Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-08-12
WARM ATTACK MADE
: ON SOLDIERS HOME
Heated Discussion Follows the
- Reading of Charges. @-a
WILL GIVE MONEY FOR HOSPITAL

Petition Signed by Soldiers Who Are
In the Home Declared They Are
Mistreated and Not Properly Cared
For by Authorities.
Atlanta, Aug. 11.-There was heat
ed discussion on the floor Of the house
of representatives Friday morning.
when protest. signed by 81 confed-
crate veterans, inmates of the Sol
diers' home, was read after being sub
mitted by Mr.. Milikin, Of Wayne, and
Mr.. Kelly, Of Glascock.
Mr. Williams, of Laurefls, charged
that a number Of veterans, who lived
at the home, had conferred with him
and complained bitterly about their
treatment, and that they were opposed
to the erection Of hospital because
1t would further add to the expenses
of administration, reducing the insult
ticent provision now made for them,
and further, would remove from their
building the only person who treated
them with kindness or looked after
their wants, the nurse.
Mr.. Hall, of Bibb, warmly cham
pioned the cause of Dr. Amos Fox,
the treasurer and purchasing agent Of
the home, declaring that he treated
the old soldiers with all the consider
alton that man could bestow upon
them, and that he received not a cent
for acting as purchasing agent. He
further declared that the old soldiers
annually complained about something,
but that they were we'll provided for,
and that their grievances were large
ly imaginary.
Il hear there is graft out of the
funds provided by the state for the
old soldiers" cried Mr.. Mtlikin, of
Wayne, and l think that before we
go further with this appropriation for
hospital, these charges of the old
soldiers should be investigated"
The house passed the bill to appro-
pirate $500 for the erection of a hos
pital adjoining the Soldiers home,
and also passed a bill by Mr.. Mitch
ell, of Thomas, to require railroads,
within sixty days after the passage of
the act, to equip fiat cars with stand
ards for the shipment of lumber and
timber. Failure to provide such an
equipment will subject the railroad to
forfeit of $3.50 to be paid to the
shipped for each car not SO equipped,
but the bill does not apply to ship
ments going out of the state.
The house fixed a number of bills
as special orders, refusing however,
to make special orders of the Cal
vim banking bill, the Lawrence bill
for the establishment Of a bureau of
commerce and immigration, and the
senate bill to create Phil Cook coun-
ty. At the afternoon session a num-
ber Of important bills were passed, as
follows.
By Mr.. Beauchamp of Butts, to i'm
prove Indian Springs so as to provide
accommodations for the public; by Mr.
tIynt of Spalding, to provide for re-
cOyery OF damages by the legal repre-
oentatives of unmarried persons whose
deaJh is due to the wrongful act of
any person or corporation. By Messrs.
Hardman and Holder, of Jackson, to
amend act creating the state board of
hea4 tn so as to provide for the manu-
facture and free distribution of matter
for the prevention and cure Of hy-
1rophobia according to the Pasteur
method.
At Saturday mornings session the
unfinished business, the redistricting
of senatorial districts, was taken up
and a warm fight was made against
the bill by the members whose dis
| tricts are proposed to be changed by
| the bill. Local and general bills
were taken up for final passage.
The senate broke its record for this
session by passing C8 house and SEN
ate bills.
The most important bill passed was
that by Senator Fitzgerald increasing
| the power of the railroad commission
er. The measure provides that all
railroads shall furnish side tracks
where needed for convenience of pa.
irons. 1t also requires railroads to
lay connecting lines with each other
and to receive each others cars. A
| penalty of $4,000 Is attached for any
railroad failing to abide by require
ments of the commission. The bill
passed by vote of % to 1.