The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-29
IN The LEGISLATURE
r.r B0CsE HAS A BUSY WEEK
BEFORE 1T.
THE SENATE'S WORK EASIER.
iii TO LIMIT TAX RATE TO DE
CONSIDERED.

VIII Probably Be FavOrRbIy Com
.idered by the Sennte-COnVict
Question to Come Up Again-NTat.
Hanson to Speak on Child Labor.
LEGISLATORS Have an Eye on Auto
u,obiIes-snnday Legislative Notes
of interest.
Atlanta, June 2S.-The House has a
busy week before it while the Senate
will have a comparatively easy time
Jor the next seven days or more. The
reason for this is that the House cal
endar is FULL not only with unfinished
business of the previous session, but
with a flood of new business that has
lust fallen upon it, while the calendar
of the Senate is practically clear.
The Senate can clear up all the bust
ness before it within two hours, one of
the senator's stated to-day. The few
matters pending are being held up by
special request for further investiga-
ton by committees, and the Senate is
now practically in a state of waiting on
the action of the House. The indca-
tons are that it will not have to wait
long, however, for there are many bills
on the House calendar brought over
from last session that are ready for
third reading and passage.
Already one of those and one of
the most important pieces of 1egisla-
ton yet given attention, has passed the
House and will go to the Senate to-
morrow, namely, the bill providing for
an amendment to the constitution lin
iting the state tax rate to five mills.
Few voices have been raised against
this measure, and the practical una
nimity with which it went through the
House, was somewhat surprising
That the Senate will pass the meas
ure with few, if any, dissenting votes,
there is little doubt. A prominent
member of that body said the Senate
was sure to pass the bill as speedily
as it could be put through, and the in
dicatons are that it will be the first
measure to reach the Governor from
the present session. 1t will then be
submitted to the people for ratification
in the election of 1904.
This limitation of five mills on the
tax rate includes taxation for all pur-
poses. Under the present system three
tax 1evies are made, one for school
purposes, one for the general fund, and
one for the sinking fund of 100000 an
nually. The passage and ratification
of this constitutional amendment will
mean that those three levies combined,
must not exceed five mills or one-half
of one per cent.
The Convict Bill.
Generally considered as among the
most important matters before the
present Legislature, is the convict
question, over which there is likely to
be a pretty warm debate in the House.
The Senate has already legislated
on the subject of the states convicts,
having passed at the last session the
bill by Senator Clements of the Fiji
teenth district, providing for practi
cally a renewal of the present system, 4
or lease of the convict labor, for an
other period of five years This is the
bill favored by the Prison Commits
sion. The members of the commission
are satisfied they can get much
higher price for the labor of the con-
Nicts this year, probably rs, if not 100
per cent more than the state is now
receiving. This will give the state an
income of $780, 600 to 100000 from this
source, without increased expenses.
Strong efforts are going to be made
legislation from that passed by the
Senate. Hon, T. S. Fielder of Bibb has
a measure which proposes to put the
state convicts to work on the public
roads. 1t is said that several of the
members will join him in urging this
disposition of the matter. Another
proposition which the House commit
tee has for consideration involves a
renewal of the present system for a
J., 1,n
from convict hire to be set apart in
the treasury for the purpose of pro-
viding other employment for the con-
Nlcts when that period has expired.
These are two plans which have sew
eral adherents in the House, and an
interesting discussion will be the re-
suit.
Since the present contracts with les
sees of the convict labor expire April
l next. it is necessary that action be
taken at this session, and the matter
Will doubtless be disposed of at an
early date.
Hanson on Child Labor.
Another measure in which there is
increased interest from both points OF
view. Is the child labor bill.
Tomorrow night at o'clock, Maj. j.
f. Hanson of Macon will address the
members of the Legislature and others
In the hall of the House in opposition
t. this measure Maj. Hanson will speak
by inv t1.ion OF the Legislature. on re-
PueS, y ~ Georgia Industrial Asso-
ci1tu h.cn discussed the question
az LIS KS recent meeting at
VT iass. After that meeting
adj d IN address in opposition to
ptopv legislation on this line was
issued ny Its president to the people OF
Georgia Maj. Hanson is Il student OF
i.t1 FMS