The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-23
SAME CONVICT PLAN
WILL PROBABLY BE FOLLOWED
BY THE STATE.
NEW BILLS TURNED DOWN
AND HOUSE WILL PROBABLY DE-
FEAT OTHERS PENDING.

No InrOnd Is to Be Made Upon the
Public school Fund Derived from
the Hire of COnvicts, If the House
Can Help It-This Was Clear from
the Votes Taken-'PrIvnte" John
Allen Is to Discuss the Question
of Georgia Exhibit Before Both
Houses.
Atlanta, July 22.-The House of Rep
resentatives has determined that no
inroad shall be made on the public
school funds. At II o'clock this morn
ing debate was concluded on the Fell
der convict bill, and that measure and
the substitute offered for it by Messrs.
Holder of Jackson and Shackleford Of
Clarke were defeated as quickly as it
was possible to take a vote.
The indications are that the same
treatment will be accorded to any
measure which proposes to take any
part of the convict hire for any other
than school purposes.
Only two speeches were made in the
House to-day. They were by Messrs.
Steed of Taylor and Mosesoof Coweta,
and both were against the Fielder bill.
1t was evident that the House did not
want the Fielder bill, for it proceeded
to kill promptly every amendment Of
fered with a view to perfecting it or
removing Objectionable features. Two
of the substitutes were withdrawn.
The Holder-S hackleford substitute,
as will be remembered, provided that
such counties as elected TO do so could
work felony convicts on their public
roads, the convicts to be apportioned
to them in accordance with popula-
ton. Counties not so working their
conVicts were to receive instead
proportionate amount towards their
public school fund. This was the
more popular measure of the two, but
it was killed on a yea and nay vote
by a to so, lacking eleven votes of
constitutional majority.
Then the Fielder bill was killed by
vote of IS for and SO against it.
Under a resolution adopted, the
House then proceeded Immediately to
the consideration of the Steed bill
| This measure, which has received a
| favorable report from the House Com
mittee on Penitentiary, provides for
| renewal of the present system for
| period of five years, with the exception
| that section three provides for setting
| apart each year $1,000 for the pur-
pose of accommodating a prison fund
of 100000 within the five-year period,
! to be used in purchasing farm lands
| and providing other labor for the con-
victs at the end of that period The
House showed disposition to adopt an
amendment striking out section three
| relating to the accumulation of a prison
fund, when a motion to adjourn was
carried.
The indications are that the present
lease system will be re-enacted, as has
been done by the Senate, with the pro-
vision that the entire net proceeds
from the hire of convicts shall go to
the common schools.
VIII Hear John Allen.
The House refused to set as a special
order for next Tuesday the bill by Mr..
Dunbar of Richmond to appropriate
$4,000 for an exhibit at st. Louis.
However, Private John Allen of Mis-
sissippi, who is representative the st.
Louis Exposition, was invited to-day
by joint resolution to address the
House and Senate in joint session on
the subject, at noon on Friday
Senate Session Brief.
The Senate held a brief session to-
day, transacting no business outside of
the passage of local House bills.
The Senate's calander is perfectly
clear, and it is awaiting the action of
the House on more important meas
| ures.
For Uniform Text Books.
The House Committee on Education
this afternoon passed favorably on the
bill for a uniform system of state
school books. The committees action
had been reconsidered on motion of Mr..
Cam of Chatham, and this afternoon
he made strong argument against
the bill. An amendment making the
features of the bill apply to local and
city systems was defeated. A commit
tee from the County School Superin-
tendents' Association appeared to OPP
pose the passage of the bill at this
time on the ground that the matter
should first be fully investigated. The
committees favorable action was by a
vote OF 10 to 7.