The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-18
LABOR OF CONVlCTS
CONSIDERED BY HOUSE FROM AN
OTHER VIEWPOINT.
PR0-RATED AMONG COUNTIES
THE PROVISION Of A SUBSTITUTE
TO FELDER's BILL.

school PurpOses-Mntter of Incum-
bency of the Adjutnnt Generals
Post Settled Satisfactorily.
Atlanta, July I7.--There was COM
paratively little done in the House to-
day. The discussion of the Fielder
convict bill was continued until IL
O'Clock. when the introduction of SUBJ
stitute brought it to rather an abrupt
end. and further talk on the matter
was postponed until next Tuesday.
Only two speeches were made to-day
Mr. Slaton of Fulton, presenting an
argument in favor of the bill, and Mr..
Steed speaking against 1t. Little that
is new was brought out in the argu-
ment. 1t was a continuation of the
| fight OF the larger counties. on the one
hand against smaller and less pop
ulous ones.
The substitute, which was introduced
by Messrs. .Hardman and Holder OF
Jackson and Shackelford of Clark, pro-
poses several important changes from
the Fielder bill. 1t provides for a d.
vision of the felony convicts among
the counties of the state, which desire
them to work their roads on a basis
of population. this being one convict TO
about 1000 inhabitants. Those coun-
ties not desiring to work their con-
victs are to receive the profit from leas-
| ing them to go towards their share of
the school fund. In other words, each
county may have a prorata share OF
the convicts for road work according
to population, or 1t may have the pro-
ceeds from it's convicts for school pur-
poses.
The substitute seemed to meet with
considerable favor. and discussion was
postponed in order that 1t might be in
vestigated.
No Special Orders.
The House refused to set any special
orders for next week. and all bills must
come in their regular order on the
calendar.
Against Contagious Diseases.
Dr. Shannon of Monroe introduced
a bill to-day providing for an extern
sion of the law regulating smallpox to
other contagious and infectious dis
eases. Under this bill the county au-
thorities will be given power to reg
ulate other contagious diseases just as
they do smallpox.
Mrs. FIint's Pension.
The House passed a resolution to pay
| q pension for three years back,
amounting to $3.50, to Mrs. Mary r.
Flint Of Butts county. 1t was shown
by affidavits that while she resided in
| Alabama for more than two years.
| 10 IA n III Of
dence, and could not return to Georgia
earlier on account of sickness.
On account of the small attendance,
| the HoA,e adjourned about noon, be-
cause the bills that were being called
up for passage were tabled on motion
of their authors.
The AdJutantcy General.
The Military Committee of the House
this afternoon recommended favorably
! the bill by Mr.. Adams of Putnam, rel
alive to persons qualified to hold the
Office of adjutant general, but amend
ed it materially. Mr.. Adams claimed
that under the military BILL as passed
| last year. Confederate veterans were
| barred from appointment to this office.
| All he desired was to amend the bill
so as to permit of their being appoint
ed Several military officers appeared
| before the committee to protest against
they asserted they were perfectly will
ing to provide for the appointment of
| Confederate veterans, provided such
veterans possess the proper qualifica-
! TONS The bill was then amended so as
to provide that any person appointed
shall stand such examination as may
be prepared by the field officers board
This was acceptable to all concerned,
and the bill was recommended in that
shape.
For State Board of Health.
The House Committee on Hygiene
and Sanitation passed favorably on the
bill to provide for a state board of
health, and the Committee on Educa-
ton acted likewise on the measure to
provide for a uniform system of text
books. This text book bill is similar in
its provisions to the Dodd bill, which
recently passed the Senate.
Mercer Won Its Fight,
The General Judiciary Committee of
the House this afternoon turned down
the bill which proposed to repeal the
law which admits students of law
schools to practice on presentation of
their diplomas. This bill affected only
Mercer College, and there was a large
delegation of the trustees from that in
stitution to protest against the bill.
For Condemnation Rights.
The bill of Senator Van Buren, to
permit railroads to exercise the rights
of condemnation in cases where. in
order to straighten their lines or
change their grades, they may want
to make changes between their ter
mini, has been made special order In
the Senate for next Tuesday. This
gives to railroads already constructed
the same rights that are enjoyed by
roads which are projected or in pro-
gress of construction.
Twenty Years Mean Titles.
The Senate passed the bill of Hop
kins of the Seventh, to permit occu-
pants of certain lands sued for by
the state to plead as defense the pos
session of the lands for twenty years.
This bill relates to suit now pend
ing or to be brought for the recovery
of land lots originally set aside for
school purposes by the state
Hall Strikes snags.
The House resolution of Hon Joe Hall
providing that the Joint Finance Com
mittee shall make between sessions
investigation into the books Of all the
several departments of the state, as
we'll as that of the treasurer, as is
now required by law ran against sew