Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02
M'LENDON'S CASE
OCCUPIES HOUSE
After Hearing Defense of the De.
posed Commissioner the Debate
Ragged Over Method of Proceed
ure Until Adjournment.

After devoting practically it's whole
morning to debate on the McLendon
suspension matter-a debate which
was waged around the point of wheth-
er the matter should go to house
committee for investigation or to
joint committee of the house and SEN
ate, and in which MIR. Alexander OF
DeKalb, with Mr.. Persons of Monroe,
and Mr.. Hall of Bibb were the leaders
the house of representatives adj
journed just before l o'clock Wednes-
day afternoon with sIr. Alexander
still on the floor, with nothing accom-
plished toward further procedure, with
the defense Of MIR. McLendon read,
and with a resolution, an amendment,
and a substitute for the whole. before
it. The house had once during the
morning voted to meet again at
O'Clock Wednesday afternoon to con-
tinue its consideration of the ques-
ton, but just before adjournment
changed it's mind and voted to meet
again at 10 o'clock Thursday morning
as usual.
A message from the senate was re-
ceived by the house Immediately after
converting, Wednesday morning. noti-
flying the house Of a resolution adopted
providing for a Joint committee of two
from the senate and three from the
house TO investigate the advisability OF
rearranging the judicial circuits or the
state.
Mr. Miller Of Ware obtained unani-
nous consent TO introduce two bills
one to authorize the county of Ware to
issue bonds for purposes OF road build
ing and other county improvements.
and the other to prohiUlt the sale OF
near-beer in rare county.
Mr.. Hall of Bibb asked unanimous
consent to consider Immediately the
Joint senate resolution regarding judi
cial circuits. Mr.. Alexander OF De-
Kalb amended the request to, include
all senate joint resolutions. There
were objections to both.
Speaker Holder ruled that Rule A.
relating to suspensions Of the rules
could not apply until ne announced the
committee on rules. and that in the
meantime a three-fourths vote OF the
house could suspend any except con-
stitutional rules.
RESOLUTIONS OF REGRET
Resolutions of regret over the death
of the late state treasurer, r. 2. Park.
and of sympathy for his family, IN
troduced by Mr.. Boyd OF Spalding',
were adopted. ... -.
Mr.. Persons OF Monroe asked that the
resolution introduced by Mr.. Hardeman OF
Jefferson. just before adjournment, Tues-
day. be read. The resolution was read.
II provides for the appointment OF
Joint committee from both houses of the
general assembly-nine from the house
and five from the senate-to investigate
the McIIendon matter. The resolution
gives the committee the authority OF a
court Of law.
URGES RESOLUTION.
Speaking to the resolution upon which
the house had heard no previous discus
sion, Mr. Persons pointed out that joint
resolution originating In the senate could
not be now considered by the house
without suspending the rules, which
would REQUIRE a three-fourths Yote-whiNl
he considered impossible upon the McLen-
don matter. He favored referring the
matter to "a special committee rather than
to the judiciary committee, where lawyer
members of the house would act as law
yers upon a question on Which every lay
member of the house was privileged to
an opinion. He favored its reference to
a Joint committee because the general as
sembly-both houses-would. under the
law. have ultimately to act jointly upon
IL. Mr.. Hall of Bibb interrupted with
an Directing question, and Mr.. Boyd of
Spalding offered a question Of doubt as to
whether the law required a majority of
the whole general assembly or majority
of both houses separately. Mr.. Persons
took the latter view.
Speaker Holder interrupted, notifying
Mr.. Persons that a communication had
been received from Mr.. McLendon. Mr..
Persons asked that 1t be read before he
concluded his remarks. The communica-
ton, reproduced elsewhere in these col
umns, was read.
READING INTERRUPTED
ing the reading OF the statement to make
a point of order against the introduce
ton of the two port rate cases. recently
decided by the railroad commission and
submitted by Mr.. McLendon with his
statement.
They are not germane to the issue,
said Mr.. Cobb. This house has not au-
thority to review cases from the files OF
the railroad commission. The question at
issue are not touched on by these rec
ords.'
Speaker Holder read the Anderson res
olution, permitting the suspended com
missioner to make ANY" statement in his
own behalf; and overruled the point of or
der.
Mr.. Davis of Dougherty interrupted long
enough to ask and obtain unanimous con-
sent to withdraw a local bill filed by him
Tuesday, to amend the city charter OF
Albany.
The reading was resumed.
Regaining the floor when the reading
of Mr.. McLendons statement was con-
cluded at HE'S o'clock. Mr.. Persons OF
Monroe said:
Il was anxious for this matter to be
read just to show how utterly ridicu-
Ious II is for this house to attempt to
dispose of the governors message and
Mr.. McLendon's reply upon the floor OF
this house"
WASTED AN HOUR.
Again Mr.. Persons warned the house
against referring the matter to the gen.
eral judiciary committee. II would have
to go TO some committee, he said, but
not the general judiciary. He pointed out
that the house had wasted" almost an
hour OF its time listening to the state
ment of Mr. McLendon, just read. Mr..
Persons pointed out in the journal Of
the 1908 house Mr.. Hall OF Bib, who now
is opposing any interference by the SEN
ate in the McLendon matter, himself at
the last session made the motion refer
ring the matter to the joint committee
of the senate and house, which never re-
ported II back to the main body.
THAT was done, and we know 1t was
because Mr.. Brown himself did not want
this house TO take action upon his dis
missal from the railroad commission
Mr.. Wright of Floyd offered an amend
ment to the Hardeman resolution, Mr..
Hall OF Bib. who had just obtained re-
cognition, yielding the floor
WOULD INVESTIGATE CHARGES.