The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-06
A COMPROMISES CONVICT BILL.

~ COMPROMISES CON WIT BlLl4s
The action of the House yesterday
in passing a compromise bill that had
not been supported by either faction
was a genuine surprise. 1t was ex-
pected when the Clement bill was put
on its passage that the compromise bill
that came near passing the House
the other day would be offered, and
would in all probability, with some
changes, be passed. Instead an entire
ly new compromise bill was passed.
and it is probable that it will have the
approval of the Senate.
The bill passed differs in important
particulars from the other comprise
measures. In the first place it pro-
vides that counties may have their
five year felony convicts for work on
the roads by paying $40 month for
them. That is a much lower price than
that fixed in the other compromise
measure. 1t is intended probably to
fix the price which lesses are to pay
for convicts. Individual lessees are re-
quired to pay $175 per year for each
convict, an increase of $40.
The fight over the convict question
may be considered ended. The con-
stitutional majority that voted for the
compromise bill yesterday will doubt
less stand by it's action. There may
be some minor changes made, changes
that are necessary to perfect the bill.
but it is doubtful if any radical
changes will be attempted or permit
ted. The fight over the matter has
been a long one with some spectacular
features, and the people have taken
a profound interest in it. 1t is safe
assertion that it is practically ended.
-S-o-S
According to a Washington dispatch
in the New York Tribune. the days of
the crisp banknote" are numbered.
Instead of being crisp, the money which
the government Bureau of Engraving
and Printing will turn out hereafter
will be soft and velvety, If important
experiments which are now being con-
Quoted for the purpose of demonstrate
ing new chemical process prove sat-
isfactory. But do we want soft and
velvety" paper money, in the place of
the "crisp" one that we now have?
There Is a lot of soft kind now In
circulation, by the way-pulpy, greasy
ill-smelling and offensive--that the peo-
pie would like to get rid of and have
replaced by fresh, wholesome, crisp
bills. Would the soft and velvety'
kind resist dirt filth and disease germs
any better than that which comes from
the printing bureau firm and crisp,
with a smooth surface? A reasonable
supposition is that note beginning it's
career in a soft and velvety" condi-
ton would catch and retain the dust,
dirt and germs that came its way and
soon be in about the condition of the
proverbial printing Office towel. There
is something musical and altogether
pleasing in the rustic of a crisp, new
bill of money. Its smell is more fra
grant in many nostrils than altar of
roses. The crisp bill is self-assertive
and commands respect. It is not
ashamed of it's presence. The proposed
new money would be a sort of gum
shoe bill, entering the circulation noise
lessly and lacking the backbone to
make a sound even when squeezed. I'm
der the touch 1t would be as character
less as a much-used dishrag. Could
blocks of five" voters be taken care
of with "velvety" money? Wouldn't
the "barkeep'' be tempted to mop up
the spilled beer on the counter with
the spongy dollar bill that had been
passed over to him to get the 1--WE
cents out of? Our preference is for
the fine. crisp, rafting. bright-faced,
clean, old fashioned bills that are nom
secretive and whole-souled.