The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-22
1T CAUSED A BITTER DEBATE.
MANY AMENDMENTS OFFERED TO
PROHIBITION BILL.

eNNhnnHn
Vote TO he Taken TO-day-wiIiing-
ham Says 1t VIII Pass.
Atlanta, Nov. 2l.-The greatest exciie-
ment known in the general assembly of
Georgia for years has been caused by tha
debate over the Wllllngham bill, provid-
ing for state prohibition.
The bin has been pending since the be-
ginning Of the session. several weeks ago.
but the debate was not commenced until
to-day.
A vote VIII be taken al 1850 O'clock to-
morrow A dozen amendments have been
offered since the first reading of the bill
The fight has become one involving
every section of the slate. The ministers
OF various denominations and the state
Prohibition Society have taken an active
part. Personal letters have been written
by the presidents of six Georgia colleges
no the members Of the LEGISLATURE asking
the passage of the bill.
Mayor Woodward OF Atlanta recently ad-
dressed letter to the Mayors of savan-
nah, Augusta, Macon, Rome and Colum-
bus. requesting them to come here and pro-
test against the passage OF the bill, which
they did.
People from an sections OF the state were
IN the galleries when the debate opened
to-day, including many ladies and several
classes OF school children from the city
public schools, who came to lend their
moral support to the passage OF the meas-
ure.
The debate continued all day. and at
times the speakers grew very bitter In
their arguments against the opposing
sides.
Representative Willingham says he ia
confident the bin win pass.
Session Was Extended.
According TO agreement, the wilugham
bill was taken up to-day immediatel after
roll call.
After being read a resolution was pass
cd extending the morning session to i.ss
p. IN. and providing for an afternoon ses-
sion from TO 8 O'clock. The bin was
then read by the secretary. The amend-
ments came in rapid succession. Mr..
Willingham offered a number of unm-
portant movements which had been
agreed on by the Prohibition caucus,
and also one providing for the bill go into
effect June /, 1860.
Mr.. Sloan OF Hall moved to strike the
section referring to domestic wines.
Mr.. speer of Sumter moved to amend
by adding 10 the last section OF the DltL
the following:
Provided, that the provision OF tho
foregoing section shall not become opera
tive until the same Is ratified by MAJOR
ity Of the duly qualified electors of the
state Of Georgia, to be expressed az the
general election to be held in 1900"
Mr.. Speer moved 10 further amend, by
striking from section at the end Of the
said section and In the fifih line, the fol-
lowing word nor shall 1t be construed so
as to prevent any practicing physicians
from furnishing il TO patients under ac-
tual treatment by them.
Mr.. Spccr moved to further amend by
striking Section T. Mr.. Sloan of Hall nov
ed to strike Section T. Mr.. Watkins OF
Gilmer also moved TO amend by requiring
ratification by the voters and by striking
Section T.
A Substitute offered.
Mr.. Felker Of Walton offered a substl-
tute for the bill, which was entitled IAN
act to abolish barrooms."
The bill provides for general prohibition
with dispensaries throughout the state
The substitute permits the establishments
of one or more dspensaries In the cities
OF Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Macons
Columbus and Rome, whenever the mus
ncipal authorities so decide.
In all other towns, whose population ex~
ceeds 5000, according to the latest census
one dispensary is to be permitted.
All counties not provided for In the above
classes will be allowed 10 establish one dis
pensary when a majority of the qualified
voters shall elect.
AT the conclusion Of the reading of the
substitute the minority report. dissenting
from the favorable report, was read at
the request OF Mr.. Brandon of Fulton. The
report says In part:
I'VE respectfully submit that the bin iu
its present shape should not pass. as 1t
involves an unusually radical change in
fha Iuta ~ a4fF Gf1 tu M 70
democratic principle of home rule, strikes
q serious blow at the public schools OF
Georgia, and should not be enacted into
a law until its provisions shall have been
carefully and thoroughly considered by a
committee"
The report was prepared by Mr.. Brandon
and signed by him, Messrs. J. Lindsay
johnson, ID. Z. Rose, w r. Reid John J.
McDonough, Roland Ellis, ". Emanuel,
Thomas J. Chappel w. r. Harrell Byron
y. Bower, r. Y. Rudicil, b. r. McLaugh-
lin and Walter G. Park.
Argument of Mr.. LaT7oche.
One Of the shortest but most effective
speeches made against the bill was by Mr.
LaRoche OF Chatham. He quoted from am
address by Acting Mayor Tiedeman ana
Aldermen Dixon, Haas, Bacon, Williams,
SchWarz Mills Thomas and Graham of
Savannah TO the General Assembly that
they were convinced that experience has
proven that sumptuary laws are opposed
TO the true interests and welfare Of the
state and It's citizens. and that the pro-
posed law would have little or no effect
toward remedying the evils Il Processes to
seek TO cure. He also quoted from the
resolutions passed by the Savannah Cot
ton Exchange az follows:
"Tho universal experience of all parts OK
this country which have attempted such
measures, mas demonstrated that neither
nor crime have been in any
degree diminished thereby; and also from
the Savannah Board of Trade: THAT the
enactment OF measures like the Wiling
ham bin, wherever previously made law.
have impovished the state, promoted in
temperance and vice under the most ini-
qutous Of human devices for successfully
eyading the law. and that the experience
Ia Georgia under Willingham law would
he no exception to the unvarying exper-