Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-23
HOUSE PASSES UP
FREE PASS FIGHT
Representatives Refuse to Enact
Law Either Way-Hall Bill and
Amendments and Substitutes
Reversing It Are ALI Lost.

After probably the sharpest debate OF
the session thus far. not excluding even
that on the suspension of s. G. McLendon
from the railroad commission, the house
of representatives got back, Thursday,
where 1t had started from on Wednesday
in the matter of free passes or no free
passes on railroads in Georgia; and con-
cluded by leaving everything just where
It was in the beginning, with the order of
the railroad commission still in force and
no legislation to change 1t in any way.
The fight was started on the bill OF Mr..
Hall of Bib, prohibiting public utility
corporations from giving free service to
officers of the government or delegates to
political conventions. That began We'd
nesday Mr.. Moss of Cobb offered an
amendment prohibiting railway compa-
MES granting free transportation to any
but employees on its payrolls. Debate on
these two took up the time of the house
till adjournment, Wednesday. Thursday
morning it was resumed. An amendment
that was really a substitute putting into
force the Hepburn law was offered by Mr..
MacIntyre of Thomas.
Another amendment giving the railroad
commission of Georgia authority to pub
lish further regulations not in conflict
with the law, was proposed by Mr..
Wright of Floyd. All the amendments
were swept away and the bill of Mr..
Hall itself was knocked in the head and
buried when the house rejected the report
of the committee recommending it for
passage.
After the house convened, Thursday
morning, and sat for half an hour through
new bills, old bills, and other routine, the
Cd
and the anti-pass fight around the bill of
Mr. Hall of Bibb was on again, with Mr..
Anderson Of Chatham on the floor to con-
tinue his argument that had been inter-
rupted by adjournment Wednesday.
But the gentleman from Chatham had
little more to say. re summed up his
argument in dozen words, and left the
matter to other debaters.
, Mr. Alexander of DeKalb was recog-
nized, and in a strong speech opposed the
bill. "It would undo all the work that
has been accomplished" he said.
Mr.. MacIntyre of Thomas offered an
amendment, that was in reality substi-
tute, as 1t reframed the bill from cap
| ton to repeating clause, making specific
exceptions to a specific inhibition against
! free tickets or passes.
Mr.. Lovejoy of Troup spoke against the
measure, declaring that in no event
/ should it be adopted and that between it
and the present order of the railroad COM
| mission the latter Is preferable, as 1t
| leaves the commission to look after minor
! exceptions.
! WRIGHT HAS AMENDMENT.
| Mr. Wright of Floyd introduced an
| amendment giving the railroad commits
sion authority to make additional regula-
| lions not in conflict with the act.
| Mr.. Lewis of Hancock moved the pre-
vious question, and it was so ordered.
Speaking on the main question, Mr..
I Hall of Bib said:
: 1--WE have fallen upon strange lines. 1t
/ so turns out that my distinguished friend
I from Chatham has become leader
J among the reformers. Whenever see the
| gentleman from Chatham and the gentle
man from DeKalb get together on a
| question like this, get scared.
Several years ago 1 got together some
! political assets that thought were worth
something. When they got to be of value,
! certain parties here in Georgia decreed
! that 1 was politically dead and proceeded
! to administer on those assets, and sue
! ceeded in the short space of two years in
I sauandering all of them except this one.
: which 1 am fighting to save. They have
! squandered all the rest. They have picked
me as clean as a chicken, and now they
want to pick the rest.
with the exception of my friend from
/ DeKalb, every gentleman that has spoken
| against my bill is connected with rail-
! road. l have always fought the railroads
! on It, and now, by a curious combination,
/ l am fighting the railroads and reform
| school together"
WRIGHT AMENDMENT LOST.
The Wright amendment was, lost. The
Moss amendment met the same fate. The
! MacIntyre Of Thomas substitute-amend-