The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18
LEGISLATIVE HALLS CLOSED.
THE LAST DAY DEVOTED TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

ton in Railroad Commissioners
SaIaries-TextiIe Department Gets
Its S1O.0OO-AH the Chatham COun-
" Bills PasseG-Savannah Mem
bers Leave for Home.
Atlanta, Ga. Dec. 17.-After a session
Of fifty days the legislature closed its ses-
sion tonight by constitutional Limitation.
Some of the members did not wait for
the final act of the night session, but LETT
on the early trains for their homes so
hat they might spend Sunday with their
FAMILIES Among these were the Savan-
nah members. Mr.. Mcmillan went home
last night. leaving Messrs. McDonough
and LaRoche in charge. All the matters
in which they were interested were passed
upon before they took their leave, how
ever, the record of the Chatham members
being remarkable In fact. because every
single one Of the bills they introduced
were passed.
The last days session was devoted large
ly to the passage of local bills and the
consideration of the appropriations. Con-
ference committees, working to harmonic
differences between the Senate and House
on the items in the appropriation bills,
were busy the better part of the day.
An effort was made in the Senate this
morning to secure a consideration of the
appropriation bill, which was passed last
night before adjournment, but the effort
failed, and it was sent over to the House
for concurrence in the Senate amendments
a short while before the meeting of that
Nv m nj
items or amendments one by one and re-
fused TO agree to them with the single eX
cepuon of the change in the appropriation
for the salaries of the railroad commits
sioners which was accepted in view of
the fact that the Senate had deliberately
Killed a special bill proposing to reduce
these salaries in accordance with the
item in the House appropriations bill
When all these amendments had been
rejected Mr.. Parke of Greene moved the
appointment of the conference committee,
which was done, as a matter of
course. A separate committee ap-
pointed to handle each separate item upon
which there was a difference, and these
committees made their reports from time
to time until they were disposed of.
One of the few bills carrying an extra
appropriation that got through success
fully was that of Mr.. Knowles of Fulton
giving $4,000 to the textile department
of the Neurological School. There was
a warm fight over this in the Senate this
afternoon, but the appropriation won out
by a fine majority.
A number of bills were lost or abandoned
for the session. Among the latter was
that by Senator Little providing impor-
tant changes in the fertilizer laws. Sena-
tor Little secured the passage of his bin
in the Senate all right. but when it came
up in the House to-day Mr.. Jordan of Jas
per got it recommitted to the agricultural
committee, where it will remain until next
session. The fertilizer manufacturers of
the state were heartily in favor of the
passage of this BILL which sought to
amend the Ellington act so that farmers
cannot plead failure of consideration on
fertilizer notes, when the percentage of
plant food is such as 10 equal in COM
mercial value the guaranteed analysis.
Mr.. Jordan. in having the ball recommit-
ted, did not do so as an opponent of the
measure, but thought time ought to be
taken to perfect il in some details.
Another bill of importance that was de-
feated to-day in the rush, was that by
Senator Brannen relieving assessment in
surance companies of the requirement
that they shall stamp on their policies the
fact that they are assessment companies.
Mr.. Knowles of Fulton led in this fight
and, as usual, was successful. Mr.. Cal
vim of Richmond defended the bill ably
The bill by Mr.. Handy Of Rabun al
lowing county boards of education to fix
the term of the public schools in their re-
spective counties, was passed with Sen
ate amendment that struck out the limi-
tation between three and six months.
Geology Survives.
1t was midnight when the Senate and
the House got together on the appropria-
ton and tax bills. The House finally
agreed to make a provisional appropria-
ton of 5000 to the geological depart
ment. This condition Is that the appro-
priation shall not become available until
after a complete investigation of the de-
partment by a joint committee. If this
committee reports adversely to the Gov
ernor, his excellency shall have power TO
suspend the further operation of the de-
partment.
On the dispute over the State Normal
School there was a compromise The
House originally gave this school S12,000
The Senate made it $4,000 and after sew
eral conference committees had been ex-
hausted the appropriation was made &c.
900.
There was also compromise on the
committee expenses. The House had
granted only Sc each for these expenses
The Senate raised it TO SIS. The COM
promise allows the committeeman 5 cents
a mile and expenses, in no case to exceed
$50.
Third Georgia Gets Flag.
Both Houses passed a resolution direct
ing the Governor TO spend $3.50 to pur-
chase a state flag for the Third Georgia
Regiment.
The Senate receded and allowed the
House appropriation of 5000 for the spe-
cial attorney of the Western and Allan
tic Railroad to stand, and both Houses
passed resolutions commencing w. A.
Wimbush, the present incumbent for re-
tention by Gov Gambler
No change was made In the school fund,
and the tax act was not being changed.
The tax rate fixed by the House viii re
main for 1899 and 1900 that is, SIS mills.
There were the usual hilarious scenes
In the Houses tonight. 1t has become
a custom with the legislature to spend
@ large part of the last night of the ses-
sion in a jollification, while the confer
ence committees are out wrangng, and
tonight there were high old fines