The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-26
CITY COURT BILLS IN HOUSE.
SENATE AMENDMENT REJECTED
BY VOTE OF % TO 20.

Consider 1t Resentment to
Charges OF the Bar Committee.
Swift Mn. n Blow at the Univer-
sity. PASSES the House-Its Provis-
ION Practically NuIIifes the Fund
ing Act.
Atlanta. Ga, Nov 25.-The fight over the
Atlanta City Court bills, which provoked
such a suItry scene in the Senate tie
other day was transferred to the lower
House today. Charges of corporation in
haence by means of free passes and other
things, involving the Senate and the chief
executive. caused the storm in the upper
house. Indirectly these same charges ana
insinuations made up part Of the issue
in the House to-day, and If the action of
the Senate could be taken as claimed
as vote of confidence in the Governor
the action of the House, under the same
influences might be taken as just the OPP
posite. In fact, some of the extremists
do not hesitate to say that by refusing
to adopt a measure which bore the official
Endorsement of the Governor, the House
administered an intentional rebuff TO the
chief executive. This is hardly fair how-
ever. as the most reasonable interpreta-
ton that can be placed upon the action
of the House is simply that of a deter
mination to pass upon the issue without
being Influenced from any quarter.
Mr.. slaton of Fulton brought on the
fight by moving TO disagree to the Senate
substitute for the local bill that had
passed the House. This substitute took
away the right of the people to elect
the successors to the present ineumoehts
of the City Court and permitted the Gov
ernor to make the appointments, deIer-
ring election by the people untu the state
election of 1900.
When the bill passed the House it was
supported by a united delegation from
Fulton county. When the hght reacheo
its hight in the Senate Mr.. Knowles de-
serted his colleagues and gave his indorse-
ment to the amendment proposed III the
Senate In presenting this side OF the
controversy on the floor Of the House
to-day Mr.. Knowles stated with emphasis
that he had Just left a conference with
the Governor, and that he had given the
Senate substitute. the stamp OF ms ap-
nroval. expressing a desire that il should
be passed This would leave the appoint
nent of the City Court to his excelency,
the terms of the present incumbents eX-
hiring within a few months. Mr.. Knowles
doubtless believed that the Governors IN
dorsement of the substitute would go far
towards winning the favor of the House
as to reject it would be in the nature
of a refusal TO give him vote OF conii-
dence.
This was emphasized by the attack that
had been made upon the Governor by the
bar committee in it's charges of corpora
tion Influences in the fight, which attack
the Senate repudiated by adopting the sub
stitute, and declaring that in so doing III
tended to show full confidence in the Gov
ernor But regardless of the interpreta>
ton that might be put upon its action in
view of Mr. Knowles statenentthe House
rejected the Senate amendment by the en-
uhatic vote of "a TO 20. If ii was intended
TO give the Governor a snub, it was done
with good emphasis.
After the rejection of the Senate bill
unon motion of Mr.. Slaton, committee
CT conference was named, and this COM
mittee will undertake TO force the Senate
70 recede from its position and accept the
House bill The two houses are far apart
with a good deal of bitterness in the Sen
ate on account of the charges that sena-
tors were influenced by railroad passes and
wine suppers. On this account 1t is not
at all improbable that the next result
will be the compete slaughter of the bill
to elect the City Court judiciary by popu-
iar vote. either now or two years hence.
This is really what the advocates of the
Senate substitute would like to see brought
about. The Governor would then have the
appointment for the fun term of four
years.
The House struck the first blow at the
state university to-day by passing the
Swift bill, aiming at the repeal of the
funding act of 1881. Under this act the
university could present matured state
bonds to the state treasurer at any time
and receive in return for them new fifty
year bonds, bearing z per cent. interest
about double the interest paid by the state
in the open market. The intention of the
act was to encourage donations to the
university endowment. The Swift bill pro-
vided for the repeal of the law outright
and with its certain passage staring them
in the face, the friends of the university
were compelled to-day to accept a com
promise measure, which allows the fund
ing act to stand, but cuts down the rate
of interest to 31a per cent This practical
ly nullities the purposes of the funding
act, and is little or no better than its en-
tire repeal
The Ellis bill, providing that polling
places in cities shall open and close at the
same time as the polls at the court house.
that is, from O'Clock in the morning I'M
Ill In the evening, passed the House to-
day. 1t was ordered immediate trans
mitted to the Senate, as it is DESIGNED ia
take effect in time for the Macon prohibi-
ton election.
Speaker Little introduced his tax reform
bill in the House to-day, and il was read
for the first time, and sent to the wavs
and means committee. of which MIR. Free
man of Coweta is chairman. Speaker Lit
ties tax reform measure is too voIuminous
and too important 10 do justice in synop-
Sis. II covers over 100 sections and
Is complete in the detail of tax gathering
Possibly the most important feature is the
establishment of a state tax committee. to
consist of the controller general and two
others 10 be appointed by the Governor
al a salary of $1,000 per. annum. These
state assessors in turn appoint two local
assessors in each county, upon recommen-
dation of the grand jury of each county.
il Is The duty Of the local assessors under
prescribed oath to investigate all re-
turns, and a list of interrogations for each