Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-12
SENATE DEBATES ON
ANTI-L0BBYIN6 MEASURE
Resolution for Committee Re-
port ArouSeS Discussion on
Merit of Measure

A resolution signed by "a senator's. call
] ing for the committee on banks and
banking 10 be instructed to meet at
once and report back Immediately on
the Wright anti-lobby bill, to which Vt
had been referred Monday. started de-
bate in the senate on Tuesday morning.
The resolution was handed in by Sena-
tor Jackson.
Senator Howard Thompson made the
first speech for it's adoption
This anti-lobbying bill 1 regard Of so
much Importance that the senate should
not adjourn until 1t has been passed or
rejected said he. 1T has been claimed
the bill reflects on the senate. 1 say il is
reflection on the senate IL it doesn't
pass the bill. There is no senator who
wouldn't lay down his life to keep pure
and undefled the atmosphere of home.
church or judiciary. In a court OF law
an attorney openly represents his client.
II has been claimed there is no danger
from lobbyists. I say If we are. we
are different from every other state in
the union-and We ought to pass this law
to keep them away. The senator who
claims he is ignorant of this influence
should go home and surrender his COM
mission. There is a demand by the people
and every senator knows it. 1t was an
unheard OF procedure to refer this sort of
legislation to the committee on banks
and banking"
COMMITTEE HADN'T TIME.
Senator Thompson used his full ten
minutes. Several senators were on their
rect when he finished. The chair aim
ing TO give both sides an equal show,
recognized Senator Julian McCurry. He
took the ground that the banking COM
mittee hadn't had time to consider the
bill He denied that the antagonists Of
the bill were trying to strangle it, He
endeavored to show the bill to be a Pop
ulist measure.
Next spoke Senator Jackson. He
went back and read from the constitu-
ton Of 1877. a paragraph in which lob
bying is declared to be a crime. He was
aware there is a law against it, but IL
is a oag1telle, ne declared. He ridi-
culed the claim Of Senator McCurry that
there is no demand by the people for
such legislation why that was one of
the issues on which he was elected" as
serted Mr.. Jackson.
That an unwarranted reflection had
been cast upon the senate by Senator
Jackson. was the weight Of Senator IT.
wins remarks. To pass the Wright bill,
he argued. would be an admission that
the senate is afraid TO face a lobbyist.
An amendment TO change at once" and
instruct the banking committee to report
at o'clock instead, was sent in by Sen
ator Slater. He spoke for it. II would
be a reflection on the committee to re-
Quire them to report at once, he thought.
He said no clap-trap "demagoguery'
could catch his vote,
EXPLAIN THEIR VOTES.
The previous question was called by
Senator Harrel and Senator Calhoun
called the ayes and nays. Explaining his
vote. he said he'd like to know why the
advocates OF the bill had waited until the
very last OF the session TO bring Il up.
Senator Longley said he was going TO
wait until the bill came up and offer an
amendment to prohibit the governor from
'Iobbying'-even 10 the extent OF swing
musicales.
Senator Morris said he hadn't called
the banking committee because he wasn't
sure ,after AL this hurrah" started but
what IL would be withdrawn. He said he
was opposed to the bill. and his COM
mittee was, too, and there wouldn't be
any trouble getting an adverse report
The Slater amendment was voted down,
Is TO "a; and then the resolution was put
on passage, the chair explaining the ef-
feet of an aye and nay vote.
The resolution was adopted, 30 to IL
Senator Longley rose TO sinquire IL the
members OF the committee didn't have a
constitutional right to stay in the senate
while Il was in session. The chair ruled
that would be up to their consciences.
whereupon Senator Norris said he didn
propose TO be stampeded. and would re
tain his seat in the senate as long as IL
remained in session.
WOULD MOVE FOR RECESS.
Very well, conceded Senator Jackson,
he'd move to take a 15-minute recess.
senator Slater proposed 30 minutes in
stead. which was acceptable. Senator
McCurry moved as a substitute that the
senate adjourn until 9 o'clock Wednesd-
day On this and all other amendments
Senator Calhoun called for the ayes and
nays Then Senator Burwen PLEADED
with the senate not to waste time. Un-
der the explanation privilege Senator
THOMPSON held UP Senator Norris action
for a terrific arraignment. He declared
that for the chairman Of committee to
refuse to report on a bill when they had
been respectfully asked to, was outrag-
eotis and without parallel He declared
the chairman Of any standing commit
tee would have Just as much right to re-
fuse TO pass on any measure during the
entire session. He called upon senator
Morris as chairman Of the committee
either to pass upon the bill or hand II
back to the senate.
VOTE FOR ADJOURNMENT.
The motion to adjourn until o'clock
wednesday got only one vote. Even
senator McCurry. who made 1t, voted
against Il. The vote was a to l.
BY the time the roll call was finished
Senator jackson was ready with COM
promise, and asked to withdraw his mo-
lion for a so-minute recess and substitute
instead a motion to give the COMMITTEES
until 8 o'clock. But he couldn't 90 this
until the parliamentary status had oeen
Rt,Nv& 20 40 wa -
consider the resolution. This done, the
hank committee was asked to have its
report ready by o'clock, and so ended
a fight which had lasted more than two
hours.
At $50 o'clock the committee voted to
report adversely on the Wright anti-loo-
By biIl Its report will be submitted to
the senate at 8 o'clock for final consid-
GRAFTON.