Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-08-04
TWO IMPORTANT BILLS
PASSED RY SENATE
People to Elect Railroad Com
missioaors Long Leaso
for State Road.
WILL AGREE ON NYILLIAMC, 1!LI

Representative Kelly, of G'ascock
Who Introduced Bill in House for
Election Of Commissioner, Says He
Will Accept the Senate Bill.
Atlanta, Aug. 3.-The senate Thurs
day passed oils for the elec ion OF
railroad commissioners by the people
and for the lease of the Western and
Atlantic railroad for GO years at $780,
000 per month.
Senator Williams bill for the cleo
ton of railroad commissioners by the
people was passed by vote of 81 to
Z. The senate Immediately trans
mitted the bill to the house and the
latter body is expected to consider
and adopt it.
Representative Kelly, ON Glascock,
whose bill was passed by tHe house,
stated after the passage of the Will
Hams' bill that he would accept it.
His and the other are identical. The
senate committee saw fit to favor
the Williams bill as a substitute for
the Kelly measure.
At the next gerenal election the
people will vote on some one to. sue
ceed to the place to be made vacant
by the expiration of Hon. Joseph
Browns term. Mr.. Brown refuses to
state whether he will be a candidate
E~,, ~ 1, I,
sidered it.
Those speaking in favor of the
measure were Senators 6ond, Steed
and Crum. There was no opposition.
When Senator Williams name was
reached On the roll, votes being re-
corded, he said: Fellow senators,
this is the happiest moment of my
life. l thank you for passing this
bill. In my opinion this is the most
important piece of legislation done
this session"
The bill provides that commission
ers shall be elected by the electors
who are entitled to vote for members
Of the general assembly. Successors
to the incumbents shall be elected at
first general election preceding ex-
pirati0n Of their term of office That
is, at the general election in Octo-
ber, 1906, one shall be elected to sue
ceed the incumbent whose term ex-
pires October Is, 1907; one shall be
chosen at the general election in 1908
to succeed the then incumbent, whose
term shall expire in 1909; one shall
be chosen in 1910 to succeed the then
incumbent, whose term expires in 1911
and so on.
Election of such shall be governed
by the same rules and regulations ap-
plying to the gubernatorial election.
In case of a vacancy it shall be filled
by the governor.
Lease of the State Road.
The amended bill Of Senator Nc
Henry providing for the lease of the
Western and Atlantic railroad for 60
years at 100000 per month, was pass
ed by vote of 27 to 12.
Senator McHenry's original bill pro
vided for a lease of 90 years at $780,
000 month. The Western and AT
lantiC committee amended the bill, by
striking out the SO years and substi-
tuting 60. This was done at the in
stance of Senator Hand.
Senators Miller and Bond made ar
guments against the bill as amended.
The former contended that it should
not be leased for more than 80 years
and at a minimum of $4,000 per
month. This he presented as an
amendment, but it was voted down.
He then showed that according to
the reports of the present lessees, in
1881 the gross income per mile was
$1,000, later $4,000, and in 1905 was
$4,000.
The only other matter of special
Importance was enactment of an
amended measure by Representative
Galloway, allowing all confederate
veterans aWd their widows pensions,
conditions Notwithstanding.
BY an overwhelming vote of 119
to the house of representatives pass.
ed bill to regulate the running OF
all automobiles and other similarly
propelled vehicles upon the public
highways Of the state.
Briefly summed up, the substitute
of Mr.. Fielder, of Bibb, which was
passed, conforms to tn claw of most
of the northern states, modifying the
original bill by Mr.. Lumpkin, of Walk.
er who spoke in behalf of the adop,
ton of the substitute.
For time at least, the house will
hold no afternoon sessions, the resolu.
ton of Mr. Calvin, of Richmon%, to
limit daily sessions Of the house from
8 o'clock in the morning to 1870
o'clock in the afternoon, prevailing.
This resolution prevailed, also the pro.
vision limiting debate on the final
passage of any measure to one hour
individual speeches being limited to
10 minutes. This will expedite bus.
iness.
4