The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-23
NO EXTENSION
OF STATE ROAD
TO THE GEORGIA COAST.
HOUSE TABLED THE BILL AFTER
FAVORABLE REPORT.

Committee of the Whole Had
Thought Wen of the CarriDg tOn
Bill, But the House WOuId Not
Have II StOvnII of Chatham
Among the Speakers Who OPP
posed It-Amcndment Relative TO
GubernatOriaI Succession Adopted.
Atlanta. July 22.--The House to-day
tabled the bill by Mr.. Darlington of
Madison. which proposed to employ
certain Of the states convicts in the
work of extending the Western and
Atlantic Railroad to the seacoast. aft
er it had been favorably reported by
the Committee of the Whole, by a vote
of 70 to AZ.
The measure came up as the special
order 1t provided that the states
felony convicts should be used for the
work of grading an extension of the
state road to some point on the sea-
coast. 1t contains a provision also
for an issue of bonds, for which the
extension should stand as security and
another feature is the appointment of
a commission to look after the work
and attend to the matter of leasing the
extension after it shall have been built.
The debate on the measure developed
the fact that 1t had many warm ad-
Vocates in the House, even though
there was strong sentiment against it.
Mr.. Darlington spoke briefly in sup
port of the measure. He explained its
terms and showed that it was neces-
sary for something to be done to pro-
tect the states property.
Mr.. West of Lowndes declared If the
state road should be extended from
Atlanta to Savannah il would almost
parallel and come into competition with
a great railway system which has u
600 miles of lines all over the South.
1--WE had better dispose of the state
road to-day" Mr.. West declared, "and
do it to the best advantage possible
while We can"
Trouble Already.
MIR. Stovau of Chatham said the
ownership of a railroad by the state
had already caused great trouble, and
the point had now been reached where
the property could give the people
nothing but trouble. Il advocate dis
posing of it now upon the very best
possible terms.
If the state road is extended to the
sea the state must then build to the
Ohio river and enter into competition
with the great railroad systems of the
country. Is the state ready to do
this?"
Others spoke along the same lines,
and after it had been favorably re-
ported by the Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Darlington, seeing that there
would not be sufficient votes TO pass
st, finally succeeded in having it ia
bled.
With no Adverse Vote.
There was no adverse vote on the
bill by Mr.. Wooten of Muscogee pro-
Viding for an amendment to para
graph s. Section l, Article 5 of the
state constitution. This amendment
TO the constitution was made neces-
sary as a result of the change in the
time for holding the sessions of the
General Assembly from October to
June. The constitution now provides
that in case of the death or disability
of the Governor first the president of
the Senate. and next the Speaker of
the House shall take charge of the
executive Office Under the new ar
arrangement of the summer sessions
Hhere is a period of eight months,
from October to June, once every two
years. during which there is neither
a president of the Senate nor a Speak
er Of the House. To meet this emery
ency Mr.. Wooten's bill provides that
the succession shall deYolve in the
event there is no president of the SEN
ate or Speaker of the House, first,
upon the Secretary of State; next
upon the Attorney General. and final
~ upon the State Treasurer. 1T re-
ceived 131 votes.
Hon. T. G. Simmons was sworn in
as the new member from Gilmer coun-
~, succeeding the late Hon. w. r.
Welch. Mr.. Simmons was elected on
July 20 and appeared in the House
TO take the oath the next day He
was sworn I'm by Associate Justice
B. d. Evans of the Supreme Court.