The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-04
BALLOT REFORM,
ISSUE OF The WEEK
IN GEORGIA LEGISLATURE
KELLY BILL A SPECIAL ORDER
FOR WEDNESDAY.

usual Importance That Will Come
Up-CaIvin Constitutional COnven-
ton Bill Meeting With Favor
Lively Fight Looked for Over the
Anti-Jug Trade BiII-An Early Re-
port Looked for on the Corpora
ton FAX Return Arbitration Bill.
Atlanta. July S.-The present outlook
is that there will be only one matter
of unusual Importance up for consid-
GRAFTON before the Legislature during
the week just beginning, and that is
the Australian ballot bill. The House
has fixed this measure as the special
order for Wednesday, July g. and the
debate upon it will doubtless consume
the entire day.
This measure has come from the
special joint Committee on Ballot Re
form with d unanimously favorable re-
port, and with several important
amendments. which will no doubt re-
ceive full share of the discussion. The
most interesting of these amendments
is that which provides that no pri-
mary election shall be held more than
sixty days before the regular election.
The adoption of this section in the
law would mean long campaign for
Governor and State House officers, and
candidates would probably be more
numerous than has been the case in
the past. Members of the commit
tee however, think this is a wise pro-
vision, and it will probably have num-
erous friends when the House takes
it I'D.
In other respects the ballot reform
bill is practically the same measure
as was passed by the House at the
last session. This was the bill intro
duced by DR.. T. j. M. Kelly of Glas-
cock, who is chairman of the present
special committee which reported the
bill. The House passed this measure
by a good majority, but it was de-
teated by a small vote in the Senate.
With the changed conditions, or rather
with a great change in sentiment in
certain quarters, the bill is likely to
60 through now without much of a
struggle. Ballot reform has been de-
handed by the State Democratic Con-
vention and it has been strongly
urged by Gov. Terrell in his messages
to the Legislature. Besides this, COM
munities in various parts of the state
nave given IOTLn SlIOnB expressions Ill
favor of some such measure, and eV
erything seems to be in favor of the
bill going through without any diff
Guilty. The measure is in effect, pat
termed after the Australian ballot law,
though it is made as nearly as possible
to meet conditions as they exist in this
state.
constitutional Convention.
The constitutional convention bill
by Mr.. Calvin of Richmond is meet
ing with much favor in the discussion
among members of the House. This
bill does not provide of itself for a
constitutional convention, but leaves
the matter wholly to the people. 1t
is provided that the people shall at
the October election, say whether or
not they want "a constitutional conven-
ton to be held on the fourth Wednes-
day in January 1905. At the same
time the people are to elect delegates
to this convention, the delegates being
apportiOned among the senatorial dis
tricts in accordance with population.
If the constitutional convention is de-
ctded upon, the delegates will meet
at the time specified, but if not, they
will be without jobs The bill APP
pTopriates $4,000 to pay the expenses
of such a convention, in case it is
held. This is a clear case of referen-
dum. the Legislature simply deter
mining whether a law of this kind
shall be submitted to the people for
their adoption or rejection. Mr.. CAL
YIN says that the present constitution
has been amended in some particular
or other by almost every general as
sembly since it was adopted. There
are other important features in con-
nection with which other amendments
are now demanded, and he thinks the
most feasible way to do it is through
convention, whose final report shall
be submitted to the people for their
adoption or rejection as they may see
nt This bill is now pending before
me general agriculture committee of
the House. and report upon it is ex-
pected early during the present week.
Anti-Jug Trade Bill.
The bill which proposes to knock out
the Jug trade in Georgia is going to
occasion one of the liveliest fights that
mas been seen on the floor of the House
Vi representatives in a long time. This |
Dill was introduced by Mr.. Beauchamp |
OF BUTTS, and barely got a favorable |
report from the House committee on
temperance. In fact a member of the |
House who was not a member Of the |
committee, voted favorably on the bill |
py mistake, otherwise it would have |
peen adversely reported. The House; |
however, refused to recommt it to the |
committee for further consideration. |
AHls rs most sweeping measure and |
one which has already caused a good |
zeal OF comment. 1t makes it a mis- |
uemeanor for anyone to ship any intox-
Ndung liquors of any kind into any
prohibition county in the state, and ii is |
equaily a misdemeaor under its pro-
VISIONS for anyone to import intoxi- |
caung liquors into a dry county. The |
erect OF such legislation, ii is stated |
would be to ,close up all the dispen- |
SdIles IN the state as soon as they |
disposed of their present stocks, and |
IN ITS present shape it would even pre-
vent licensed druggists from dispensing |
Hquors as medicine. motion to re- |
consider the recent action of the House |
on this bill will be made Tuesday and |
another effort will be made to have it |
ance.
Numerous new bills making impor- |
ant and radical changes in present |
e.Ms We're introduced in the House and |
senate during last week, and there is |
pienty OF work for the committees this |
week. The Appropriations Committee |
90 the Ways and Means Committee |
VI tne House are both hard at work |
VI the general appropriations and |
sgHetal tax bills, and reports on them |
expected within the next few DAYS. /
mere mere is some disposition at this |
40 sslon 10 Increase salaries. The ball |
s wds started rolling recently when the