Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-16
HOUSE WON'T RAISE
ANYBODYS SALARY
Turns Down Bill to Give Tax Re-
ceivers Same Pay as Collectors.
Steers Shy of Pooling With
Near Beer Money.

Near-beer money.
~ e~a .s.sz.s E-ss - t1@s
Once more did the house refuse to raise
anybody's pay, Wednesday morning. Not
only did the legislators of the lower
house soak the supreme court stenog-
raphers' increase bill, when Mr.. Barr
rett of stephens. urged its consideration: I
but It went further, and likewise biffed
the Mcmahon (of Clarke measure to give
county tax receivers the same commission
as county tax collectors.
And the 19O9-1O house is a wary body.
It's conservative. 1t refused to have any
thing to do offhand with the HUE lot
Clayton) bill to put the near-beer taxes
in the state school fund. 1t laid that
matter on the table, and won't act on It
probably till the ways and means COM
mittee, instead of the education commit;
tee, tells it to go ahead.
Routine of no unusual nature marked
the opening of the Wednesdays session
FOf the lower house A message from the
senate regarding bills passed, several new
bills. some committee reports. etc, oc-o
cupied the house for the first half hour
Mr.. Barrett of Stephens moved that ?
the house reconsider its action OF Tues
day IN disagreeing with the report Of
the committee which was favorable 10 the
passage of the bill increasing the saIauss
of supreme court stenographers.
Mr. Barrett explained that he had
learned that a great many members had
considered the bill a piece of class Leg
islation in that il required the stenogra-
pliers to be lawyers, and had therefore |.
voted agaist it. The trainers of the bill
were willing. he said. to remove. the OBJ
jectionable feature and let the 5000 sal
airy stand.
NO RAISE CAN STAND.
consideration, and so did Mr.. Moss Of ,
Cobb. The motion to reconsider was lost
80 to 102.
Reports of standing committees. read
next, brought back to the house a NUM-
Der of measures recommended for pass
age.
The bill by Messrs. Tippins of APP
pling and MacIntyre OF Thomas, to pro-
vide the method by which local districts
having taxation for public schools may
do away with said taxation. amended by
the committee on education to read thar
local school system, once in force, shall
not be changed for three years. was en-
acted by vote of 107 to 4. Mr.. McMichael
of Marion spoke for the bill Mr.. Porter
Of Floyd contended that the test period
should be one year instead of three. An
amendment by Mr.. Price Of Barlow, pro-
viding that it should be two years was .
voted down.
The bill by Mr.. Lewis of Hancock, to
permit justice court juries to assess the
punishment in criminal cases. was voted
down after a brief debate. The nays were
1O4; the ayes were q. Mr. Lewis spoke
for his bill. Mr.. Ault of Polk opposed 1t.
NO INCREASE FOR ANYBODY.
Another debate was stirred on the, the :
bill of Mr.. Mcmahon of Clarke, recon- .
mended by the committee for. passage by
4r,- ,4.rt -
county tax receivers equal in amount TO
those of county tax collectors. Mr. Nc
Mahon spoke for his bill. Mr. Brinson Of
Decatur favored it. Mr.. Edwards Of Wa.
ker opposed 1t. as did also Mr.. Elder or
Oconee- The house voted down the SUI
stitute and refused the report Of the eo;Fs-'
mittee, killing the BIN. ~. ...7-,..
The vital question of what the state
should do with the near-beer fund, now
we'll accumulated in the treasury, orig
inally intended for the purchase and
equipment OF a state penitentiary farm,
but apparently destined to lie idle un-
less something else is done with II, came
up with full force in the bill Of Mr..
HUE of Clayton, TO give it to the schools
of the state.
Mr.. Barrett of Stephens doubted the
effectiveness of the bill. There was
constitutional question involved. he said.
Under the constitution. the school fund
shall be Just so much. Add the near
beer fund to it, and it will still be so
much and no more.
Mr.. HUE EXPLAINS
Mr. HUE explained the intent of the
bill.
I'VE don't need the money for any bet
terment of the states present method of
caring for the convicts," he declared. 1T
Is a question OF what shall we do with
it-whether 1t shall go to the general
fund or to the school fund"
Mr. HUE declared that near-beer is
brewed from malt, "as everybody knows"
and it's a liquid; therefore It's a malt
LIQUOR and properly belongs TO the educa-
tional fund.
Mr.. Reid OF Campbell, author OF an
other bill to dispose of the near-beer mon
ey, counseled delay and careful proceed
ure, as any hasty amendment by the as
sembIy of the law passed at the special
session might seriously AFFECT that law in
the courts.
Mr.. Middlebrooks of Newton spoke in
favor of the bill.
Mr.. Anderson OF Chatham said:i with
all Difference to the committee on edu-
cation, IT is not one Of the functions OF
that committee to provide revenues for
ton belongs to the ways and means COM
mttee:"
Mr. mcfarland Of Mcintosh novel
that the bill be tabled. This was done
The house evidently will be slow and
sure before 1t hampers with the near-beer
fund.
Several more new bills and resolutions
vyere read nv unanimous consent. .t