The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-11
OSBoRNE'S TART COMMENT.
SOLICITOR GENERAL TALKS OF AN
INTERVIEW WITH MIR. MCMILLAN.


Come Up TO-morrOw-Tuesdny n
Crowded Day in the Legislature.
Osborne Takes Mcmillan to Task.
VIII Not Reply TO Interviews With
Him-The statement, Credited TO
the Representative, That Senate Ia
Fixed, VIII BE Used by HIS OppO-
nents With That Body.
The final and decisive fight for the pass
age of the bill creating the Office of solicit
Tor of the City Court of Savannah through
the lower mouse of the general assembly
of the state will take place in that body
tomorrow morning or afternoon.
This seems to be the opinion of the local
representatives of both factions. well
of that faction that favors the bill as of
the opposing political club that seeks to
secure its defeat. The prediction is based
on the fact that Monday is always
slim day. so far as the attendance in the
House is concerned, because many of the
solons are accustomed TO spend Sunday
with their families in sections of the state
far distant from Atlanta, and some of
them extend their leave over until the
next day. Monday night, though, they
begin to pour into the capital and Tues
day is marked by perhaps better attend
ance in the House and Senate than any
other day in the week.
1t is, of course, to the strong and mani
fest advantage of those who advocate the
bill 10 call 1t up for action on day when
the attendance in the House is largest,
for the reason that whether there are few
or many members present the same num-
Der of votes for the bill, lightweight. con-
sututing a constitutional majority is nee
essary to secure its passage. Therefore,
the absence of one of the supporters of the
bill from the floor of the House is yirtu-
ally equivalent to vote against 1t. IT
is inferred. therefore, with reasonable GER
tainty, that the bill viii not be called up
until tomorrow.
Solicitor General w. w. Osborne spent
the day in the city, returning at night to
Atlanta. When he was seen by a repre-
sentative of the Morning News he's was
10th TO discuss the contest at any length,
and on this subject contented himself with
saying that when the fight was over even
his warmest and most vigorous opponents
would acknowledge that his side of the
conflict had been warmly contested
This" said the solicitor general, was
all that agreed 90 do when the fight be-
gam"
The attention of Mr.. Osborne was cali
sentative T. H. Mcmillan, in which that
gentleman is quoted as having made many
statements not complimentary 10 the So
licitor general. not likely to conduce TO
his personal or political popularity with
those with whom they gain credence IN
Savannah. Have you any reply to make
TO these statements?" Mr.. Osborne was
asked
Il do not deem 1t worth while to reply
to anything that has been or may be at
tributed to Mr.. Mcmillan" was the reply
Did attempt denial or refutation In de-
tell, l am convinced 5; by the time 1
reach Atlanta, Mr.. an wiz have so
modified his Stateme - that all that will
be left would be & question of veracity
between Mr.. Mcmillan and the newspaper
in which the interview is published. This
has been my experience with the inter-
views of Mr.. Mcmillan in the past. and I
have since become convinced that "a news
paper controversy with I'm IS futile and
not worth while. To ans er ala of the
statements that MIR Mcmillan would lie
likely to make or that it seems. unfortun-
ateiy, newspaper men are likely to attrib-
ute to him, would be task too lengthy
for the short span of human life"
This | will say. though" said Mr. Os-
torne, in reference to just one statement
attributed to Mr. Mcmillan. 1 observe he
is credited with the remark that so far as
this particular bin is concerned, the SEN
ate Is all fixed l don't know, of course
whether he made the remark or not, f-r
II may be chargeable to Mr.. McMilan's
unfortunate tendency to be misquoted, but
If he did make It, ii was Ger ainly extreme
ly inJudicious, 10 say the least of it, | am
taking copy of the newspaper in With
the interview appeared TO Atlanta, and /
shall take pleasure In calling the attention
of such members of the Senate as / think
VIII be likely to vote on TIE BILL should It
reach the upper house, 10 this statement
he rpfA TOT
", leaving him TO explain, retract or saw
that he has been misquo.ed, at his pleas
ure."
II was somewhat surprised" said Mr..
Osborne, ''at the number of votes the bill
received when 1t was last put on its PAS
sage. l had not thought it could muster
as many. and / certainly do not believe
IL can muster any more. Its advocates
will have just one more opportunity TO
get u through the House for If they fail
when 1t Is next voted on the rules of the
House VIII not permit a second recousid-
GRAFTON. As to my own misconcepton OF
the strength of my friends the opponents
of the bill, in the House, and as to the
surprise / received In consequence, l am
not making any cutlery. 1t is a part of
the fortune of political war, that l have
become accustomed to greet with calmness,
IL not with absolute serenity of spirit and
have not emitted even a murmur of dis
tress. As long as the bill does not pass,
] am reasonably content"
The advocates of the measure viii have
hard work to get it through the Sen
ate before the adjournment of that body
as II must necessarily be referred to a
Senate committee, considered there and re-
ferred back 70 the Senate. before It can
be put upon its passage. Representative
IaRoche and Others are confident though
of their ability to do this without trouble
and are assured that they viii succeed in
having the bill enacted Into law before
the adjournment of the Legislature for
the session.