The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19
LEGISLATURE WILL
MEET IN ATLANTA
Several Hundred Bills Are AL
ready on Calendar
FOR BIENNIAL SESSIONS
Bill VIII Come Before the Lawmakers
to Provide for Biennial Meetings
of Legislature and other
Important Matters

1
Atlanta June lS.--(Special) 1.-THE
Georgia Legislature will convene
Wednesday in Atlanta and the annual
Legislative grind of so days dura-
tion will be on in earnest, with Presi-
dent John NJ. S1aton' of Atlanta ON
the job In the senate and with Speaker
John N. Holder of Jackson county
welding the gavel in the house.
The legislature will find 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 i'm
provements have been made which will
cause considerable improvement in the
appearance of the place where the gen
eral assembly holds its deliberations.
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 cleo
ton year and numerous members are
figuring on reelection, 1t is very prob
able that the trend of events in local
county campaigns will share the at
tentlon of various and sundry law
makers.
That Chattanooga Land
One of the questions in which the
general assembly will probably be most
interested will be Governor Browns re-
port of his action declining to buy The
terminal property for the state roao
at Chattanooga, bill authorizing the
purchase having been passed by both
houses last summer
Although the Legislature could, if il
saw fit pass another bill providing for
the purchase of the property, it is not
believed this will be done, as the
legislature did not go on record as in
sisting on the purchase, merely leav-
ing it optional with the governor and
relying upon his judgment in the mat
ter.
When the governor was criticised by
some of his opponents for not making
the purchase of the property the
charge was made that the law was
mandatory and that the act of the
general assembly committed the govsr-
nor to the purchase. Practically all
Legislators who have expressed them
selves on the subject, including Hon. H.
II. Perry, Governor Browns opponent,
have stated that at the time the bill
was passed they held the ouinion that
1t was not mandatory.
biennial Sesssons
One of the most important bills which
the legislature will consider and which
will probably be passed is the bill pro-
viding for biennial sessions. This bill
passed the senate last summer by a
safe majority and 1t is generally be-
lieved it will pass the house during the
| coming session. The sentiment In the
house last summer appeared to favor 1t.
| Another bill of general interest and OF
| considerable importance is that whicn
| provides for a repeal of the present reg
istration law which requires registration
| six months prior to an election. The re-
| peal of this bill recommended by
| Governor Brown in his message last year,
and following the reading of his message
bill In line with his recomme ndation
| was introduced. but was not reached
before the body adjourned 1t will come
| up this session and 1t is expected that
| 1t will bring on a very hot fight.
| The bill which provides that the state
should issue 100000 worth of bonds for
the purpose of making early payment,
| to the school teachers is also on the CAL
endar and will be taken up for consid-
GRAFTON this summer The passage of
such a bill was recommended by the
governor last year and 1t Is stated he
will urge it's passage again this year.
| Bureau of Labor
| The legislature will also take up the
| question of establishing a bureau of la
Dor with a commissioner of labor IN
| charge of 1t, his duties, among other
| things, being to gather information and
labor statistics for the information of
| Industries which may wish to locate In
| this state. The governor recommended
| the creation of such bureau and a bill
| carrying that provision Is now pending
| in the house.
The question of raising the salaries OF
the judges of the court of appeals from
$4,000 to $4,000 will also come up for con-
sideration A strong effort was made to
get this bill through last year, but 1t was
| unsuccessful. Those who believe the
judges should have an increase in theii
pay state that they will take another
chance at 1t this summer.
The legislature will also have put UT
to it the question of abolishing the office
of county treasurer, a bill to that effect
having been introduced last summer. The
measure was framed on the ground thai
the Office of county treasurer is use
less office, a sinecure, and that 1t is Q
waste of money to pay the salary.
As to Railroad Commission
It Is also probable that the Legislature
will consider the recommendation of Gov
ernor Brown that the railroad commits
sion should be decreased from five to
three with the abolition of the offices Of
rate expert and special attorney.
The governor pointed out In his mes
sage last summer that three experienced
men on the commission can do the worl
az well or better than five. and that the
rate expert and the special attorney hole
offices for which there Is no necessity
He also pointed out the increased expense
entaied upon the state by the existence
of these offices
The bill providing for the creation o
the office of state agent for the Western
and Atlantic railroad and another provid
ing that 100000 snail be appropriated TO
buying property on which an annex t,
the state capitol shall be located, are ais,
pending in the house, having been intro
duced by Hooper Alexander of DeKalh
and will probably be taken up for consid
Grafton this summer.