The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-18
LATEST OF LEGISLATURES.
ABsENTEEIsM RAMPANT THROUGH
OUT THE SESSION.

Fewer Bills Passed by the Body
Than by Amy of Its Predecessors In
Recent Years-Bills of Importance
Rushed Through In the Closing
Hours Include the Convict Meas
ure. That to Elect United States
Senator'S by the People, and Nh.
Berner's state Bank Currency Bill.
Atlanta, Ca. Dec. T7.-There was gen
eral exodus of statesmen from the CAPT
tai to-day. They were all decidedly tired
of their jobs, and most of them took the
first trains. Some did not go to bed at
all, but packed their grips and left in
the small hours of the morning when the
adjournment was declared.
Gov. Atkinson has not taken up any Of
the important bills passed; that is to say.
he has not acted upon any of them He
will dispose of them in rapid order, how
ever, when he does commence as he has
planned three weeks trip to the City of
Mexico, to start just after Christmas, and
it will be necessary for him to get clear
of all department business before ne
starts
This legislature probably passed fewer
bills than any of its predecessors in some
years For a general disposition to take
things easy il was a prize taker. Not
within the recollection of the best-posted
public men has there been a democratic
body so hard to hold together for bust
ness During the last half of the session
a quorum was almost novelty. There
are many, however, who hold that the
failure of this assembly to pass bills was
its great virtue that the state was done
much better service Of omission than by
the most Jealous efforts to grind out new
laws.
The convict bill and the bill for the cleo
ton of judges and solicitors by the peo-
pie were the most conspicuous pieces of
legislation accomplished. In the closing
hours many important bills were passed.
among them Mr.. Boifeuillets measure APP
propriating $4,000 to establish a textile
department at the state university; Mr..
Berner's bill, authorizing state bank issues
PAYABLE in merchantable silver bullion,
the law to be defended by the attorney
general; the resolution favoring the cleo
ton of United States senators by the peo-
ple another for national control of quar-
antine matters in tine of epidemic or con-
tagion, and the bill legalizing the action
of the la treasurer, Hon. H. u. Harde-
man, in constituting as his own the build
ing and loan fees collected.
The receivers bill, which passed last
night will inaugurate radical change in
the commercial laws of the state unless
the governors veto is interposed, which
may happen, as all the lawyers are OPP
posed to It and will try to have it killed.
The lawyers of the House opposed the in
novation as it will cut short many a fat
fee. The bill is an extremely radical
measure in 50 far as 1t affects the present
statute on that all important subject. 1t
provides that not more than per cent.
of the assets in the hands of a receiver
Shall be applied to the payment of attor
news and receivers fees. In the discus
sion several lawyers were favorable to
the passage of the bill, notably the vener-
able ex-Gov Boynton, who said he had
practiced law for forty-three years, and
that he had known many instances in
which the lawyers and receivers IN a case
had "gobbled' UP almost everything in
sight, and sighed for more funds to cab
bage.''