Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-12
SOLICITORS FEES ARE
CHANGED TO $4,000 PAY
House PASSES Senate Bill to
This Effect-Peachtree
Widening Bill Passed

solicitors general throughout Georgia
are removed from the fee system and put
on salaries of 5000 each per annum.
payable out Of the fees now received by
them, the surplus to go back to the coun-
ty treasury.
Peachtree street can be widened, so far
as the house of representatives is con-
cerned. II the senate concurs in the house
resolution, adopted Tuesday afternoon, to
20 feet along the front of the states
property at the governors mansion.
And the automobile registration bill be-
comes law when the governor signs it.
for the house has concurred In the senate
amendment which prohibits anyone driv-
ing car without the owners consent.
All those things were done by the house
at It's Tuesday afternoon session, which
was busy one from start to finish, with
debate limited on everything, the solicit
ors general salary bill attracting most
attention.
Mr. Hail. of Bib. attacked the Peach
tree widening resolution, which came up
after the automobile registration bill was
disposed of and after the house had
adopted the Alexander, of Fulton. resolu-
ton to authorize the governor
fifteen lawyers of the state, with
the chief justice Of the supreme court
and the chief judge OF the court of ap-
peals as ex-oficio members, to revise
the judicial system of the state.
ALEXANDER REPLIES.
Mr. Alexander, of DeKalb, repudiated
the arguments of Mr.. Hall.
THE people of Atlanta" said Mr.. Alex
ander, ARE public spirited people who
move on large lines. They are expecting
to get every foot of the land that will be
necessary for this widening
The vote was 100 for to 10 against
Among those voting against were Messrs
Heard, Of Dooly; Hall, of Bib; Hard
man, of Jackson; Persons, of Monroe.
and Stubs, of Putnam.
BY vote of 70 to 20 the house adopted
the Alexander, of DeKalb, resolution to
authorize the governor to accept as a
gift to the state certain property near
Tallulah Falls which the owner wishes
dedicated to park purposes.
A senate. bill requiring ordinaries and
county commissioners to pay insolvent
costs. to county officers was tabled out of
hand when the house learned that 1t was
equivalent to making counties pay insol-
vent costs for years back.
The bill to make II a crime to beat"
hotels was taken from the table.
Mr.. Boyd, Of Spalding. was the first
speaker on the bin to put solicitors gen.
eral on salaries. Mr.. Boyd attacked the
fee system without mercy making some
sensational statements against the way
things are worked under It,.
Mr.. Reese. Of Glynp. came next, OPP
posing the bill. 'T am in favor of abolish
ment Of the fee system" said he, but
want to see 1t intelligently lone"
Mr.. Allen Of Epson defended the bill.
This Is only the entering wedge" said
he land some legislature after us will
finish the Job and put everybody on sal
aries. Then we will abolish the solic-
itors general altogether and have coun-
ty attorneys on salaries
DARLINGTON ATTACKS BILL.
Mr.. Darlington OF Richmond attacked
the bill cit calls for an appropriation
out Of the state treasury" said he. TT 8
is a newspaper bill, not a bill Of the peo-
pie"
Mr.. Alexander Of DeKalb defended II,
urging his amendment which sought tot
make the counties instead of the stated
pay the salaries.
! Mr.. Fullbright Of Burke spoke against
the bill; Mr. Persons OF Monroe for 1t;
Mr.. Converse of Lowndes against ii.
Mr.. Lovejoy OF Troup offered an amend
ment and argued that; Mr.. Alexander or
DeKalb withdrawing his own because he
liked Mr.. Lovejoy's better.
Mr.. Porter of Floyd spoke vigorously
against the bill because, he said, the
friends Of II had admitted that they do 4
not know how much solicitors get by the
fee system. And it's your own fault"
said he. The records at your court
house will tell you in 20 minutes. There
never was a more ridiculous idea than
that the solicitors are rolling in fees"
He stated, in answer to a question, that
the solicitor of the Rome circuit got less
than $4,000 last year.
Mr. Ellis Of Bibb spoke forcefully for
the bill, though, said he, he was possess
ed by experience of the other viewpoint
through having served some time as So
licitor pro tenn in the Bibb circuit. II
have $4,000 insolvent costs against that
office now" said he. but 1 never claimH
vested right in it,"
Mr. Hardeman of Jefferson spoke
against the bill; Mr.. Peacock Of Pulaski
for it, and Mr.. Carswell Of wilkinson
against IT