The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-24
MEETING OF THE LEGIsLATuRE.

There does not seem to be any doubt
that the Legislature which meets to-
day will remain in session for the full
fifty days which the constitution per-
mits. In view of the fact that this
| Legislature is to hold another session
| besides the one beginning to-day,it was
hoped that in the interest of economy
the present session would be short
one. There does not seem to be any
| disposition on the part of the mem
bers, however, to cut down the ses-
! sion. the point being made that there
are a great many important measures
| pending.
There are a good many bills pending,
but the number of really important
ones is not very large. The most i'm
portant probably is the one relating
to the convicts. The question in con-
nection with them is, shall they be
leased for another term of five years?
II is probable that this question will
be settled in the affirmative, but it is
well understood that there is a grow
ing sentiment against the lease sys-
tenn. Since so much attention is being
given to good roads in all parts of the
country many of the ablest thinkers
in the state are of the opinion that the
state would receive greater benefits
from the convicts if they were employ
ed upon the roads than it gets from
the present system.
The chief obstacle to utilizing the
convicts upon the roads at once is the
condition of the states finances. The
pension charge has become so great
that the state is not in a financial
condition to bear the cost of maintain
ing the convicts. 1t is probable, how
ever, that the pension burden will be-
gin to grow less in the near future,
and in that event it is practically GER
tain that the sentiment in favor of
using the convicts in road building will
be given more consideration. 1t
seems to be understood, however. that
if the convicts are leased for another
term of five years much larger COM
pensation per convict will be exacted
than is paid at present. If the con-
victs are leased there is no reason why
the state should not have all that their
labor is worth.
No doubt the child labor bill will
come up again. IT'S friends are very
active in it's behalf, and ii would not
be surprising if the Legislature should
yield to their arguments and importu-
mites 1t seems that the mill men by
agreement are doing al present just
about what the pending bill would re-
quire them to do if it should become a
law. StiH, the agreement isn't binding,
and the friends of the bill are not
satisfied with the present status of at
fairs.
Whether the bill providing for boards
of assessors in the various counties
will meet with approval or not is
question concerning which there seems
to be much uncertainty. There is
bin pending to limit pensions TO those
actually in need of assistance. 1t is
not probable that any bill lessening
the pension burden would pass, though
if the pending bill were to become
law the state would have much more
money for educational purposes. A
strong effort is to be made in behalf
of legislation creating a state board of
health, though there does not seem to
be a very active sentiment in its favor.
We doubt if legislative business win
be pushed vigorously. The weather
will be warm and members, thinking
they have plenty of time to attend to
all important matters will take care
not to overwork themselves.