The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-27
FIGHT OVER STATE FELONS.
HOUSE TO GRAPPLE WITH THE
PROBLEM MORE EARNESTLY.

Mr.. Brannen Proposes 10 Ascertain
the Views of Each Member on the
Issue, Refer Their Answers to
Committee and Let the Committee,
Report Bill i'm Line With the An
Ewers of n Majority of the Mem
bers-A Number of New Bills In
PRODUCED.
Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 26.-Both houses of
the assembly had difficulty to-day in hold
ing themselves together on account of the
large number of absentees. The Senate
had to take a recess for half hour while
the doorkeeper drummed up a quorum,
and the House adjourned with the q te
on the bill appropriatng 900 more for
INDECENT soldiers pensions, unannounced
because there was no quorum voting, and
had the vote been announced, the bill
would have been lost, though no one op-
posed it.
Tomorrow is not likely to prove any
more satisfactory in the way of attend
ance, and, in expectation of this, the
most important matter brought up to-day
was by vote postponed until Tuesday. so
that full attendance may be had for its
consideration. This matter was resolu-
ton by Mr.. Brannen of Bulloch, which
may result in the beginning of progress
with the convict question.
The convict bill came up this morning
as the special order at II o'clock, and the
House was about to go to hammering
away at the first section, which is as yet
the beginning and end of the work done,
when Mr.. Hall moved to pass over the
first five sections and take up some thing
new. These first five sections refer 10 the
creation of a prison commission. Mr. Hall,
however, withdrew his motion in order
to allow Mr.. Brannen of Bulloch to get
i'm his resolution, which proposes to sub
NIT the following questions to each men,
Der, bill to be prepared by a committee
of three in accordance with the answers
of the majority:
First. Do you favor the continuation
of the present lease system as to all fell
ony convicts under state supervision?
Second. Do you favor the purchase of
a farm and erection of buildings to care
for the juveniles, women and aged and in
firm convicts; and that the able-bod
convicts be hired or leased under state
supervision. in terms of not longer than
five years?
Third. DO you favor a central peniten-
tiary for all the convicts, as recommended
by the principal keeper of the penitentiary?
Fourth. DO you favor state supervision
of the misdemeanor convicts, at the same
time leaving the direct control to the coun-
ty authorities?
Fifth. Do you want commission cleo
ted or appointed?
Sixth. DO you want principal keeper
elected or appointed?
Mr.. Stone of Walton, the author of the
bill providing for a renewal or new
lease, opposed this, and as substitute
proposed that everything be referred back
to the penitentiary committee with in
structions to report bill a week hence.
Mr. West of Lowndes offered another
substitute for a committee of one from
each congressional district but the Bran
men resolution, which was advocated by
Speaker Jenkins, was passed. In his
speech urging the adoption of the catechis-
ing resolution, Speaker Jenkins warmly
declared that the House was at sea on
the convict question. He was evidently
of the opinion that the House had been
fooling with the question, and his re-
marks were intended to call it to time.
AS there was less than half the mem
ebrs present, 1t was decided that it would
be best not to begin the catechising of
the House until next Tuesday. At that
time the question will be passed around,
and a desperate effort made to get start
on the solution of the vexed problem.
The following new bills were introduced
in the House to-day;
BY Br. Blalock of Fayette, a resolution
to appropriate 81 800 for the expenses of
the special committee appointed to inves-
tigate the state departments.
BY Mr.. Eliss of Stewart, to define the LA
bilites of sleeping car companies and all
railroad companies operating sleeping cars.
BY Mr.. Watkins of G4lmer, to amend the
code to change the age limit for entrances
to common schools.
Also a bill to fix salaries of solicitors
general
BY Mr.. Blalock of Fayette to provide
for the taking of duplicate vouchers by
county school commissioners for every
item of disbursement from the public
school fund.
BY Mr. Chapman Of Muscogee to regu-
late the transcribng of the evidence and
record of the same in criminal cases tried
in the superior courts of this state.
By Mr.. Halves of Warren, to provide
each county Jail of this state with proper
heating apparatus.
BY Mr.. Duncan of Lee, to amend the
code to provide that tax collectors shall
keep open an office at the court house
during the time of the collection of taxes
The Hopkins bill for the election of
judges and solicitors by the people came
up as the unfinished business in the Sen,
ate this morning, but on account of the
slim attendance 1t was displaced until
next Wednesday on motion of the author