Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-11

The house Of representatives did only
one thing Friday. IL passed the
bill by Mr.. Wright Of Floyd giving coun-
ties the right to vote for dispensaries, as
well as prohibition or barrooms. The
vote was So to A in favor Of the meas
ure. The result of the vote was announc-
ed amid great applause, and Mr.. Wright
was warmly congratulated by many of
the members when II was found that the
bill had passed.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal the bill. which had been made
the special order of the day, came up.
The debate on the question occupied from
10 to 1 o'clock and many speeches were
made pro and con. Numerous amend
ments were offered, but only two were
adopted.
It was generally supposed that the bill
would be killed when IL was voted on,
and the surprise was great when IL passed.
The galleries Joined in the applause and it
was fully a minute before Speaker Little
could restore order.
The liveliest incident of the morning
was the passage between Mr.. Fielder, Of
Bib. and Mr.. Everett, OF Stewart re-
garding blind tigers.
Immediately after the journal was read
the bill by Mr.. Wright, OF Floyd, which
bill allows counties in the state to vote
for dispensaries as well as for prohibit
ton and barrOoms. was taken from the
table and read. There was large num-
Der of members present. and 1t was evil
dent that a large vote either for or
against the measure. r.H
Dispensary Bill Up.
Mr. Houston moved in view OF the fact
that the bill affected the interests Of Ful-
ton county. and Mr.. Slaton, his colleague,
had prepared an argument on the bill,
that the special order be dispensed with
Mr.. Wright objected.
Mr. Wright then began his argument In
favor Of the bill. Mr.. Wright said he was
chairman OF tie temperance committee OF
the house. That committee had met four
times during the session and had done
nothing but row over local iispensary
measures. This. said Mr. Wright was an
evidence that a general law was needed.
Mr.. Wright then explained every detail
Of the bill. which. he said. was very sim
pie. The idea OF the bill was TO take the
liquor traffic out Of the hands of the pri-
vate individual. who sold the cheapest
whisky for the biggest profit This bill
would allow the counties TO vote for eth
er total prohibition, barroOms OF dispen-
saries. and the people would no longer
have 10 undergo seeing young men Tured
into barrOoms IL the bill was passed. p.
Liquor Control9 FoittlC6.
THE liquor traflc in Georgia" said Mr.
Wright 'is I'm control of Georgia poll
tics It lie simply a big machine. The
whisky dealers have city machines. coun-
ty machines and even state machines. The
conditions in Georgia are intolerable. We
have driven the sale OF liquor into seven
or eight OF the large cities OF Georgia.
Right around Atlanta are many dry coun-
ties. But the people Of these counties
L.. chi IN
Atlanta derives $10O0o0 a year in revenue
from the liquor trafic and the smaller
counties get nothing. Savannah gets S70,-
600 and Macon $4,000. The smaller coun-
ties do not understand the situation. do
not know what Augusta makes"
When Mr.. Wright concluded his speech
many members offered amendments.
Messrs. Duncan OF Lee. singletary OF
Sumter. Everett OF Stewart Reid Of
Campbell Park of Greene. Miller Of Mus
cOgee, HaTrard Of Dooly, johnson OF Bar
tow offered various changes in the bill
Mr.. Johnson's OF Barlow introduced an
amendment that 20 per cent OF the profits
OF dispensaries be given the public schools
was also killed. The amendment by Mr.
Miller. Of Afuscogee, excluding cities OF
300 inhabitants from the bill was like
wise killed. The amendment Of Mr.. Park
Of Greene relating to changing the number
of voters necessary to call an election was
adopted. Mr.. Reed, Of Campbell, Withdrew
both his amendments.
The amendment by Mr.. Duncan, of Lee,
relating TO the population OF the towns
which should have dispensaries was lost.
Mr. Singletary wanted 10 amend the bill
by making IL lawful to have dispensaries
in the county site, regardless Of ire limits,
was lost
Another resolution by the same repre-
sentative relating to have the bill include
all towns was killed.
Mr.. Hardwick's amendment regarding
the elections to be held under the BILL
which provided that after one election on
the question had been held another could
not take place for four years was agreed
to.
The whole substitute as amended was
agreed TO by a vote OF % to p. When the
result Of the vote was announced there
was great applause.