The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-06-30
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE
is NOW IN SESSION


Atlanta, Ga.-The Georgia legisla-
ture is now in session
Promptly at the stroke Of 10 o'clock
Wednesday morning the gavel Of Pres
ident John M. Slaton of the senate
and that Of Speaker John N. Holder
OF the house Of representatives, sim
ultaneously called the two branches OF
the legislative body to order and the
general assembly of 1910 started out
upon the annual legislative grind.
Practically every member of both
houses was in his seat when the roll
was called.
The order Of business in both hous.
es was practically the same. The
house, however, as is customary, took
the initiative. After prayer by Rev.
j. J. Bennett Of Atlanta, committee
was appointed by Speaker Holder to
notify the senate and the governor
that the house was in session and
was awaiting the message Of the chief
executive.
With that formalilty disposed Of,
the governors message was submit
ted to both houses.
The legislature found conditions
very much changed in the legislative
halls from what they were when last
they saw them. Both halls have been
thoroughly renovated, new carpets
have been placed on the floors, the
walls have been cleaned and other
improvements have been made in the
appearance Of the place where the
general assembly holds its delibera-
tons.
One of the questions in which the
general assembly will probably be
most interested will be Governor
Browns report of his action declining
to buy the terminal property for the
state road at Chattanooga, bill au-
thorizing the purchase having been
passed by both houses last summer.
Although the legislature could, II
1t saw ct, pass another bill prOvid-
ing for the purchase of the property,
it is not believed this will be done,
as the legislature did not go on rec
ord as insisting on the purchase
merely leaving it optional with the
governor and relying upon his judy
ment in the matter.
When the governor was criticised
by some Of his opponents for not max
ing the purchase of the property the
charge was made that. the law was
mandatory and that the act of the
general assembly committed the gov
ernor to the purchase. Practically
all legislators who have expressed
themselves on the subject, including
Hon. H. H. Perry, Governor Browns
opponent, have stated that at the
time the bill was passed they held
the opinion that it was not manda-
tory.
The legislature will also have put
mp to it the question OF abOllshing
the Office of county treasurer, bill
to that effect having been introduced
last summer. The measure was fran.
ed on the ground that the Office OF
county treasurer is a useless Office, a
sinecure, and that it is a waste Of
money to pay the salary.
1t is also probable that the legisla-
ture will consider the recommends
ton of Governor Brown that the rail-
road commission should be decreased
from five to three, with the abolition
of the Office of rate experts and spe-
eial attorney
The governor pointed out in his
message last summer that three ex-
perienced men on the commission can
do the work as well or better than
five, and that the rate expert and the
special attorney hold Offices for which
there is no necessity. He also pointed
out the increased expense entailed
upon the state by the existence OF
these offices.
There are two new senator's
ard Thompson Of Gainesville succeeds
H H. Perry, who resigned to become
candidate for governor; Senator
Bush of Thomasviile succeeds Sena-
tor Ward
There are three new representa-
tives-E B. Martin of Lee county,
Roy D. Stubs of Putnam and d. G.
Pickett of Terrell
X Mr.. Stubs is only % years old, and
so far as the records show, he is the
youngest member of the house.
A young man never entered poll
tics in such unique fashion. He was
elected to the legislature while stu
dent Of the Harvard Law School. He
never came home to conduct mis- cam
paign.
ln0 Legislature Will also lake up
the question of establishing bureau
of labor with commissioner Of labor
in charge of it, his duties, among 9TH
er things, being to gather information
and labor statistics for the informa-
ton of Industries which may wish
to locate in this state. The governor
recommended the creation of sucn q
bureau and bin carrying that pro
vision is now pending in the house.
Just how much work the legislature
will do this summer is not easy to-
figure out With several hundred
bills on the calendar there will be
no lack of something to do, but as
this is election year and numerous
members are figuring on reelection, it
is very probable that the trend Of
events in local county campaigns will
share the attention Of various and
sundry lawmakers.
Georgia News in Paragraphs.
Governor Brown made out a COM
mission for T. T. James to be solicit
-. % ~ offx1 nOt,rf ~ TtnnIrin Ga