The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-22
JUDGES MAY GET
LARGER SALARIES
Georgia Legislature Passes Bill
of innocent Tenor
SENATE WILL DECIDE II
Bill Has Been Introduced Providing
for Uniform Fee for Marriage
Licenses Which viii Change
the Present System.
SENATE WILL DECIDE IT

Atlanta, July 21-(Special) quite neat
little game of legislation was played IN
the house of representatives last week
which may result in the judges OF the
state court of appeals securing an IN
crease in their salaries, although 1t Is
apparent the bill providing for an in
crease could not get the required consu-
tutional majority in that body.
The parliamentary principle that ono
house may adopt by simple majority OF
a quorum, an amendment made by the
other house. was made good use OF, ana
If everything works all right the judges
may get their salaries raised after all,
though strictly speaking and as was stated
in the reports, the house voted against
increasing salaries.
The original bill provided that the sal
aries of the judges OF the court or ap-
peals should be increased from $4,000 to
5000 a year. When 1t came up for
third reading an amendment was onered
making the increased salary 5000 This
was killed. Then Mr.. Alexander OF Dc
Kalb offered an amendment increasing
these judges salaries to $500 and pro-
viding that no increase should go into
effect during the terms of office for which
the present judges have been elected.
Mr.. johnson of Barlow offered an
amendment to the Alexander amenment,
putting the figure at $4,000 the same
salary which these judges now receive
The Johnson amendment was adopted.
then the Alexander amendment SO amend
ed, was adopted, and In that shape the bill
was passed
On the face of It the bill looked like
nothing more nor less than a bill provid-
ing that the appellate court judges shall
be permitted to continue in the enjoy
ment Of their present salaries
But as a passed bill 1t goes over to
the senate and is there subject to amend
nent. And the friends of the bill feel
satisfied that they can secure an amend
ment In the senate fixing the salaries at
$4,000, even If they cannot get the full
$1,000 first asked for. With the 5000 amend
ment they feel confident also they can
get the constitutionally required two
thirds vote of the senate necessary to
pass the bill.
If the bill Is passed by the senate in
that shape 1t then goes back to the house,
not for passage by that body by two
thirds majority vote. but simply for con-
currence in the senate amendment which
can be effected by the simple majority
of quorum.
As an original proposition the bill would
have required LIS votes to pass the house.
but for concurrence In a senate amend
ment there Is only required majority
Of legal quorum. For example, II there
were just a legal quorum. or 9S members.
present when the bill came back from
the senate, Al votes would be sufficient for
concurrence in the amendment, ana the
bill would become law.
This Is the way in which the friends
of the measure, 1t Is said, are now ex-
pecting to work It, Just how 1t will work
out remains to be SEEM 1t depends very
much on tho attitude of the senate re-
garding the increase. But the machinery
is already provided to get around the op-
position In the house, provided the senate
comes across.
AS the matter now stands the court of
appeals judges have all the advantage. A
similar bill proposing a like increase in
salaries for the judges of the supreme
court has been tabled in the house.
II the plan fixed up to get through the
court of appeals salary increase measure
should work out the house might find
itself compelled to sanction the increase,
on account of the parliamentary rules re-
ferred to, while at the same time, with a
large membership opposed to salary in
creaSes, the house might promptly sit
down upon the proposal to increase the
salaries for the supreme court Judges.
1t would look like the irony of fate, or
putting the cart before the OK, or some
such situation. II the court of appeals
should succeed in getting an increase to
$1,000 or other sum and the supreme court
judges should have to continue to grind
decisions at the 1900 rate.
But there IL a chance of It all the same,
| and the progress Of the matter will be
watched with no small interest.
| Senators Ward and King have appSr-
emily gotten 'in bad" with at least one
of their constituents by introducing a
bill to provide uniform fee to be paid
ordinarfes for issuing marriage licenses.
| The bill provides that the fee in each
case shall be 81. At present various
charges are made according to the view
| of the ordinary, ranging anywhere from
81 to So; perhaps, sometimes, more.
| This particular constituent thinks s.
is e muoh." as Josh Billings would have
put It. Or was 1t Artemus Ward?
| In a letter addressed to the two SEN
ators who are responsible for the bill
the writer says:
| Don't you think that e is very
exorbitant price for a marriage license
| Fifty cents or 81 Is ample.
| Don't you know 7b per cent Of those
seeking marriage licenses are very pool
| people, many Of them negroes with linn
| tied meansY
| Don't you believe that high license
/ and ministers and magistrates fees
should be regulated?
Don't you believe that high license
and high fees are conducive to depravity
Fifty cents or q is high enough fol
a poor man or negro.
/ Senators Ward and King have about de-
| cided to have the communication re-
| ferred to the committee on the state
| Of the republic.
| The Fifth regiment infantry, National
| al Guard Of Georgia, left Atlanta tonight
/ IL companies strong, in two special train'
| for st. sirnon's island, off Brunswick
| for an cncampment Of one week, for which
the expenses, excepting per diem Of mel
and officers, will be paid out of the funt
| coming to the state from the nationa
| government The regiment is in command
| of Col. Il. q. Pomeroy, and each com
pany was on hand with full quota O
men, the total number going into CAM
approximating $500.
Following the Fifth the Second regi
| ment with headquarters at Macon, will
go into camp also at st. Simon's TO
period Of one week. No definite con
clusion has yet been reached, 1t is stated
as to encampments for other regiment
and unattached battalions.
Scott