Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-08
HOUSE BILL LOST
FOR EDUCATION
BY CONFUSION
Many Speeches Are Made for
and Against Measure Re-
ported FavorabIy by SubSti-
tute
PASSES BILL FOR CLEAN
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

All OF Thursdays session. Win Nne
exception OF a brief period or two early
after converting. was given over by the
house OF representatives TO considera-
ton OF the compulsory education bill.
And after long debate and much talk,
the bill was lost at 1850 o'clock when
a number OF the members had gone to
lunch. for lack OF six votes.
The fight will be resumed Friday, or
possibly next week, notice Of motion 10
reconsider the defeat being given before
adjournment On Friday the house
will take up the income tax resolution
again. continuing it as unfinished bus
mess.
One more step toward pure city cleo
lions will have been taken IL the senate
adopts and the governor signs the meas
urs which the house OF representatives,
adopted by vote OF 1Is to 4. Thursday
morning.
Such q measure. proposed by Mr.. Nc
Carthy. OF Chatham. 10 prohibit city Of
nciaIs and employees from acting as
managers IN elections for mayor and alder
men. in cities OF not less than 1000 pop
ulatIon according to the census of 1900
nediateIy after that body got down to
business. Thursday morning.
Mr.. McCarthy's bill was reported for
passage by the corporations COMMITTEES,
with an amendment making 1t read 5000
population
Mr.. Wright, Of Floyd. at request of
the author OF the bill, explained its pur-
poses. saying that IT is aimed at improp-
erly Influenced elections and that IT is
to keep city officials and employees from
working At the polls.
Mr.. Fields. OF Crisp. wanted to know
what was meant by working" Mr..
Wright explained that he meant oficiat-
ing as managers or clerks
MADE SCOPE WIDER
Mr.. Alexander. of DeKAlb. wanted to
know why q measure Of such good intent
should not apply to all incorporated
towns OF the state without regard TO pop
ulation- Mr.. Wright agreed with this
view.
Mr.. FuIIbrIght. OF Burke. objected to
one OF the bills provisions that no votes
polied at q ballot box where a city Of
ncial or empIoye Illegally presides, shall
be counted This, he said, visited the
penalty on the voter whereas II should
be put on the oficial violating the Law.
Mr.. SIade. OF Muscogee. said that citi-
xens would take care that the right men
were presiding over their elections II that
provision stayed in.
Mr.. Porter. OF Floyd. moved to table
the bill, TO give Mr.. FuIIbright's idea a
chance TO project IL. The motion was
lost Mr.. FuIbright offered an amend
ment striking the Objectionable provision
and inserting in its place that any per-
son violating the law should be punished
zrn % Nfaa Ia
This was adopted
Amendment by Mr.. Edwards, OF Wal
ton. that the population limit be stricken
and ANY incorporated city in said state
be inserted instead. gave way to an
amendment OF the same intent by Mr..
Mcfarland. OF Mcintosh. simply striking
the mention Of population The MacFar-
land amendment was adopted. then the
whole measure as amended was enacted
BY the house.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION BILL
After reports OF standing committees
had been read. and about a score OF new
bills introduced, the house at 1910
O'Clock got down to the big business OF
the day-the compulsory education bill.
to which several members OF the house
have contributed.
In the measure before the house all the
best portions OF the bills proposed by
these gentlemen had been combined by
the committee. The committee used
house bill No. 81. by Mr.. Littleton. OF
Richmond. as the basis for its report. and
recommended the passage OF this bill by
the substitute which IL. the committee.
had prepared
Mr. LIttIeton, OF Richmond, author OF
the main bill, was recognized by Speaker
Holder on behalf OF the measure before
the house. Mr.. Lttleton argued elo-
quently for the youth Of the state whom
the bin seeks 20 save from the mental
darkness OF illfteracy TO which an alarm
ing proportion OF their number Is being
yearly doomed
Mr.. Ldttleton's plea was an impassion-
ed prayer on behalf Of neglected chill
dren-"2o.oo0 Of them. who are growing
up TO be burden TO the state
Mr. LAttleton argued the tremendous
possibilities OF young human life. which
should be carefully nurtured and devel-
oped so that the nation can profit, and
not suffer, by them He painted the
touching picture OF a friendless. parent
less child allowed by q state supposedly
paternal 10 lose the rich opportunities
before II. and not only that. but to de-
veiop the other side OF the nature, that
means danger to the states own safety.
And then, carrying this picture on. he
showed the careless. ignorant parent
charged with child life and content TO
smother It IN ignorance
DERIDED THIS CLAIM.
Mr.. IattIsyon derided the claim made
BIZ some that ignorance is necessary.
The state must act either In building
school houses or jails.' said he. He
pointed out that the dumb animals are
IN many ways more fortunate than young
snes OF ne human race In Georgia
A large number OF amendments were
read after Mr.. Littleton concluded
Mr.. Baker, Of Lumpkin. attacked the
measure, saying that st cuts at the very
vttais Of the liberties OF the people Of my
state" The word ''compulsion," he said,
has been q stencil in the nostrils of civiY
nation since the days OF the Revolution.
Il yield 10 no man In interest in educa-
ton" said Mr.. Baker. recalling that ne
had served as county school commission
srs and trustee OF q state institution.
but there Is a proper way TO do every
thing"
Mr.. Bakers attack upon the bill was
challenged time and again by vigorous
questions from all parts OF the house.
Mr.. Hardeman. Of Jefferson. was rec
oenized when Mr.. Baker concluded.