The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-19
GEORGIA MAY ELECT
HER COMMISSIONERS
House Overwhelmingly Passes
Railroad Commission Bill
SOME POLITICS INJECTED
Two Members on Floor Have Rathsr
Lively Clash on Question of Re-
Election on the integrity
of the House.
SOME POLITICS INJECTED

OF tne 1ouSes
Atlanta, July IS Especial 1.-The house
today passed the bill by DIR. I. J. NJ
Kelly of Glascoek providing for the cleo
ton of railroad commissioners by the
people, by vote of 1872 to L. The four
members who voted against the bin were
Messrs. Ashley of Lowndes. Hill of Dolly.
Wright of Floyd and Perry Of Hall. The
two latter voted against the measure
because the house refused to adopt an
amendment offered by Mr.. Perry of Hall
which would have fired all of the pres
ent members of the railroad commission
out of office without a hearing.
There was sharp passage at arms be-
tween the two Wrights of the house dur
ing the debate, one of Richmond. the
other of Floyd This came up during an
explanation of votes on the bill.
An amendment that the railroada COM
missioners should be elected by the legls-
lature was voted down, and the Perry
amendment providing that three new rail-
road commissioners should be elected at
the regular election in October next, the
terms of the present commissioners to
terminate November l, was lost by a
vote of 121 to 90, an overwhelming in
dorsement by the house of the present
commission.
Mr.. George of Morgan declared that
there was a demand for the eiectiln of
railroad commissioners by the people, but
not for the impeachment of the present
commissioners by indirectlon as was con-
templated In the Perry amendment.
Mr.. Wright of Richmond said the house
should not behead the present railroad
commissioners without giving them any
opportunity to defend themselves.
Finally the vote was taken on the bill.
Mr.. Perry voted against 1t because the
house had rejected his amendment.
calls 1t Fraud Upon People.
"The bill is fraud upon the people,"
Mr. Perry declared "They have asked
for bread and you give them a stone.
The house is recreant in It's trust in re-
fusing to give the relief demanded by
the people but there is a ray of hope
for Hoke Smith is making as triumphal
a march through Georgia as was ever
made by Caesar"
Mr. Wright of Floyd endorsed what was
said by Mr.. Perry. The day would come,
he said, when the members of the house
would sit in sackcloth and ashes and
bemoan their action of today.
II protest" said Mr.. Wright of Rich
mond with much emotion, against the
apparent charge by the gentlemen from
4l,1 t,,41
and the integrity of the members of this
house This is the first opportunity the
house had had to vote on a measure of
this character"
Mr. Perry said he had no desire to re-
fleet on the house, least of all upon the
gentleman from Richmond, but he de-
elined to retract anything he had said.
THE charge that I reflected on any
members of this house is false" said Mr..
Wright of Floyd. shaking all over. II
repeat that the members of this house
will live to regret their action in failing
to protect the people against the eng
croa chments and oppression of the rail-
roads. | hurl back the genteman's in
sinuation and repudiate 1t with scorn."
AZ ask the gentleman to reflect upon
my language" said Mr.. Wright of Rich
mond II said his language was an APP
parent reflection on the integrity of the
members of the house, and | spoke with
useages. My language was not offensive
to the gentleman from Hail. and / ask
In Justice that the gentleman from Floyd
withdraw his charge Of falsity"
"If the gentleman from Richmond says
he did not charge me with rejecting on
the integrity of the members of this
house. | will withdraw the charge" said
Mr.. Wright of Floyd.
"The gentleman should not burden his
retraction with conditions" said Mr..
Wright of Richmond. II have explained
my language and again request that he
withdraw the statement he made"
az the gentleman did not make the
charge that / reflected on the integrity
of the house, I cheerfully withdraw the
charge" said Mr. Wright of Floyd, and
this ended the incident.
Where Candidates Stand.
During the discussion Mr.. George Of
Morgan made.it point to bring out the
fact that "one' of the candidates for
governor, was strongly favoring the cleo
ton OF the railroad commission by the
people His reference was of course to
Hoke Smith. Mr.. Martin of Ebert, there
upon, called attention to the fact that all
the other candidates In the race Favored
similar legislation, and that the fight was
began long before Mr. Smith thought Of
taking 1t up.
The Kelly bill provides that one railroad
commissioner shall be elected by the
people at the coming election In October
to succeed the commissioner whose term
expires in October, 1907. and that one
commissioner shall be elected every two
years thereafter
When the house finished with the Kelly
bill it took up long bill passed by the
senate last year. providing for revision
and republication of the school laws of
the state. Adjournment was taken with
out acting on this measure.