The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-06
GEORGIA TAX LAWS
 ARE INADEQUATE
Legislature Will Take Up Wat
 ter When it Meets
MANY BIG QUESTIONS UP
Biennial Instead of Annual Sessions VIII Be Debated and Proposition
 @
 Made to Gut Down the Rail-
 road Commission.

Atlantn, June .--(Special) )-The new general assembly of 1909-1o will meet on Wednesday. June 23 to begin its first | session. There has been comparatively little talk of what may or may not be i done at this session, though the feeling Is general that some important and in- teresting questions will be given consider ation
 Such widespread and general attention has been called to the inadequacy of Geor- gias tax laws, that it is extremely like ly that something will be done on this line at least in a preliminary way.
 The question of biennial instead of an- nual sessions of the legislature is sure to receive prominent attention, and 1t is rot unlikely that an amendment 10 the constitution providing for biennial ses- sion will be adopted. This prediction Is based upon the belief that Governor Brown will strongly recommend such ae- tion, as we'll as upon the fact that a large number of members have already expressed themselves as favorable to it.
 There seems to be feeling that the proposition to reduce the membership of the railroad commission to three, at which it stood prior to the administration of Governor Smith, will receive serious con- sderation
 It is pretty well understood that the question of extending the Western and Atlantic railroad will not come up at this session. although lion. Hooper Alexander, who has fixed ideas upon that subject, is d member of the new house.
 Hon. John M. slaton of Fulton, the sen ator from the Thirty-fifth district, will be chosen president of the new senate without opposition.
 Friends of Hon. John N. Holder of Jackson state that he will go in as speaker of the house without opposition. Messrs. Randolph Anderson of Chatham and Roland Ellis of Bibb, who were an- nounced candidates against him. have exhibited no recent activity in that dlrec- tion and MT Anderson Is understood to have announced his retirement from tho race.
 So far as has appeared there is no op- position to Hon. c. s. Northen of Full ton for secretary of the senate nor to Hon. John T. Boifeuillet of Bibb for clerk of the house.
 There is, however, the usu ] rivalry for the minor positions of doorlzceper, sergeant-at-arnls, etc.. in both houses.
 The two houses will organize on the first day of the session and the commit tees will be announced so that the new general assembly will be able to get to work by the first of the week following.
 The first event of great interest will be the inauguration of Governor elect Joseph M. Brown on Saturday, June 26, | when before the two houses in joint session he will take the oath of office, receive the great seal of the state from Governor Hoke Smith. commit it 10 the keeping of the secretary of state and deliver his inaugural address, after which he proposes to go direct to the executive office and get down to bus1- ness.
 The inauguration ceremony, as has been stated, will be quite simple and in accordance with custom long estab lished. Governor Smith got away from the habit by being inaugurated on a platform built on the capitol grounds, following a big parade through the city
 There will be no parade this time and the inauguration ceremonies will all take place in the hall of the house of representatives as had been the cus- tom for years.
 Notwithstanding the fact that the governor elect has expressed a desire for a simple inauguration, his friends from many sections of the state have determined to come here and give him an ovation. Joe Brown clubs from not few counties will be In Atlanta on this occasion and they may be counted on to make the most of 1t.