Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-12
Legislators Regret Limit IS Reached;
General Public ReIOlCes That
. All Over.
MANY FREAK BILLS INTRODUCED
Only Disposition of Assembiymen to
Dispute Every Measure Offered
Prevented Numerous Ridiculous
Ones From Going Throueh-Sever-
al Important Laws Enacted.
Especial to the Daily Press)

Especial 10 Inc Daily PreASJ.
ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 1.-THE
Georgia General Assembly adjourned
tonight with mix d feelings of regret
and pleasure. The Legislators regret
ted that the constitutional limit OF
the session had been reached; the
gen raj public rojoicod that the end
had come.
This session just terminated Will
probably so down history as the
one in which less real wcrk FOR the
public was accomplished, and more
freak legislation threatened than any
ether in the memory of the Oldest in
hsbitant. That much Cf the latter Was
defeated was due 10 the disposition
the assembly early displayed to dis
pute every bill introduced.
Two CT the measures which receiv-
ed the strongest support On the part
of the most advanced people, never
reached a hearing in either house.
One was the compulsory education
bill. 1t provided that each child in
the state undsr the age of IA must
attend school at least three months a
year.
Race Question Interfered.
The most effective argument used
against the bill and the one which
probably kept it from getting a hear
ing. was the color line" The o2po-
nents of the bill charged that it would
force the negro into the schools. give
them a better education than the
whites and make them more useless
than ever.
The other measure strongly en-
dorsed was one to submit the consti-
tutional amendms Mt to the people. 10
decide whether or not the legislature,
instead of meeting eacn year should
meet only upon each alternate year.
A bill which would have placed a
heavy tax upon all foreign corpora
tions doing business in the state and
another to provide for a game warden
were killed.
Freak Bills Numerous.
But it was in the Introduction Of
freak bills that the Legislators shone.
There was one which would prevent
females over the age of twelve. not
circus riders" from riding astride,
A bin to permit the carrying of pis-
tolls if worn "cut ide the outer cloth
ing" was fayorably reported. as was
one to prohibit the carrying of any
deadly w aron less than two feet
long. Neither was passed.
Dogs were asse ssed a state tax OF
81 fer males and 50 for females. but
a motion to tax automobiles was voted
down.
Among the useful bills pass was
one increasing the appropriations for
common schools from two millions
and a quarter to two millions and a
half. appropriation Of money for termi-
nails at Chattanooga, Tenn. for the
Western & Atlantic Railway. owned
by the state; to keep a supply Of an
ti-toxin on hand in each county IN
state: 90 require ne daily distinction
on railway coaches and 10 make the
use CT defamatory language about .
woman a peniteatiary offense.
Secret Society Bill Passed.
In its ia.e hours. the senate agreed
upon the secret society bill whir
originated in the hcasc and II became
law. II maxi It pcnitentiarT Of
Tense for any man not a member o;
a regularly organized society to ado-i
OF wear the cmblcms cr rcgalia OF
ssid society. u Is aimed at negroes
and was pazs 4 a. the request Ct
Pyihisus and Eiks. whose sociciics
the negroes we're pretending 90 have
Joined.
High ~Nrsr Beer License.
The high license bill imposes a
state tax Ct $1,000 on wholesale deal
,Is and manufactures o: near Dccr
and a tax Of $500 On retailers. Con.
fcdcrate Veterans arc not exempted
from the payment Of the tax.
The resolution cndorzing the pro
posed income tax amendment - ths
Federal constitution. failed o. passage
4 jCsat resolution providing Tor .
committee 10 investiga;e tn charEs
made against The state asylum for the
insane BY the special committee a.
pointed b. former Governor Smith