Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-11-29
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
General Appropriation Bin Special
Order In House.

GenSrat appropriation Din oPoSAaA
Order In House.
Atlanta, Nov Thanksgiving
day brought Sunday peace and Quiets
ness to the capitol Not only did the
general assembly take day off, but
all of the capitol Offices were closed
and lawmakers and politicians en-
joyed good dinners instead of warm
debates.
Today in the house will be one Of
the busiest and most important days
of the session. The general appro-
priation bill is the special order and
1t will be taken up Immediately after
the confirmation of the journal. The
consideration Of the bill will be con.
tinuous until 1t is completed. An
afternoon session will be held and, IL
necessary, work on the bill will be
continued tomorrow.
So far as known there Is no special
opposition to any features of the bill.
Each item in the bill can be adopted
by a majority vote of those present,
only the whole bill on it's final pas
sage requiring a constitutional ma
jority of SO votes.
There are several features Of the
bill, however, which will doubtless
provoke interesting debates. One Of
the warmest discussions is looked for
over the small appropriation made for
contingent expenses of the railroad
commission. The committee has cut
the amount from $500 to $3.50, which
will necessitate the railroad commits
sion doing without a stenographer,
unless the secretary is made to act in
that capacity. This was practically
the only cut that was made In depart
mental expenses, and the members Of
the commission will doubtless ask
their friends in the house to restore
the amount
The general tax bill will come along
for consideration about the first Of
next week. There is no doubt that it
will provoke considerably more of
fight than the appropriations bill, for
1t will open up the big question of the
taxation of franchises, which prom.
ises to cause tie most spirited debate
of the whole session. There is little
doubt that the consideration Of this
bill will occupy two or three days.
Now that these measures have
reached the house, all other business
must be sidetracked under the rules
until they are disposed Of. They con.
stitute the most important, as well as
the most interesting work OF the ses.
sion, and Anal action on them will be
awaited with great interest.
The business before the senate Is
in better shape than it has been at
any time for several years at this stage
of the general assembly's session.
When the senate meets today at noon
it will complete all the work on the
clerks desk within twenty or thirty
minutes
One of the most important meas
ures to come before the senate with
in the next day or two is the convict
bill The author of the bill, which
proval, is Senator Clemens, of the
fifteenth Senator Clemens bill pro.
yides simply for another lease for
| five years of the labor Of the state
convicts, similar to the present lease.
It is well understood, however, that
a much larger price will be secured
+; for the labor of the state convicts
, than is now paid Possibly the fig
ure will be double that at present re-
ceived by the state.
The senate is waiting on the gener'
al appropriations and general tax bills
and is ready to take them up and push
them through just as soon as the
house disposes Of them.