The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-01
HALLS POINT VOTED DOWN.
MESsRs. sEABROOI< AND KEENAN, TO
BE GIVEN THEIR COMMISSIONS.

BE GIVEN THEIR COMMISSIONS
MIR. Calvin Introduces Bill TO Adj
init women to the stnte Universe
ty-Mr. sIaton a Bill Making HnIf
Holidays on Saturdays of summer,
and MIR. Speer for Election of Rail-
road Commissioners by the People.
Atlanta, Ca. Oct. SL-Most of to-day
was spent by the legislature in the formal
election of judges and solicitors. All con
tests we're settled by the caucus, and
hence there was no interest in the event.
Under the law, all such elections must be
by roll call, and as this requires nearly
a half hour for each election, the work
was not completed to-day, though Two
sessions we're held. and viii not be before
the end of to-morrow's session.
Before the elections were taken up, the
point raised by Mr.. Hall of Bibb county
on the right of the legislature to choose
the Judge and solicitor for the new Allan
tic circuit was discussed as special or
der and disposed of. There was quite
brush over it, but ultimately the House
voted down the proposition to leave the
matter to a vote of the people Of the new
circuit under the recent constitutional
amendment. and thus Hon. Paul SeabrOok
and Mr.. Calvin Kenan will be commits
stoned by act of the legislature, though
the validity of their commissions may
hereafter be attacked in the courts by
disappointed litigants. When the point
came up Mr.. Hail took the floor and stat
ed his point by saying:
1.-THE constitutional amendment adopted
at the last session conferred upon the gen
eral assembly the power 10 elect the sue
cessors of the present encumbents The
Atlantic circuit was created by the gen
eral assembly Of 1897, and as the offices
do not begin until Jan. /, 1899, there are
no incumbents al present for whom sue
cessors are to be selected"
Mr.. Hall said that under the constitu
tional amendment il was very clear the
legislature had not the right to elect The
judge and solicitor general of the Atlantic
circuit, and then if the legislature went
ahead Illegally with the election serious
complications might ensue.
Mr.. Copeland of Walker asked what
method Mr. Hall proposed for filling the
office, and for his information, Mr.. Hall
had read a resolution proposed by himself,
which provided that no election for these
offices be held. He stated that the coun-
ties involved could be left in the eastern
circuit until the general election in 1900.
The House passed the first bill Of the ses-
sion this morning 1t was that ceding
certain land in Meriwether county to the
federal government TO establish a fish
hatchery. 1t was ordered transmitted i'm
mediately to the Senate, and Will probably
become law this week.
There were a number of new bills in the
House. one of the most important being
CaI Of 10 "a
ing for the admission of women into the
state university, and abolishing the age
limit for admission to that institution.
Mr.. Calvin proposes to push the bill, and
the issue is bound to assume a picturesque
aspect before 1t is disposed of, as the
women's clubs of the state are expected
to invade the capitol in advocacy of it. y
Mr.. Park of Greene offered a resolu-
ton providing joint committee of twelve
from the House and six from the Senate
to consider the best means of having all
the property in the state put on the tax
books. and that the committee should fully
investigate the matter and report by bill,
or otherwise.
Another bill of Importance was by Mr..
Slaton of Fulton. 1t proposes to make
every Saturday in the months of May,
June, July and August, a legal half holi-
day. In the months specified the half
holiday on Saturday Is to begin at noon
and end at midnight. il is provided that
all "bils, checks bonds or promissory
notes presentable for payment or accept
.ance on Saturday of those months, or on
the preceding day, If that is a holiday
shall be payable at or before noon, but if
not paid or accepted, a demand may be
made or notice of protest or dishonor
given on the next succeeding secular bust
ness day.
Tribulaton for the State Railroad Com
mission was inaugurated by Mr.. Speer
of Sumter, who presented a bill providing
for the election of railroad commission
ers by the people instead of being APP
pointed by the Governor The bill pro-
vides that the first election shall be held
al the general election in 1900; that the
successor to the railroad commissioners
whose term of office expires Oct A. 1899
shall be appointed by the Governor to
hold his office until his successor Is elect
ed by the people at the general election
IN 1900.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Sloan of
Hall, changing the offense for buying or
selling votes from misdemeanor to a
felony, and fixing the punishment at con-
fnement in the penitentiary at not less
than one year or more than two.
He also offered a companion bill to this
authorizing the Governor to keep a stand
ing reward of $25 for the apprehension of
any person buying or selling votes. This
bill was also referred to the general Judi
ciary committee.
There was only one new bill offered in
the Senate, but that was one with live
wire attached 1t was by Mr. Davis of
the Thirty-seventh district and provides
for the unconditional repeal of the state
registration law. He declares that the act
of 1894 is a bad one-worse than none AZ
ail-and the people want it wiped off the
statute books.