Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-07
SENSATIONAL SPEECH MADE BY
REPRESENTATIVE FROM FLOYD
COUNTY IN THE HOUSE,

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lobbying and lobbyists were attacked
IN the house Of representatives Mon
day By Hon seaborn Wright. Of Floyd.
DARING the discussion over the bill BY Mr..
Perry. Of Gwinnett. to create a board OF
assessors Cor che purpose Of assessing
railroad property.
Hon. Joe Hall, Of Bib also had few
remarks 20 make along the same line OF
M. Wrfxhr Mr.. PARK. Of Greene. de-
Tended the members from the cnar sc
that lobbyists Influenced their votes oy
saving that no honest member OF the
house would have his mind changed BY
anythIrr the lobbyists might say
The argument OF the bill lasted all the
morning. IL came up Immediately after
the reading Of the Journal and continued
until ten minutes before the hour OF al
journment Numerous speeches were
made BIZ the members the most sensa-
tional of which were those OF Mr. Virgin !:
C. Floyd. regarding the lobbyists. ano
Mr. Everett. Of Stewart. VINO said the
farmers did not pay more than half tneir
share Of the taxes IL was killed many Dy
vote Of 50 70 Al
Several new bills were introduced. the
most important being those by Han. q
Blob 70 issue bonds 10 retire certain
bonds already issued by the state ana 70
prevent any railroad. telegraph. express
or sleeping car company In this stA.e
frrus issuing passes 70 any cf the stare
ofacers- and 10 prevent state ofticers ron
accepting such passes or tranks-
BIZ unanimous consent, the Dill on mt
Perry. Of Gwinnett. providing that 9
board o. TAX assessors be created In this
state for the purpose Of assessing the
taxes OF railroad companies and that tns
preseut system OF arbitrating the tax re
turns be abolished. came up I'm the mouse
TIE bill also provides that the arbitra-
tors shall Be appointed BY the comptroie
general, and that the three men appointed
shall receive $40 a year each for term
Of three years.
As the bill involved an appropriation
the. house was resolved into comnittes
OF the whole TO report hack TO the house
favorably or unfavorably. Mr.. Hitch Wa
asked to. the. chair. but he asked 10 %
excused. and Mr.. Hardwtck, OF Washing
ton. took the gavel
The bill was then read IN fun
Perry OF Gwinnett. and Hall OF Bioo
made speeches favOring the bill, while
Steed OF Taylor opposed It
The railroads. contendeC ar. Hall, had
great advantages because their property
Was returned 20 comptroller general alone
while other citizens were required 70 give
in their property 10 tax receivers.
Mr. Hogan. the Populist member from
Lincoln. wanted 20 know II the bill passed
would the board Of assessors do any bet
ter. IF you are sure they VIII then
can listen TO you. III the comptroller vii
appoint such men as my friend Hall or
the board am sure they would"
Mr.. Hall closed his speech by saying Tho
railroads were rObbing the state and ths
taxpayers. they were creating more Nor
gans, more Goulds. more Rockefellers and
more E4annas. and while Georgians wer'
starving the railroad magnates were Civ
ing dog parties at Newport
Slaton Of Fulton opposed the BILL
Mr.. Wright made a stirring speech II
the chair. He made a stirring speech II
advocacy OF the bill he said the rail
roads are taxed, but not as the citizens
OF Georgia were taxed. There can be nj
dodgfng Of this question The common
people are not heard. They are not in th'
Hobbies OF the Kimball OF the corridors o.
this building with lies on their lips. bu
the railroad attorneys and their pai'
lobbyists are here II must stop, Mr.
Speaker. IL must stop. There is not I
MEASURE relating 10 corporations but wha
some paid lobbyist Il here buttonholin;
our members. The time has come 4
stop Il We must stop it and we are go
ing 70 stop Il.
GIVE US anything that VIII give Us I
chance 20 reach these railroad tax dodg
ers OF Georgia. II you as honest repre-
spntatIves, believe they should bear thei
Just share of taxation vote for this bin
II you do not the people OF Georgia vii
send representatives here again next yea
who VIII try IL again-,;---
Representatives Everett. Tumlin. Park
Gary and Toomer here participated In tn
running depate-
Mr. Wright said that member Of tn
house had Just Informed him that yea
ago he had offered $1,000 for the sylvanii
railroad In screven county and the one
had been refused. The railroad is re
turned for taxation az only $500.
Mr.. Perry moved that the committee re
mort the BIN back favorably. When IN
Question was put the motion was lost. IN
vote being ayes A.. nays So.
T W. Hardwlck of Washington, VIII
had acted chairman reported 70 th
speaker that the committee had reporte'
that the bin do not pass.
On the adoption ofEthe report OF tn
committee Mr.. Hall arose and in the sam
tone OF voice used during the fight on tn
depot BIZ last year said: "On the adop
ton o. the report Of the committee. Mr.
Speaker. I Ncall for the ayes and nays
The call was sustained and the roll wa
called and the ayes were g and the nay
Al The BIN was lost.
New Bills.
Nv MuFherfu Of Richmoud-A bill Z
amend the charter OF the city OF Augusta
BY Mr.. Turner OF Rockdale-A bin Z
protect FISH in waters OF Rockdale.
BY Mr.. Hall Of Bibb-TO authorize IN
governor and treasurer 20 issue per cen
bonds for the purpose OF retiring certai
past due bonds Of the state. .'
BY Mr. Peyt0n OF Habersham-A bil
20 amend an act TO establish a system o
public schools for the city OF Toccoa.
BY Mr. Hall OF Bibb-A 9th 70 be emit
tied an act to authorize the governor an
treasurer OF the state to issue bonds 10
the purpose OF paying on and retirin
certain Of the past due bonds OF the state
By ATr. Frederick OF Macon-To make
unlawful 70 buy liquor in any county j
this state where sale OF same Is prohih
TED.