The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-07
BALLOT REFORM
A HARD PROBLEM
HOUSE WRESTLED WITH 1T
BUT MADE BUT VERY LITTLE
PROGRESS.


cussiOn Was still on the First
Section of the Bill Reported by
the Joint COmmittee-Other Meas
ures That Occupied Both the
House and the Senate.
Atlanta, July 6.-The House devoted
the entire morning session to dis
cussing the first section of the ballot
reform bill, which had been made the
special order for to-day. At the hour
of adjournment the first section of the
bill was still under discussion, and the
only thing accomplished was the de-
feat of an amendment seeking to make
justices of the peace and notaries pub
lie election superintendent.
The bill as presented to the Com
mittee of the Whole by the House and
Senate Committee appointed to report
upon it, was in the nature of SUBJ
stitute for the original bill by Mr.
| Kelly, of Glascock. Upon motion of
Mr.. Slaton, of Fulton, speeches upon
the bill were limited to ten minutes
each. The bill was read by sections.
At the close of the reading of the
first, Steed of Taylor offered all
amendment making the Superior Court
judges appoint election commission
ers, instead of having the jury com
missioners. as in the original BILL act
as superintendent. Jones, of Pickens.
wished to amend the bill by clearly
describing the word party"
Wanted an Amendment.
Gross, of McDufie, wished to amend
so that candidates have the right TO
appoint a friend to witness the count
ing and the placing of ballots in the
booths. In calling the names, these
friends may have the right to stand
behind a manager and view the ballot
when opened. These persons may also
act as clerks in the event of original
appointees having to be excused for
providential causes. Mr.. Gross idea
was that he wished to have a fair
ballot. This in his opinion, can only
be secured by having some one to
check up the managers work. He ex-
planned that under the original speci-
fication the person reading the ballot
can call any candidates name he
chooses, while the clerks would never
know of the dishonest action. I'm
less said Mr.. Gross, 1--WE can have
some amendment to remedy this Sc
cret point, then 1 say for God sake
kill the bill"
Speaker Norris, who turned the chair
over to Slaton of Fulton at the be-
ginning of the discussion, followed
Gross in an imprisoned speech. stat
ing that the amendment would not al
low for the secrecy of the ballot
Morris favored the original mode pre-
scribed in the bill. Gentlemen" said
Mr.. Akin of Barlow, you must con-
slider carefully before voting on this
amendment and that of the gentleman
from McDuffie. According to this
amendment, it applies to all elections.
general and otherwise. This would al
| low our friend, Roosevelt to appoint
Booker Washington as his friend and
representative in the managers booth.
| We must not go on the ground that
every man in Georgia is dishonest" He
opposed the amendment.
After much discussion the amend
ment was lost. Jones of Pickens want
ed the justices of the peace and no.
taries of the public to the be ex-officio
managers, instead of jury commission
ers. The amendment was killed.
Let the Judge Appoint.
Steel of Taylor made a speech favor
ing an amendment by himself to the
effect that the Superior Court judges
shall appoint election commissioners.
| instead of the bills requirement that
jury commissioners act as superin-
tendents. The hour of adjournment ar
rived before the amendment reached a
vote.
Unanimous consent was asked for
the Introduction of the following reso-
lutions, new bills and special orders:
BY Mr.. Jones of Pickens-To repeal
an act entitled. "An act to provide a
| NJ Of do
| revenues of the county of Pickens."
Resolution by Mr.. Conner of Barlow
| That House bill No. oil be made a
| special order for July 20.
By Mr.. Ayres of Polk-To amend and
supercede the several acts incorporat-
ing the town of Rockmart
BY Messrs. Steed and Hixon of Car
roll-To extend the powers of the Rail-
road Commission
BY Mr.. Rice of Forsyth-To amend
Section 2573.
BY Mr.. Spence of Ware-To incor-
porate the Waresboro school district.
BY Mr.. Afford of Worth-To amend
the charter of the town Of Poulan.
Reversed on the jug Bill.
The Temperance Committee of the
House this afternoon by a vote of to
decided TO report to the House that
the Beauchamp bill. commonly known
as the jug bill should not pass The
bill had already been favorably re-
ported to the House and after a heated
debate, in which Mr.. Stovall of Chat
ham took a leading part, was recon-
mitted. Several amendments were Of
fered and turned down. and upon mo-
ton of Mr.. Houston of Fulton the COM
mittee reported the bill unfavorably.
If the General judiciary Committees
report upon the bill of Fielder of Bibb.
to make the burglary of a residence at
night a capital offence. is favorably
received by the House. the bill will be-
come effective as soon as It goes
through the proper channels.
The committee reported favorably
upon the bill by Mr.. Hall of Bib 70
prohibit any municipality from ex-
empting any person or corporation from
taxation and TO force tax assessors to
tax CITY trOperty on a valuation not