The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-07-20
DEPARTMENT PROBE
MOTION ADOPTED.
WHO SHOULD COMPOSE THE
MEMBERSHIP or COMMITTEE
TO PROBE DEPARTMENT.
AULT RESOLUTION ADOPTED
Representative Hall of Bihb in De-
bate Denounces the Guano Tax
as illegal.

OF agriculture, was adopted by the
house Tuesday, after considerable de-
bate as to who should compose the
membership of the committee which
would conduct the investigation.
The agricultural committee intro
duced an amendment which favored
membership composed solely of the
farmers. One representative was OPP
posed to having any lawyers on the
committee, contending that their spe-
cial field was on the judiciary com
mittee.
Representative Hall of Bib, how.
ever, opposed this feeling. He de-
clared that he was against any sort
of class distinction. He would OPP,
pose resolution favoring any special
class, he said, in opposition to any
other class He introduced an amend
ment leaving the membership to the
speaker.
There was considerable debate on
the amendments. Finally both were
lost, and the Ault resolution in its
original form was adopted by the
members.
The resolution provides that ma
jority of the membership of the inVes-
tigating committee shall be composed
of farmers.
The Ault resolution providing for an
investigation of the state agricultural
department was read for passage, and
provoked a heated discussion because
of an amendment proposed by the
agricultural committee, which provid.
ed that the investigation committee
should consist only of farmers.
While Mr.. Fulbright of Burke was
speaking against this amendment, Mr.
Hollis of Taylor asked him why it
was that the lawyers wished to ge.
on this committee?
"Why don't you let the farmers
manage their own affairs?" he ques-
toned. "You have lawyers on the
judiciary committee, why not farmers
on this investigating committee?"
Farmers employ lawyers to repre-
sent them in the courts" answered
Mr.. Fulbright, "why not to represent
them at this investigation where sub
penas will be issued and witnesses
called?"
Mr.. Hall Immediately introduced an
amendment leaving it with the speak
er to appoint any committee he
thought advisable.
~Class distinction should not be
made here he declared, speaking to
his amendment. "This legislature
should represent everyone, and should
prefer neither farmer nor lawyer"
I'VE ere all equal. warn yol nov
you adopt this and you will adopt
one of the most dangerous precedents
this legislature ever set.
Because thousands of dollars are
drawn yearly from the farmers OF
Georgia by this internal guano tax,
does not make this department the
property of the farmers. This tax
is illegal; it is in direct violation of
the constitution of the state of Geor.
gia."
Mr.. Cabaniss of Oglethorpe, former
president of the Georgia Farmers Uhs
ion spoke warmly in support IF the
amendment restricting the member
ship to farmers He said that he was
the author of this amendment and
that it was not meant as a reflection
on any one, but that farmers were
best able to make this investigation
and should compose the committee.
The amendment of the agricultural
committee providing that only farm
ers should be appointed on the COM
mittee to investigate the agricultural
department was put to vote and was
defeated.
The Hall amendment providing that
the speaker should appoint any one on
this committee whom he chose was
also defeated.
The house then adopted the original
resolution authorizing that the ma
jority of this committee shall consist
of practical farmers.
After this vote, the house took a
recess until noon when it balloted on
the election Of United States sena.
tor.
The following bills were Tuesday
morning introduced in the house:
By Mr.. Armand of Rockdale and
Mr.. Brown of Fulton-To prevent own
ers of cemeteries to interfere with
burial of dead by prescribing arbitra-
ry regulations.
By Mr.. Ragsdale of Paufding-To
permit town of Dallas to levy ad valo-
rem tax for school purposes,
BY Messrs. Slade and Wohlernder-
To pay widow of A. A. ,Phelts $1,000.
Will Serve Until December.
Atlanta will serve until De-
cember to crafty those who want
me to serve"
So declared Hoke Smith, governor
Of Georgia, United States senator
elect, from the top Of a settee in the
ante-room CT the executive Office a
few minutes after the ballots were
/ tn ~ Tnff TOD