The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-19
MAY BUILD STORES
A MOVE TO IMPROVE THE STATES
ATLANTA PROPERTY.
OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
REAPPoRTIoNMEN COMMITTEE
BEGINS ITS WORK.

EuOrt IN senate 10 RcSOhSANNA
Action ON Howard Tan Franchise
Bill FaiIs-Hardwick's Disfran-
chising Bill Comes Up To-day.
Atlanta, Nov. 1S.-Mr. Wright of
Floyd introduced a resolution in the
House to-day to appoint the state
treasurer, secretary Of state, and the
Controller General, a committee to in
Vestigate the matter of constructing
stores on the various bridges construct
ed over the rights of way of the West
ern and Atlantic Railroad in Atlanta,
so that the state may derive some rev.
enue in the way of rent for such prop
erty.
This special committee, according TO
the bill, is authorized to secure from
the present lessees of the State Road
their written consent for the erection
of buildings along those bridges, and
TO employ architects to prepare plans
and make estimates conforming to the
ideas expressed in the bill.
The special committee is also in
structed to prepare report to be SUBJ
n1itted to the next General Assembly,
showing the result of the Investigations
made and containing such recommen-
dations as are deemed necessary touch
ing the matter. If the plan is deemed
feasible, it is proposed to build stores
and office buildings over the railroad
tracks fronting on the Forsyth and
Broad street bridges, and the Whitehall
street Viaduct, from which ii is ex-
pected the state will receive a large
amount of yearly rental.
Messrs. Hodges and Halves of Elbert
introduced bill in the House proyid-
ing that the terms of members of the
Legislature shall hereafter be four in.
stead of two years. These same mem
bers introduced a bill the other day
providing for term of four years for
the Governor. Both bills. Of course,
require amendments to the consti-
tdtion.
Bills were passed. by the House abol-
ishing the County Court of Dooley and
creating the City Court of Vienna; re-
peallng the act Incorporating the town
OF Vienna and Incorporating the city
of Vienna.
The following bills were also passed:
BY Mr.. Little of Muscogee--A bill to
authorize the Free Kindergarten Asso-
citation OF Columbus to sell certain
lands
By Mr. Symons of olympic regulate
the catching of fish in Glynn county.
Franchise Tax Bill Killed.
The Howard franchise tax bill was
nnally disposed of in the Senate to-
day, a motion to reconsider the action
OF the Senate in killing it last Friday
being defeated by a vote of 10 to 6.
The motion to reconsider was made
by Senator Wilcox OF the Fifteenth.
Senator Wilcox made a strong argu-
ment in favor Of reconsidering, hold
ing that franchises were a proper sub
Ject for taxation.
A reply was made by Senator Chan.
pell of the Twenty fourth and the aye
and nay vote was then taken with the
result stated.
The balance Of the session of the
senate was consumed in discussing
without result a proposed amendment
10 the stock law. and in acting on a
Few unimportant local bills.
To Reapportion the state.
The Joint Committee on Congression-
al Reapportionment held its first meet
ing this Afternoon and organized by the
election of Hon. B. S. Miller of Musco-
gee as chairman.
A resolution was adopted providing
for committee of eleven, one from
each congressional district, to prepare
plan Of reapportionment of the state
and submit it to the House and Senate
committees separately.
Each committee will then discuss the
plan submitted and later another joint
session will be held
The joint committee refused to act
on a resolution by Mr.. Symons of Glynn
county, stating it was the sense of the
committee that there should be no
change in the congressional districts,
and that they should be allowed to re-
main as they stand at present
The resolution was tabled after con.
siderable discussion.
The Chatham Plan Opposed.
The plan of reapportionment as out
lined in recent dispatch 10 the Morn
ing News has met with considerable
opposition, and especially from those
of the Fourth District who are anx-
1ous to have Webster and Stewart
counties added to their district, instead
of Fayette and Schley.
There Is going to be an interesting
debate in the committee before the
matter is finally determined.
The bill by Mr.. Hardwick of Wash
ington to amend the constitution so az
TO disfranchise the negro. comes up as
the special order in the House to-mor-
row. Last year ii was defeated by a
vote Of 100 to 8. but Mr.. Hardwick and
his friends expect better results this
year.
The Court of Appeals Bill.
There is pending with the committee
on constitutional amendments a bill
for the creation of a court of appeals,
the object being to divide the burden
upon the Supreme Court. Since it was
decided that an appeal could not be
taken from county court direct to
the Supreme Court, nearly every coun-
~ in the state has secured a city court,
or has bill pending in the Legislature
providing for one. The result will be to
pretty near double the work on the Su-
preme Court, and IL may soon be in
no better condition than was the case
before three additional justices were
provided for. Many members favor the
court OF appeals and an interesting dis
cussion on the measure is expected.
Fears are expressed that the work Of
the Joint Committee on constitutional
amendments will not amount TO much.
The nrst meeting OF the committee was
held Two weeks ago, but so far not one
measure has been reported 10 either
branch OF the General Assembly. and
the session is now half over.
A member OF the House who has a
constitutional amendment bill befora
mat body said to-day that ne kept his
measure from being referred 10 the
committee because he was SATISFIED
mere would not be time for the con-
hlaeratlon OF It's work before final ad.
lournment. The committee has passed
IaNcrably upon several propoSed
amendments 10 the constitution "a has