The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-17
LEGISLATIVE WEEK
WILL BE DEVOTED To IMPORTANT
MATTERS.
THE CHIEF MONEY BILLS
WILL NOT BE REACHED FOR SEW
ERAL DAYS.

RRH's Anti-Pass BiIl-Senator Nc
Michaers school Bill, One of the
Most Important of the Session, and
what IL Proposes In the Interest
of the school system.
Atlanta, Nov. 16.-The General AS
sembly will deal this week with many
important and interesting matters.
There are already two special orders
fixed for consideration in the House,
and a third is in prospect.
Contrary to expectations, the gen
eral appropriations and general tax
bills will not reach the House early
this week; the committees are having
a harder time perfecting them than
was expected. Notwithstanding this.
Gov. Terrell is being kept carefully
posted as to their progress, and they
WILL no doubt, be in such shape when
they are passed that he will readily
approve them. With frequent confer
Governor, it may not make any mate
rial difference IL they do not reach
him until towards the end of the ses-
sion.
But the special orders in the House
this week will attract general atten-
ton. First and foremost. there comes
up for consideration Tuesday, imme-
diately after the confirmation of the
journal, the famous anti-pass bill of
Hon. Joe Hill Hall of Bib. The pur-
port of this measure is we'll under
stood. 1t proposes to make it unlaw-
full under penalty of $1,000 for any
railroad, telephone, telegraph. express
or sleeping car company to furnish
to any official in Georgia. state, coun-
ty or municipal, any free pass or
ranking privilege whatever and 1t
declares guilty of a misdemeanor any
such official who accepts any of these
courtesies. The bill has been favor
ably reported by the General judiciary
Committee of the House, and it is said
there are many members who favor
its passage. There has been a sug-
gestion that a substitute be offered,
requiring all railroads to furnish free
passes to certain state officials as
sort of franchise tax, but it is doubt
full If this will be seriously consid-
cred.
Mr.. Halls bill, the passage of which
would require the Southern Railway
Company to secure a charter in Geor-
gia, was reported favorably by the
General judiciary Committee several
days ago. 1t will mean an all-day
debate when this comes UP in the
House. and the chances are favorable
for it's being reached this week.
other Special Orders.
The special order Wednesday will
be the Australian ballot bill by DR.
T. j. M. Kelly of Glascock. DR.. Kelly
proposes to do away with the present
election laws altogether, and substi-
tute the Australian ballot system
throughout the state. He has been a
member of the Legislature for some
years. and has been urging the passage
of this measure ever since he has
been coming here. Last year the
measure was lost in the House by only
a narrow margin.
The Committee on Rules has been
asked to recommend as a special or
der for Thursday the bill by Mr.
Blackburn of Fulton, to provide for
police patrol in every militia district
of the state. This measure provides
for patrol of one captain and six
men in each district, to be selected by
the grand jury, and to serve for twelve
months. They are to be paid the same
as the sheriff for making arrests and
relieved from road duty. They are
ordered to arrest all criminals, idlers
and Migrants. A fine of SIS is the PEN
atty for refusing to serve. The pass
age of this measure would put about
10000 policemen in the state without
much expense, and il commends itself
to many for this reason. 1t is prob
able it will be fixed as the special
order for that day.
Many Bills Introduced.
There have been about 300 bills and
resolutions introduced in the House
up to the present time, and fully half
of these are general measures, some of
them proposing radical changes in ex-
listing laws. All such require time for
careful consideration, and the chances
are that not one-half of those report
ed favorably will be reached for con-
sideration at this session. Twenty
three days of the session have passed,
and, with the necessary legislation to
be attended to, not much time will be
left for the consideration of measures
which demand lengthy debate.
Numerous measures have been pro-
posed looking to the taxation of fran
chises of corporations. Many members
are agreed that some legislation on
this line ought to be passed, but with
the wide differences of opinion exist
ing, it may be nothing can be done at
this session.
The convict question, too, is in sim
liar shape. AS has been stated numer-
Gus measures are before the General
Assembly proposing changes in the
system or proposing a continuation Of
the present system, and the members
are widely divided on the subject.
This, however, is a matter on which
there must be legislation at this ses-
sion in order to give the Prison Com
mission time to enter into new con-
tracts.
The House begins tomorrow open
ing the sessions at 8 o'clock in the
morning, an hour earlier than hereto
fore, and within two weeks II is ex-
pected afternoon sessions will begin
The committees are as busy as they
can be every afternoon. and members
who belong to two or more committees
that meet at the same time, move
around from one to another in order
to be present TO vote on all important
questions.
The committees are showing a dispo-
sition to report adversely all useless
and the care with which
they are working will greatly facilitate
the transaction Of business in the
House.
I'm the senate.
The past week In the upper house OF
the General Assembly has demonstrate
ed conclusively that the senators are
anxious 10 dispose Of the business OF
the present session in the quickest
time possible.
A number OF interesting and impor-
tant bills have been introduced In the