Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-13
As One Woman Sees 7'hhnsg
By Mrs. w. H. FELTON,


The plain duty of our legislators, as 1
see IT, Is retrenchment in expenditures
and taxation and the adjustment OF use
less ofices in Georgia. might add aiso'
the substitution of biennial sessions lot
those we now have, and which would nat
uraIly fall under the head of retrench-
ment and reform.
The retiring governor called for the
adjustment of the prison commission
because he saw very clearly that one
man could easily do the work, under
changed conditions, after the demise OF
the old convict lease system, and the
necessity for a change is so plainly marx
ed that he who runs may read.
The Investigation OF last year cost the
taxpayers a huge sum OF money, and that
money will be worse than wasted II the
commission is continued, by reason OF
sympathy for the commission or indifrer-
ence to this plain call Of civic duty.
A public official is essentially public
servant. His work should stand the test
or It should be rebuked In positive and
essential way. This is both just and
honest to all parties
There is a growing feeling of restless
ness against the idea of giving out public
offices which are indirectly, but absolute
| ly, intended for pensions, and infiicting
useless burdens on the treasury of the
state by continuing useless offices because
of sympathy or lazy apathy. Therefore,
the wise and capable legislator will take
prompt steps to clean OF the debris
which attached to the convict lease sys-
tenn of Georgia and give the new system a
clean road to travel under this new ORDER
OF things. Doubtless the old system was
80 ciogged that Solomon himself would
have been bewildered with the grip that
greed and graft had upon 1t, but there is
now no reason why useless appendage
| cannot be clipped off ana the state re-
lieved of burden that is useless.
I believe the people of Georgia are also
heartily tired of the present system oi
electing Judges by the people. OF the
| three ways that have been tried-appClnt-
ment by the executive has been most
satisfactory. The selection by the leg
islatGre was very Objectionable because
of plain abuses, and election at the poll:
IL shown to be even worse in dangers and
hlndra1ces.
OF course the governor will be In
fuenced by friendship or ambition
but the state can fix responsibility
in his case, and it couldn't in the
other plans He will look about hin
carefully when he knows he has to an.
swer for the selections he makes and II
| the ether two ways 1t is a tors up al
/ last and nobody to bear the blame fol
unwise appointees in such matters.
In the year 1850 1t was orcHly charged
that grrat railroad syndicate agreed tC
pay a large amount to a campaign FUND
IL a certain lawyer should be elevated
to the supreme bench of The United
States in return for this money. Thii
railroad syndicate was also working II
the interest of certain United States
senators in various states and usinG
| money to defeat congressman even dowr
| In Georgia, to control what they called
Favorable legislation" in congress, and
the syndicate controlled the state cleo
tions and secured the selection Of judge
on the supreme bench according to pre-
| election contract, as charged, but tho
Only thing that stuck: the only thing
that could be identified, and the ONLY
shame that was securely fastened down
was this appointment of justice to th'
| supreme bench and as long as our civic
history is kept in our public records the
executive who appoints a judge for {
quid pro quo. will bear the stigma thai
pertains to II, world without end.
SO sane and sensible a paper as Har-
pers Weekly, commenting on this very
incident a few years later, copied into its
cOluInnS from the new IOFk llIneS ana
( the Chicago Herald the broad allegation
that eighteen senators were then occupy
| ing seats in the senate chamber who were
| absolutely owned by certain railroad syn
dicates, but they continued to sit, be-
cause there was no way TO get at the in
fluenee which seated them in the highest
| legislative body on this continent. while
certain justices on the supreme bench were
accredited to the appointing power with
out hesitation, and identified by name.
When a governor selects a Judge you
know how he got there. and If the judge
proves unworthy or unfit you know where
to lay the blame, and vice versa II he is
exceptionally good you know how to
| thank the appointing power.
There is a great amount Of talk about
ourbing railroad cupidity and making pub
lie carriers obey the law, but they will
1