Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-29
Special Message of Governor
Smith Is Taken From Commits
tee of Whole By Vote OF
81 to II.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL
CHANGES FRONT,
VOTING TO RECONSIDER
It Is Now Probable That That
Matter Will Be Sent to Sipe-
cial Committee-House Al
iourned Automatically at lie.

BY the closest vote thus far recorded
in the house-S1 to 72-the lower house OF
the general assembly voted Monday morn
ing to reconsider its former action sub
hitting to committee of the whole Gov
ernor Smiths special message regarding
the suspension of Chairman McLendon-
And so the whole matter comes back
to the house itself, for such other dispo-
sition as the members care to make Of IL
1t will probably be referred to a special
committee, though hardly to a joint COM
mittee such as the resolution already
adopted by the senate calls for. Nothing
could be done with the matter Monday
because the vote was not completed and
the result was not declared until lilo
O'Clock, ten minutes after the hour set for
the adjournment of the house; and the
session adjourned automatically at once
after the conclusion of the vote.
The most remarkable feature in con-
nection with the vote was the change OF
front on the part of Representative Hall
of Bibb county, on whose motion 1t was
several days ago that matter went into
committee of the whole house.
Mr.. Hall had previously led the fight to
keep the matter in the committee of the
whole. During the morning, even, he had
been aggressive in opposition to the at
tempt to get 1t out of the hands OF the
whole committee. But when in the calling
of the roll his name was reached, Mr..
Hall arose to vote AYE" Cfavoring the
resolution to take it away from the COM
mittee of the whole), and briefly explains
ed his vote by saying that In the commit
tee Of the whole no evidence could be
heard.
MANY VOTES CHANGED.
Already, before Mr.. Hall spoke. there
had been a decided break in the opposi-
ton sentiment which he had theretofore
led. Members had voted nay and al
most Immediately, hearing the explana-
ton of some voter in the opposition had
arose to state that they had voted under
a Misrepresentation and desired to change
their vote.
So frequent in fact, did these become,
that the rule of the house had to be APP
piled. and all further changes OF vote had
to be deferred till the calling of the roll
was completed. And after Mr.. Hall sud
denly uncovered his new attitude, the
sweep of the votes was AYE" upon the
resolution, leaving all who had voted be-
fore him and who wished to change their
vote to wait until the last and declare
the change for themselves.
In many ways the Developments OF the
morning in the lower house on the Nc
Lendon matter, as it is known, We're wor-
thy of remark and hard to understand.
Bitter opposition to the resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Persons of Monroe county.
recalling the matter froT1 the COMMITTEES
of the whole, had been confidently ex-
pected. There was some, even at that.
but it died away. A hard fight had been
looked for, and for time a hard one
was waged, as the close votes testifies.
But the victory was easier than the
friends Of the resolution had dared to
hope.
1t is looked on as probable that the
matter will go later to a COMMITTEES Of
the house alone, by which it will be re-
ported back to the house, and on the
report Of which the house will act be-
fore it recognizes the senate in the
matter.
Following his formal notice, given Sat
urday Mr.. Persons of Monroe. at 12:15
o'clock Monday Immediately after the
house of representatives had seated the
member from Ben HILL moved that the
house reconsider its previous action IN
submitting to a committee of the whole
Governor Smiths special message regard
ing the suspension of Railroad Cornrnis-
sioner McLendon.
Mr.. Anderson of Chatham called for the
ayes and nays. The call was barely sus-
tanned, by IS out of 50 members voting
for it.
Mr.. Alexander of DeKalb explained his
aye vote.
Mr.. Alexander Of Fulton explained his
nay vote. The method suggested (the
special committed is inadequate, he said
The house alone is fully competent to act
1t does not need special committee.
Mr.. Anderson of Chatham explained his
nay vote. IF you ever let this question
get away from you into the hands of q
special committee you can horer and hol-
Ter and you won't get it back, especially
if 1t goes into the hands of joint COM
mittee. The same thing would happen
that happened last year-you wouldn't
get it back"
Mr.. Ault of Polk explained his nay vote.
Mr.. Barrett of Stevens explained his
nay vote The program is already map
ped out" he warned, Ito take it away
from you and put it in the hands of .
special committee, where it will stick.
Mr.. Persons of Monroe appeared to take
exception to this. and wanted to inter
rupt but Mr.. Barrett declined to yield
the floor, explaining, however, that he had
intended no personal imputation. Mr. Bar
rett charged that Governor Smith dis
regarded the constitution of Georgia.
Mr.. Putt % EG=-tn ~zcl".=SS1 his ~
vote.
Mr. Alexander of DeKalb interrupted
with the question: rs there any way BY
which testimony can be taken on the
floor of this house in committee CT the
Whole?'
Mr.. Ellis of Bib explained his nay vote
II decline to delegate my duty as a
judge on this question to any Joint COM
mittee."
Mr.. Fullbright Of Burke explained his
nay vote. Nothing else can come up this
week except matters of this nature, and
new business so this house itself has
plenty Of time to do the work which It
would delegate to . COMMITTEES.
A
Mr.. Guyton- Of bingham explained his
aye vote. There is no limit to discussion
in the committee of the whole. he said
The previous question cannot be called
for. The discussion would be interInina~
ble.'
Mr.. HALLS SURPRISE
Mr.. Hall. Of Bfbb, sprang the surprise
of the morning by voting in favor OF