Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-07

stand on another plank for a platform
Twas not surprised at the answer -ano
as 1 know the gentleman OF whom -
asked the question to be sane, sensible
and conservative in his usual language
1 concluded to take text on biennial
sessions and exhort the readers or Ihe
Semi Weekly Journal to keep certain
facts in mind when voting time again
rolls around. $50. .t-.
Tbe late session of the Georgia legis-
Iature should go down in history and be
known as "do-nothing general assem-
bly,. and while I agree that we are bet
ter OF when they are thus employed. 70
do nothing rather than to do, sorry WORK
for the state, still we are satisfied thai
they meet I'm Atlanta too Frequently TOT
'dc-nothing'' results.
I am not prepared to say how much
money was required to pay their per
diem and mileage, unless / had VeriheO
and official report from the treasurer,
but I shall make no mistake when l. say
that IL is entirely unnecessary TO meet
once in every u months, unless they car
do something worth the money that is
spent in such a meeting together with
next to nothing as result of their Ia
bors. because they did. IL seems, md
nothing TO do and proceeded to DO moth
ing OF course.
As see IL. we have entirely too. much
tinkering with present laws, and this tin
kering being constant and continuous, al
so necessitates a succession OF new ana
very expensive law books which is one
of the heavy burdens entailed upon I'M
willing taxpayers, who, find they must
endure heavier taxation year by year,
and see but little. to represent this 'enor-
nous outlay of money for anybody but
code coTnpilers.
Like the United States congress. not
only are the masses. glad to see them go
home and give the country rest but
they would be also glad to find they
might be comforted with the knowledge
that these representatives could not meet
oftener than once in two years to- hinder
the progress OF the nation ---'-.- '
It goes without saying that every busi-
ness interest in the United States was
handicapped and delayed by the presence
Of tariff tinkerers in, Washington City
during the present year Congress was
actually an incubus on the people of this
country. We could have been spared a
whole lot of evils IL congress had, met and
adjourned with a year between. If the
lobby should. be forced. tovget away from
washington for u months handwriting
am sure we would be happier, II not
wiser, and save an enormous amount Of
wasted money and prevent more bad leg
iSlatiOn.-s att '.-r'--- sf-e ~ -
am told there has never been seen In
Washington City such a number of active
and pestiferous lobbyists, as during the
present year. while the tariff was under
discussion. 1t looked as if the govern
ment was only a fat carcass0to be pecked
/ at by foul birds Of prey. and the result
demonstrates the ,eyils. that attend to such
frequent assemblages .1where.r corrupt
money and weak Legislators meet at the
crossing of the road and allow filthy lu-
ere to gain the Victory over principe. =,
But we cannot change the meetings of
congress, / do not suppose, and. L am con-
Vinced we canilonliz C1Irtail the Georgia
legislature by "a heroic struggle. So, It
may be wei, to remember that once in
two years viii nottneetasthe- wishes of
our average Georgia legislative member
after he Is elected. and it viii pay TO put
the question of biennial. Sessions to the
candidate and then hold him. down. to his
pledges. 90. rra ss-7.se.-s s.,sa >H.>. -