Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1907-07-18


prescribed in section 1889 of the penal code of
Georgia; nor shall it be lawful in the limits of said
state for intoxicating liquors to be sold in dispen
saries and the sale of intoxicating liquors in said
state shall be prohibited to private persons and to
the state, it's officers aud agents..
The house committee concluded its hearing of
arguments for and against the bill Monday after
noon at o'clock and adjourned to meet Tuesday
noon. At that time a report will be framed but
no futher arguments will be heard. Friends of
the measure have some changes which they will
propose with view to making the bill even
stronger There is good chance for the measure
to come to the house Wednesday. Just how long
the opponents will be able to fllibuster and pre-
vent vote is matter of speculation, but it looks
very much like it will be all over but the shouting
by the end of the week.
The first platform measure to pass the house
was the anti lobbying bill of Mr.. Wright, of
Floyd which was unanimously adopted On last
Friday. This measure makes it unlawful for
paid attorney for any corporation or interests
to speak to members of the legislature in reference
to expanding legislation except in open committee
room or by brief; also provides that all such at
torneys must register their names in book to
be kept in the office of the secretary of state and
to state in that book what concern he represents
and what measure he is appearing before the
legislature either for against. Within sixty days
after the close of the legislature the corporation
represented is required to file statement of it's
attorneys expenses during the legislature and
what these items Of expense were An amend
ment by Mr. Dunbar, seeking to eliminate from
the bill the provision, forbiddng paid attorneys
~ in
committee or by brief was defeated by an over
whelming vote The anti-lobbying bill goes to
the senate with every indication that it will pass
that body.
The railroad committee by vote Of9 to has
recommended a substitute anti pass bill instead of
the Hall anti pass measure Since this action,
however. Chairman CovingtOn has reopened the
entire matter by asking that the committee again
take the bills under consideration. The vote was
so close that the committee members are anxious
to get together before going to the house with
their report. Representative Hall, of Bibb was
very angry because his bill was not commended,
declaring that his baby had been stolen from
him." The committee was ready to place his
name on that substitute, which was m h
stronger measure in the opinion of the majority,
as it conforms to federal law, but Mr.. Hall would
not agree to this Mr.. Hall declared that unless
his bill passed there would be no antipass legiS-
lation, intimatng that he would wage war upon
the proposed legislation on file in the house
When the committee meets again it is believed
that measure can be agreed upon which will
more nearly meet the wishes of the entire commit
tee
Representative r. n Hardeman, of Jefferson
county, introduced an important measure Monday
in the house, in the shape of bill to require all
railroads doing business ia the state to take out
charter with the secretary of state, and further
providing for the forfeiture of the charter of a
corporation if it traners from state to federal
court any litigation that may be instituted against
it, The practice of railroad corporation transfer.
ing cases from the state to the federal courts is one
that frequently works great hardship on the per
son bringing suit as it requires frequent trips to
the place where the United States court is sitting
and other expenses Many times the complainant
is forced to abandon his litigation account of
the inconvenience he is put to. 1t is this practice
which Representative Hardeman proposes to break
up.
Representative John N. Holder, chairman of the
penitentiary committee, is working with the mem
bers of his committee to perfect a plan for hand
ling the convictS next year. The present lease
exnires in a short time and Representative Holder
is confident that his committee viii be able to
present plan for dealing with the conVlctS which
will be a great improvement over the present Sys
TEN.
As soon as the prohibition bill has been dis
posed of the other reform legislation will be pushed
to the front. Among the first measures which will
be ND for consideration will be the diStIanchiSment
bill. The new administration is anxious that
this bill shall be enacted at the earliest possible