The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-11
TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS
BILL GRANTING LOCAL TAXATION
WAS PASSED BY HOUSE.
PRIVILEGE is OPTIONAL
WITH COUNTIES, SCHOOL AND MI
LITIA DISTRICTS, AND CITIES.

Oh InOSe NONlM&s
Legislature May Prescribe Who
Shall VOte-Bius for Uniform
Text Books and Appropriation for
st. Louis Exposition Go to Cover
nor for Signature-AudubOn Bill
to Permit Women to Wear Birds.
Confederate Soldiers Get $4,000.
Atlanta, Aug. 10.-The most import
ant action of the House to-day was
the passage. of the bill by Senator e.
H. McMichael of the Twenty-fourth to
amend the constitution, Article g. Sec
ton 4, paragraph l, so as to remove
the embargo from local taxation for
school purposes.
The constitution at present requires
the recommendation of two grand
juries and then two-thirds majority
of all the registered voters before a
county can secure local taxation for
schools. The McMichael amendment
removes the grand jury recommended
ton feature and leaves the matter
to a two thirds majority of the per-
sons voting at an election held for
the purpose.
1t also permits school districts and
militia districts to vote on the ques
ton, there being no provision for
that in the present constitution. This
bill has already passed the Senate,
and the House voted it through by
1873 to 2. so that all that is necessary
now is for a majority of the people
to ratify it at the next election.
What Amendment Means.
The section of the constitution as
amended by this bill will read as fol-
lows: Authority may be granted to
counties, militia districts. school dis
tricts and to municipal corporations,
upon the Recommendation of the corr
porate authority, to establish and
maintain public schools in their re-
spective limits by local taxation.
But no such laws shall take effect
until the same shall have been sub
mitted to vote of the qualified voters
in each county, militia district, school
district or municipal corporation and
approved by two-thirds majority OF
the persons voting at such election,
and the General Assembly may pre-
scribe who shall vote on such ques-
tons" s.t
Mr.. Hall of Bib. said he regarded
this as the beginning of pubic
school system in Georgia.
For Governors Signature.
The House concurred in the Senate
amendments to the following measures,
and they now go to the Governor Tor
his signature. The uniform text book
bill, the resolution providing for an
CaarOfa
exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position, and the bill providing for
teaching the elements of agriculture
and of civil government in the COM
mon schools.
The House, after concurring in the
amendments to the Audubon bill TO
protect song birds and birds of plum
age and their nests, passed resolu-
ton calling it back so as to incorpo-
rate an amendment that will not pro-
hibit women from wearing birds on
their hats.
The House passed the bill by Messrs
Stovall of Chatham and Underwood of
White, to amend the general appropria-
tions act relative to the publication of
early Supreme Court reports and Colo
NAL and Revolutionary records, so that
the expense of the latter may be paid
In part from the proceeds of the sale
of the former.
It was refused on motion of Mr.. Han
of Bib, to concur in the Senate sub
stitute for his resolution providing
for an investigation of the books, ac-
counts and other features of all the
state departments to which money is
appropriated. The Hall resolution pro-
posed to appoint a committee from the
House and Senate for the purpose,
while the Senate substitute provided
only for the appointment of an expert
accountant by the Governor. A con-
ference committee will be appointed on
this subject.
An appropriate memorial relating to
the death of Hon. George M. Warren,
late representative from Emanuel
county, was adopted by a unanimous
rising vote.
Kept Members in Places.
At the afternoon session an hour was
spent in turning down resolutions for
special orders reported by the Com
mittee on Rules. Several times the
vote indicated the absence of quo
rum but the roll established the pres
ence of 124 members; finally in desper-
alton Speaker Morris ordered all VISIT
ors off the floor of the House, and the
doors closed and forbade any members
to leave.
Inc House passed a Dill dpDFOpTI-
ating 81, 500 additional for the Confed-
crate Soldiers Home. This being an
amendment to the general appropri-
ations act, two important amendments
were tackled onto it.
One of these appropriated $1,000 to
pay arbitrator for the state in the
case of franchise tax returns and the
other appropriated $1,000 for the Sec
retary's salary and $1,000 for the ex
penses Of the state board of health,
soon to be created.
bill was passed giving the state
treasurer stenographer at salary of
800 a month.
Permits Compromise.
A bill was passed providing that the
Governor and Attorney General may
compromise the cases the state has
brought against the holders of cer-tuir
lots of land in South Georgia coun-
ties which were originally set apart
by act Of 1918 for school purposes, and
never granted by the state. In the
event of failure to compromise, arbi-
tration is to be resorted to-
The House passed the bill by Mr..
Adams Of Putnam, making 1t INSIDE
meanor to secure an advance on n
contract to perform any service with
intent to defraud.
Aimed ut Cotton Factors.
After a vigorous protest by Mr.. Cam
Of Chatham, the House defeated a bin
by Senator Snead which has passed
the Senate making II unlawful 10
charge more than legal rates OF in
terest where money Is advanced on
contract to furnish cotton or other pro-