The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-30
TALKED OF LOCAL BILLS.
HON. }. J. SPOONOUGH on PROBA-
BILE LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

The Representative Believes There
Is No Doubt of the Passage of the
Act Creating n Separate Solicitor
for the City COurt-The United
Delegation and the Senator From
the District Are Behind It-Mr.
Osborne Is Making n Game Fight
Against Certain Defent-LegisIa-
tive Activity to Begin the Present
Week-Nr. McDOnouGh FavOrs the
Bill for Uniformity in Text hooks.
Hon. John J. McDonough, representative
from Chatham county in the lower house
Of the State Legislature, returned to the
city from Atlanta yesterday. Mr.. Melon
ough left Atlanta Friday evening and
spent Saturday in an inspection Of his mill
and lumber interests in the state, but new
ertheless, he was supplied with a fun
$ ore Of the most interesting of the later
gossip Of The Georgia solons.
Mr.. McDonough was seen yesterday af-
ternoon by a representative Of the Morn
ing News. lie gave his opinions freely of
the sentiment prevailing among the MEM
beFs of the Legislature on the subject of
the local bills that have been presented.
or VIII be presented, by the Chatham dele
cation. lie firmly believes that the more
important of these bills will all find ready
support by a majority Of the members of
both houses and that they will be passed,
not easily, perhaps but certainly without
great difficulty.
What is your opinion of the success or
failure Of the bill creating the Office of
solicitor general Of the City Court?" Mr.
McDonough was asked
In my mind, there is no doubt that IL
will become a law" was his prompt reply
THE evidence that had been asked by the
Senator from this district before he
would consent TO announce that the bill
would have his influence and support has
been offered him and he has found 1t per-
fecuy convincing and satisfactory. This
evidence had regard TO the revenues of the
Office, and we have shown Senator Groven-
stein that during the last year the present
solicitor general received not much less
than $1,000 from the office. Such a show
ing satisfied him that even when divided
there would stil be enough in the office
to attract the ambition of two men, who
would be thoroughly competent and quall-
fled to fill 1t.
with the addition of the Senator to the
forces of those who are supporting the bill
| consider its passage an assured fact. To
my mind it is a perfectly fair and just
measure. Endorsed by the best element Of
the people of the city and county, and L
can see no reason to think that with the
support of all three of the legislators and
that of the Senator from this district it
will fail to receive the number of votes
requisite to its passage. The bin has never
been sent to Atlanta and 1 have never seen
a copy, but il is my understanding that it
is to contain nothing more than the clauses
creating the office of solicitor general of
the City Court and providing for his cleo
ton by the people of the county. In that
form it viii have my hearty support"
rs there much activity in Atlanta among
the friends and opponents of the proposed
law?"
Plenty of It," Mr.. McDonough answer
ed. solicitor General Osborne is making
a hard and game fight and seems conf
dent that he will succeed in securing the
defeat of the law. From all over the state
he has had his friends come to help him,
and they are using every possible means
to carry their point. There is no doubt
about the fact that these friends of the
solicitor general are men of weight ana
influence, and they are working hard to
prevent the curtailment of his salary to
some reasonable amount But they won't
succeed, The evidence that was present.
cd 10 CeDUNoE NTEoV6nSAe4H as 10 the amount
of the revenues of the office is ready for
the inspection of the other members of
the Legislature, and is amply sufficient TO
convince all reasonable men that the Of
flee pays now more than ought to be given
TO any servant of the county. With
united delegation and with a senator who
will aid us, because ne is convinced that
the bill is right, in every proper way, 1t
Will become law Every indication that
l have seen points forcibly and undeniably
to this conclusion
Indeed" continued the Representative,
there is strong sentiment in the Legis-
lature that is shared by a great number
Of it's most prominent and influential mem
bers in favor of placing all state and coun-
~ officers upon salaries and abclshlng the
fee system altogether, This seems to me
the proper course to pursue. I believe
that county officers could be paid every
cent to which their abilities and their ser
vices entitled them. in the form of sal
ary and that there would still remain a
decided saving. that would go into the
common treasury of the county.
"How do you stand ON the subject of
the proposed bill to make the judge of the
City Court Of Savannah elective by the
people of the county?"
LAS understand the law, do not favor
it. I believe that the judges of oil the
courts should be placed on the same foot
ing and that if one Of then or one class
of them are to be elected by the people,
the election of all the others should be de-
pendent likewise on a popular vote. l
gather, though that the bill that Is to be
introduced viii place the election of the
City Court judge in the hands of the peo-
pie Of the county, and in my opinion this
| is bringing his selection too close home.
If the judge of the City Court were to be
elected by the people of the state general
ly, then. l think, l should favor the pass
age of the bill If he is to be elected I'M
der the proposed law by the people of the
county, / believe, though / have not fully
made up my mind, that I shall oppose it."
The Legislature has not yet got down
to business Wednesday, the day IL con-
veued was taken up in the reading of the
message of the Governor, and the day fol-
lowing with the reception in honor of
Lieut.. Brumby. Friday the Legislature
considered matters that had been left
over from the past session and Saturday
il adjourned out Of respect to the memory
Of those members of the two houses who
have died since that former time TNis