The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-30
HARD AT 1T IN THE HOUSE.
AN ADDITION OF 100000 MADE TO
THE PENSION LIST.

liver strong Addresses.
Atlanta. Ca. Nov. 29-The confederate
veterans pension bill which went over
from Fridays session of the House as I'M
finished business. came up this morning
and was passed. This bill carries with it
an Increase of $4,000 over the regular ap-
preparation of l50eo. There was no oppo-
siion to The measure.
Mr.. Hail, chairman of the penitentiary
committee, took the House in hand for its
desult,ry work on the convict problem,
and presented a resolution 10 prevent tho
displacement of the regular order of bust
ness hereafter, which was adopted. The
convict matter is a special order for every
Gay until disposed of from Il to ! O'Clock,
and under to-days action it will now be
pressed to an issue. There are only four
teen more working days of this session
left and the fact that Gov. Atkinson's
friends declare that he will not call an
extra session to settle the convict ques-
ton has caused the Leaders to get move
on them. so to speak.
Speaker jenkins. whose reference to the
governors alleged effort to dictate to the
assembly on the convict question in his
opening speech at the commencement OF
the session created a sensation, believes
the House will pass a convict bill at tins
regular session.
In an interview to-day. Speaker Jenkins
said: There will certainly be legislation
OIL this question. The House will pass
convict bill before the expiration Of the
session"
When asked what he believed would be
the nature of the measure, he replied
1.-THE able bodied conViCts will be again
leased. The aged. infirm and women con
Yiots will be placed on a farm and the
earnings over and above their own mainte-
nance will be devoted to the support of
public institutions. Misdemeanor convlcts
will be hired out, either in the county of
their conviction to private parties, or will
be sent TO the state farm. All misdemeanor
convicts will be under state supervision
and control" This plan Speaker Jenkins
is confident will be the text of the bill
which the legislature will pass for the set
tlement of the convict question. This. he
says, suits the proposed central peniten-
tiary and the prison commission, the two
most important provisions of a reform
measure which has been under considera-
ton for two weeks.
The only suggestion of reform in the leg
islation to which Speaker Jenkins looks
forward is in the farm for the women,
boys and infirm convicts, and in the SUI
pervision and control by the state of mis-
demeanor convicts.
The addresses of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wilson and DR.. J. L. NJ. Curry trus-
tee Of the Peabody fund, were the leading
features Of to-day's session. The senators
occupied seats in the House during the ad-
dresses and the upper house did not essay
the transaction of any but a small amount
of minor business
Secretary Wilson spoke on agriculture.
His theme was home production and home
consumption, as opposed to over produc-
ton. He said Georgia had raised 100000
bales of cotton without harm to her soil.
However" he continued II do not think
II Is good policy for this commonwealth to
produce more cotton than it manufac-
lures" He spoke of the influx of people in
Georgia who didn't produce anything, but
would help in the consumption of the pro-
ducts of the state This. he termed pro-
gress in the right line. citing the increase
In the importance of Georgia's manufac-
turing interests and the better capacity for
manufacturing its chief product
Speaking of the evidences of prosperity
1n-the south Mr.. Wilson offered many sab
stantial and satisfactory proofs The sale
of. cotton seed had increased 400 per cent
within ten years. This led him into the
discussion of an interesting subject. the
value OF the vast quantity of cotton seed.
which is the by-product of the states sta
pie product He showed how an incaIcula-
bic source of revenue to the Georgia far
mer is practically undeveloped He advise
ed the production of cattle, which are hest
fattened on this food which was yearly
bought in great quantities by the people
of the northwest
He said Georgia had twice the moisture
and much greater heat than the soil of the
northwest, with which he was most fami1
lar Ihey are the factors, he explained, in
me decomposition of the land, and thus
the soil of Georgia had the greater natt1r-
al advantage. He had learned TODAY. how
ever, that this state purchased more fer
tlllzers than any state in the union. He
compared this showing with the statistics
OF the value of the purchases by the NORTH
west OF Georgia cotton seed He advised
the farmers of Georgia to send to the cat
tie raising states and purchase steers to be
1attened on the cotton seed which forms
such a great by-product here.
Deg you to give some attention TO the
educauon of the farmers sons of Georgia. I"
continued Mr. Wilson. He paid a glowing
ulhute TO the south i'm this respect. and
said that he thought the finest speakers
an the country were to be found in the
south. In this connection he mentioned
Hon Henry G. Turner, with whom he had
served III congress. He then showed the
advantage of education to men who i'm
lehd TO engage in the pursuit of agricul-
tgtre.
Dr Curry followed Secretary Wilson,
speaking for nearly two hours Touching
upon the common school question he
sald; Il know some people say it is not
safe to educate the masses, but am not
afraid of the masses. l would rather
trust the masses than the kings, priests
or churches. Every political revolution,
every social revolution, every religious
revolution has come from the deep-seated
convictions of the masses" Wealth is
in the brain, he contended, and his argu-
ment in favor of education for all was
powerful ana incontrovertible.
Il don't believe in giving state money
10 sectaran schools or to schools under
UNCONVENTIONAL control was one of Dr.
Currys most emphatic utterances. He
added that he believed in sectarian
schools. or, for that matter believed in
all schools from kindergartens up to uni
Nersities, but he did not favor the appro-
priatlCN of state money to any school not
under state control.
lie concluded with a glowing appeal in
behalf of the common school system Of
Georgia and a tribute to the legislature
for its fostering care of the system.
lie paid a splendid tribute to Prof. Glenn
the state school commissioner whom he
compared with natterlng purpose to the