The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-11
ANTrCoMMISSIoN BILLS IN.
MR. M,DONOUGH INTRODUCED 4
BATCH YESTERDAY.

Public Works Laws-Mr. LaROche
Introduces "a Bill Governing the
Election of City officers.
Atlanta, Ca. Nov 1O.-The first batch
of Savannah local bills made their APP
pearance in the House this morning. Mr..
LaRoche introduced one and Mr.. McDon-
ough the others.
Mr.. McDonough's bills were those known
as the anti-commission bills and will
doubtless bring on the same fractional con-
test that was Witnessed two years ago
when the effort was made to abolish the
Citizens Club commissions. The bills were
all referred to the special judiciary CON-
mittee, of which Mr.. Roland Ellis of Bibb
county is chairman No synopsis even of
the bills is necessary to understand their
import. In fact, they contain but a few
lines each in addition to the title. Here
they are:
ITO repeal the Police commission law.
ITO repeal the Water Commission law.
"To repeal the Park Commission law.
ITO repeal the Commissioner of Public
Works law.
To repeal the act prohibiting the hold
ing of more than one office by one person
in Chatham county"
Mr.. LaRoches bill governs the election
of city officers. 1t provides that the cleo
ton of all city officers of Savannah, now
elected by the Council, of Mayor and al
dermen, including the clerk and sheriff
of the City Court. shall take place at the
first regular meeting of Council in jan
uary, biennally. The terms of such Off
GERS shall begin the day succeeding such
election and continue for two years and
until their successors are elected and
qualified The terms of the present city
officers, including clerk and sheriff of the
City Court, shall expire Immediately af-
ter the first regular meeting of Council
in January 1899, and the incumbents shall
have no right or authority to hold office
or exercise the functions of such offices
after said regular meeting. Any vacancy
in any of these offices which may occur
after the regular election herein provided
for, may be filled by the Council of May
or and aldermen at any regular meeting.
Two 'meaty' tax reform bills we're in
troduced to-day. One was by Mr.. Free
man of Coweta, and re-establshes the
county boards of assessors and eoualizers,
with added powers and some modification.
The board of assessors provided for is to
consist of five citizens appointed by the
County Commissioners, or the ordinary, in
counties where there are no such commits
sioners. The assessors are 10 receive SO
a day while at work. The board is to
meet on the first Monday in May of each
year at the office of the county tax re-
ceiver, and meet from day to day there,
or in other portions of the county, as their
duties may require. The labors of the
board are TO be completed by Aug /, each
year, and the members shall not receive
pay for more than thirty days, except in
counties having $4,000 or more people,
where they may be compensated for not
exceeding fifty days. The board viii re-
view all returns made to the receiver and
assess, at the fair market value, all prop
erty subject to taxation, whether returned
or not. The tax receiver is to be the sec
rotary of the board. The terms of office
of the assessors are to be three years.
Mr.. Freeman also desires to have thirty
one questions added to those now asked
property owners, in order 40 secure full
returns of whatever they may own. 1t is
also proposed to require che tax receiver
to actually administer the oath required by
law before receiving the returns. The oath
is to be read by the taxpayer in the pres
ence and hearing of the receiver.
Mr. Swift of Elbert introduced the other
tax reform bill. 1t requires a registration
of all notes and similar evidence of debts
before they are collectible by law, returns
for taxation to be based upon this regis
trat.on.
Other reform bills were introduced by
MIR. Brandon of Fulton. One Is a bill to
base the payment of pensions to widows
of Confederate soldiers on their necessities,
so that no pension should be paid to any
widow unless her Indulgence and poverty
make il necessary.
Another provides that no person what
ever shall be entitled hereafter to be paid
pension by the state of Georgia unless
he shall prove in addition to the requisites
now prescribed, that owing TO his poverty,
he is unable TO support himself
Mr. Knowles of Fulton introduced a bill
70 appropriate $4,000 for the textile de-
partment of the archaeological School for
each of the years 1899 and 1900, and $4,000
to enlarge the archaeological School.
Mr. Park of Greene introduced bills to
give the state and accused an equal num-
Der of challenges of jurors In felony and
misdemeanor cases.
Mr. Park of Greene introduced a bill
to repeal the act providing for the ex-
animation of private banks.
Another bill by Mr.. Park provides that
in criminal cases the prisoner shall not
make a statement except under oath, but
NAV be sworn as q WltueSS III MS own De-
half subject to cross examination, and to
the other rules of law for the testimony
of other witnesses.
Mr. Calvin introduced a bill giving land
lords a special lien for rent on crops made
upon the land rented from them and on
all personal property within the premises,
this lien to be superior to all other liens
except for taxes
Another bill by Mr. Calvin provides that
the destruction of a tenement by force or
other loss of possession by other casualty
shall abate the rent contracted 20 be
paid.
A bill by Mr.. Beauchamp of Pike au-
thOrzes the trustees of the State Univer-
sity to hold summer sessions in graduate
and post graduate courses for the benefit
of white teachers without regard to sex.
Mr.. Calvin of Richmond introduced bill
to make women illegible to serve as school
officers in this state.
A bill by Mr.. Mcdonald of Ware pro-
vdes that jurors in the county court or
Ware shan receive 81 a day. instead of 81
s a Drasent