Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-08
SPEAKER ATTACKED
BY MEMBER OF
H 0 j s {
Mr.. oVERsTREET, OF scREVEN
COUNTY, CHARGES THAT
SPEAKER MORRIS
is UNFAIR.

An attack upon Speaker Newton A.
Morris. made just a few moments be-
| fore adjournment, was the feature Of the
session OF the house OF representatives.
Mr.. z. K. Overstreet, of Screven county,
made the statement that Speaker Norris
was unfair In some OF his rulings, and
that one Of his rulings made on yester-
day was Outrageous"
The differences were brought about by
the fact that Speaker Morris Thursday re-
| fused to allow Mr.. Overstreet to make
speech when that gentleman thought he
was rightfully entitled to the moor.
Only a few moments before the house
adjourned Thursday he arose and
asked to be heard on a question of per-
sonal privilege. He began by saying that
he had not intended to make this state
ment. but things which had occurred to-
day had impelled him to take this course.
ION yesterday while the gentleman from
Morgan (dr. GEORGE was on the moor, l
arose and was recognized by the speak
or, Mr.. George taking his seat. The
speaker ruled then that he thought had
only arisen to ask question, and he re-
fused to allow me to proceed with my
speech. recognizing the gentleman from
Campbell CMr. Reid.
IT called the attention or the speaker
to the fact that the right to make a
speech was mine, but I was overruled.
few moments later, the speaker called
the gentleman from Chatham (Mr. Cann)
20 the chair. in order that he might take
the floor and make a speech. While he
was descending from the speakers chair
and while his back was still turned to the
acting speaker. Mr.. Cam recognized Mr.
Norris, although several other gentlemen
were on their feet, clamoring for the
floor.
"A few moments ago Mr. Cam was
making a speech and when he was about
10 take his seat he nodded to the gentle
man from Taylor (Adr Stead, who arose
and was recognized by. the speaker. The
speaker must have seen Mr.. Cam nod
TO Mr.. Stead, and think that in his fall
ure and refusal to allow me to speak that
such conduct is manifestly unfair and is
outrageous"
Mr.. Cam. of Chatham, secured the floor
and said that he had recognized Speaker
Morris while other gentlemen were Oh
the floor, because Mr.. Morris had left
the chair to address the house, that by
leaving the chair was the only way he
could address the house, and that IL was
the duty of the acting speaker to recog-
nlEe the speaker Immediately, in order
that he might return as soon as possible
to the speakers chair
Mr.. Overstreet contended that when the
speaker left the chair he became only a
member of the house and had no more
privileges than did any other member.
MIR. Morris, in explaining his position,
said that on Thursday while Mr.. George
was speaking he recognized Mr.. Over
street because he thought he desired to
ask Mr.. George question; that as soon
as Mr.. overstreet had risen Mr.. George
announced he was through, but that he
had not made such an announcement UNI
til Mr.. Overstreet had risen, as he
thought, TO ask a question. He said that
Mr.. Overstreet was not the first gentle
man to demand the attention of the
chair after Mr.. George had announced
that he was through, and that for that
reason he was not recognized.
The list of absentees Friday was
as follows: Alexander, Bowen, Howard,
of Laurens; Johnson. of Baker; Morton,
Singletary, Walker. of Pierce, and Paulk,
o. Irwin.
Routine Of the House.
Following the roll call, Mr.. Halves, of
Gilbert, asked unanimous consent to dis
pense with the reading of the house jour
nal, and this was done.
Mr.. Harden then introduced the follow
ing resolution, which was unanimously
adopted:
''Resolved, That the profoundest SYM
pathy Of this body is hereby extended to
the Hon. Charles A. Alexander on the
death of his brother, Major ]. H. Alex
evening.
Resolved further. That the clerk of the
house be requested to transmit to our
associate a copy of this action"
The question Of placing tax on coca
cola brought forth statement from DR..
T. ]. NJ. Kelley, of Glascock, who is a
practicinR physician. He denounced the
sale of coca-cola.
Dr. Kelley introduced an amendment
to place a tax Of $1,000 on coca-cola, in
stead OF 500, as asked for by the house
Mr.. Russell Brinson, of Decatur, also
opposed the coca-cola trafic and asked
for the increased tax. Il
The previous question was called by
Mr.. Reid. of Campbell, and the increase
of the tax upon coca-cola was passed by
the house, the vote being II to 80.
There was no objection offered to any
of the sections of the tax bill until Sec
ton "a, which charged a tax of $40 per
day upon every midway combination or
street fair, for each separate tent. Mr..
Franklin, of Washington, objected seri-
ously to such a tax, saying 1t would drive
out such shows in both state fairs and
street carnivals.
Mr. Fields, of Dooley moved to amend
the section by charging $50 per day, say
ing that $40 day would drive these shows
out of the smaller cities, and that If that
was done, he wanted them driven out Of
Mr.. Brinson, of Decatur, proposed to
amend by charging SO per week, or each
portion Of a week such shows exhibited.
and this amendment was adopted by the
house, the other amendments being killed.
Mr.. Fielder, of Bib, proposed to amend
by exempting snake-eaters from this tax,
while Mr. Glenn, of Whitfield, thought
Lunette, the Flying Lady should not be
touched for any tax by the state. Nothing
however, was done with these measures.
section which charged 500 upon every per-
Mr.. Reid, of Campbell, stated that the
committee had inadvertently omitted the
son who keeps for hire billiard or pool
tables, 500 for each place of business
Mr.. Gambler, of DeKalb, introduced
section which placed tax of $500 upon
every manufacturer of oleomargarine but
terorine, cottolene or any other substi-
tute for butter in each county in which
business is done. In order to- get this tax
from manufacturers out of the state, 500
was asked from every agent or represen-
tative; $50 from every wholesale dealer
in every county in which they handle
these goods, and $40 from every retail
dealer for each place OF business.
Mr.. Slaton, Of Fulton, said that when
this measure came up in the national
house of representatives, every southern
| rnar1ber had folIght IL for fhe reason that