated that the necessary
expenses of the asylum would be S264,s75'
but he was willing to give them some
more than was absolutely necessary.
Mr.. Little of Muscogee, chairman of the
finance committee. spoke against Mr..
Chapman's amendment. He said the
finance committee had made thorough
examination of the asylum, and he con-
sidered S2S0000 a conservative estimate
and barely sufficient to meet the absolute
requirements of the institution. 1t was
figured by Mr.. Little that the price OF
supplies mas gone up anu INV 49, p
capita for maintaining the asylum Would
be much increased next year.
Mr. Reid of Bibb said it was simply a
mathematical problem at 32l2 cents day
for the estimated number of inmates would
be 1854. 975 He had no reason to believe
that the prices of supplies would be higher
under gold basis than before.
The vote was taken and the amendment
agreed to.
Mr.. Chapman then offered an amend
ment to cut the appropriation for 1898 from
$4,000 to $2SO,OO0, which was agreed to,
and the paragraph was adopted as amend
ed.
The next paragraph to be taken up was
that appropriating $22,500 to the state Uni
versity of Georgia. Mr.. Blalock offered to
amend the paragraph by reducing the
amount to $4,000
Mr. Meldrim of Chatham made an ear
nest speech against the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Blalock. He said that the
state would then not be giving l cent
TO the grand old university, as it would
be compelled to pay that amount to the
university as payment of interest on the
debt due the university by the state. He
spoke for higher education, and said the
curse on the state was the incompetency
of her teachers.
Mr.. Berry of Whitfield said that it was
popular to vote for such measures as the
against them were generally dubbed hay
seeds and idiots, but he had rather have
the applause of his conscience than to
have the applause of the world. He loved
Georgia's institutions and wanted them
maintained. He wanted no unnecessary
appropriations, but he thought Georgia's
university should be either maintained or
abolished, and he would vote for the full
appropriation.
Mr.. Blalock of Fayette who led the
fight on the appropriation, said if there
was one appropriation in the bill that
should be voted down 1t was the measure
appropriating $4,000 to the State Univer-
sity.
Mr.. Slater of Fulton touched on Mr..
Blalock's penchant for Directing to every
thing He said that Mr.. Balock had
shown himself the enemy of all education
al measures, no matter what they might
be, He had persistently opposed every
measure tending to higher education that
had come up. Mr.. Slater said that to win
Mr.. Blalock's opposition it was only nee
essary to Introduce an educational meas
ure, that If all of Mr.. Blalock's ideas were
carried to their logical conclusion the en-
tire public school system of Georgia would
be abolished. He thought Mr.. Blalock had
no right to oppose any appropriation as
the county of Fayette gets more back in
appropriations than she pays in taxes.
MI man VI AOWtld Spoht lOI Tie UNI
versity, and Mr.. AIeldrim closed the de-
bate, occupying the time of the chairman
of the finance committee. He showed that
the appropriation would only cost man
worth $4,000 2lb cents tax.
MIR. Blalocks amendment was adopted
so the university gets nothing for perma-
mem improvements.
The next paragraph to be taken up was
that giving the state University for sup
port of the State School of Technology
the usual $4,000 for maintenance, and in
addition thereto the sum of $4,000 per an
mum for the years 1897 and 1898, to be-
used i'm building suitable dormitories, and
especially to establish an electrical de-
partment.
Mr.. Blalock bobbed up again with ar
amendment to cut Off the extra appropria
ton of $4,000 "A year for the dormitorie.
and electrical department.
MIR. Knowles spoke in an earnest ant
eloquent manner for the appropriation
He said that the school was unfortunatel,
situated in Atlanta, and therefore cam,
IN for the condemnation of the men VIII,
have petty prejudice against Atlanta
He made several illusions TO Mr. Bla
locks habit of opposing anything tina
tended to the enlightenment of the state
and said that if the school of technology