The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-28
GOVERNOR WOULD
NOT HAVE SIGNED
INCREASE IN SALARY BILL.
,,rsT BE VOTED on ONCE MORE
AND MUST RECEIVE III VOTES.

RI
AGAINST the HOUSEHOLDER Point
raised by Rankin of Gordon on
salary observation-disclosures Bill TAX
en- In in Senate.
Atlanta. July -27.-By a vote of 12O
n the House to-day reconsidered
lis action in passing the bill to in
crease the Governors salary from So
NM 10 $4,000. because there is a doubt
whether the measure can be consti-
tutonally passed unless it receives
two-thirds of the votes of all the MEM
hers elected to each House.
II will be recalled that the measure
received yesterday only 112 votes with
os against it, while two-thirds of all
the members of the House is III, that
being the number required to pass a
constitutional amendment.
It was freely talked this morning
that Gov. Terrell had stated he would
not sign the measure unless it receiv-
ed III votes, or more, because of the
doubt of the constitutionality of the
vote entertained by Attorney General
Hart and others.
Was Governors Wish.
II was the Governors wish, there
fore. that the House reconsider it's ac-
ton. The motion was made by Mr..
Saton of Fulton, who explained that
it would put the Governor in a very
embarrassing position to be required to
pass upon the bill, while there was
any doubt about the validity of its
passage.
Mr.. Hall of Bib took the same posi-
ton, holding that a full two-thirds
vote of all the members was requir-
ed. Mr.. Knight of Berrien, who had
given notice of a motion to reconsider
said his thunder had been stolen, and
there was no doubt he was put out
about it.
He delivered a TRADE against the
House for passing the bill and against
the Speaker for ruling as he did de-
claring the House had stultified itself
and that its members were drunk on
the situation"
Cam Called Knight Down.
Mr.. Cam of Chatham followed and
called Mr.. knight to time for MAX
ing such charges against the MEM
bers of the House. The member from
Berrien had no right. he said to
charge that the MEMBERS had conduct
cd themselves improperly, or that they
were drunk. 1t was done he declared,
for the purpose of gaining notoriety.
Mr.. Knight said he did not mean
drunk on Whiskey but drunk on ex-
Citment.
The action in the measure was then
reconsidered. The committee on rules
this afternoon reported a resolution
fixing the measure as the special
order for tomorrow at u aclock when
it is believed it will secure the full III
votes.
When the general appropriations
bill was taken up. following this,
preliminary fight over the question as
TO whether common school appropri-
alton should be taken up first con-
sumed about three quarters of an hour.
This was finally defeated.
They Liked TO Talk.
The members of the House evidently
enjoy hearing themselves talk. They
refused to adopt a resolution by Mr..
Fielder of Bibb limiting debate in Com
mittee of the Whole to five minutes
to each speaker, and shelved it on the
Committee on Rules. Debate on the
appropriations then proceeded in Com
mittee of the Whole without limit.
The House had passed the appropria-
ton for the salaries of Governor and
other state officials down to those of
the railroad commissioners.
Mr.. Rankin of Gordon offered an
amendment to reduce the salary of
each railroad commissioner from 81
500 to $2,250 The point of order was
made that the salary of the railroad
commissioners was fixed by law and it
could not be reduced except by special
enactment.
Need Not Appropriate.
Mr.. Rankin contended that the law
fixing these salaries cut no figure at
all. The Legislature could refuse to
appropriate one cent to pay these sal
aries" Mr.. Rankin said.
Does the gentleman hold that the
Legislature could refuse to appropriate
money to pay the salary of the Govern
orr asked Mr. Hall.
I do" Mr.. Rankin replied There
is no law requiring the Legislature to
appropriate money to pay any OF these
salaries"
Then the state of Georgia would
still owe the money" Mr.. Hall said,
I contend it would not" said Mr.
Rankin. IF the Legislature refused
10 make the appropriation it would not
owe him a cent"
Not Earning Their Salaries.
Asked why he wanted to reduce the
salaries of the Railroad Commission
ers, Mr.. Rankin replied, Because 1
don't believe they are earning their
salaries l believe $1,000 would be
more than abundant compensation for
them"
By vote of 66 to SO, the House de-
1eated the amendment by Mr. Rankin
ana adopted the paragraph leaving the
salary of the Railroad Commissioners
al $500 each. as fixed by law
Inc House adopted the amendments
putting in $1,000 in place of $500 for
lhe salary of assistant state Librarian
ana appropriatting $1S3 SO to pay her
increased salary for the remainder of
me present year. There came near
pelng fight on this last amendment
put II was avoided by an adjournment
IN the midst of the discussion, and il
was taken up again at the afternoon
session. The present assistant librarian
Is Mrs. Maud Barker Cobb
No Messenger Now.
The House adopted the committee
amendment striking out $3.50 for a
messenger for the executive depart
nent. This was put in two years ago,
When extra help was needed in the
Governors office.
section 1. as amended providing for
the payment of all salaries of state Of
Meals, and their clerical help as fix
60 by law, and section 2. providing
Tor al salaries for Superior and Su-
preme Court judges, solicitors generals
etc. were then adopted
Mr.. Hall Of Bibb renewed his old