The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-03
CONVICT INQUIRY CLOSED.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO DRAFT
\ BILL.

THE Measure to BE in Line With the
Answers of the Members of the
House 10 Mr. Brannen's Queries.
The Committee Composed of One
Member From Each Congressional
District-The BInIock BiIl in Ref
erence TO Bank stock Passed-Noth-
ing Done on the Appropriation
BiII.
Atlanta. Ga. Dec. AL the ones
lions put to the House under the Bran
men resolution as TO the disposition Of
the convicts have been answered and a
committee of one from each congressional
district. of which Mr. Hall of Coweta,
chairman Of the penitenuary committee
and author Of the reform bill Tlicn was
defeated. has been appointed to draft a
measure III accordance with these an
swers.
The committee viii report a bin to-
morrow and it win provide for the re-
leasing of all abIe-bodied long-term con-
victs the election of prison commits
sion by the people, the establishment OF
a farm for the women Juveniles and
decrepit convicts and will authorize the
county officials to work short-time con-
victs on the public roads.
Wheu the unfinished questions were TAX
en- up to-day. Mr.. Han amended the fifth
question so as to ask it in this form
do you want commission? Inc
House answered Yes by vote of "a
TO s.
DO you want it selected by the gov
ernor2'' was the next question. The
House didn't like the idea Of the governor
being given the right to appoint the com
mission and il voted no 81 TO 40 Ihis
neeessitated another question, which was.
do you want it elected by the legisla-
ture?" and upon it the ayes were 81 ana
the nays 66.
AS both of these last propositions were
disagreed TO. the election of the commits
zion was left to the people
The last question was, do you favor
working of the short term conWcts, those
sentenced for two years or less, on the
public roads?" which was answered in the
affirmative
The speaker appointed the following
committee to draft the bill: Messrs. Bran
men Of the First district; Patton of the
Second; Brown of the Third; Hall of the
Fourth; Stone of the Fifth; Redding of
the Sixth; Copelan of the Seventh; Gallo
way of the Eighth; Charters of the Ninth;
Burwell of the Tenth and Hitch of the
Eleventh.
The Blalock bill requiring all banking
corporations to make an annual sworn
statement as to the market value of their
stock was passed with but little opposi-
ton.
Most of the members appeared not to
understand the import of the bill and
voted for it upon the statements of the
author, who said it was a reform meas
ure. He said he knew of one bank with
a paid up capital stock of 5000 which re-
turned only $3.50, and that altogether
nearly 100000 bank capital escaped tax
alton in Georgia.
The bill by Mr.. Thomas of Clark carry
ing out the recommendations of the school
book commission came up as a special
order. but went over until tomorrow with
out action.
An unsuccessful effort was made at the
opening of the session to reconsider A1r.
Siatons bill providing that the supreme
court shall pass upon applications for
admission to the bar, after the superior
courts have passed upon them.
The House held a session this afternoon
20 consider the appropriation bill. but no
action could be taken upon it because of
the small attendance.