The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-25
MEN CONTROL ASSEMBLY Georgia Legislature Meets
 Wednesday, June 2S SENATORIAL FIGHT Both Terrell and Governor Smith Are Confident of Going to the United
 States Senate-Liquor Leg
 islation Is Important

1
 While majority of the legislature is generally conceded to be politically aligned with Gov.-elect Hoke Smith, it is now quite apparent that the oppos- ing forces will organize both houses, so far as their leading offices are con- cerned.
 Senator John NJ. Slaton of the Thirty ffth who was president of the last senate, and John N. Holder of Jackson, who was speaker of the last house, will both be elected to those positions hav- ing completely swept away the opposi- tion of candidates on the other side of the political fence.
 Likewise Charles S. Northern will go in as secretary of the senate and John T. Bofeuillet of Macon as clerk of the house, without opposition. Both, of them have held these offices for the last ten years or more. These, of course, are the most inn portant offices in the gift of the legisla- ture, appertaining to that body. Some of the minor offices. like speaker pro tenn of the house, doorkeepers, ser geant arms, and the like, may go to those politically aligned with the new governor, but the indications are that even these will be divided between the two cities.
 The next step in organization will be the appointment of the standing com mittees, and little work will be done until these are named It usually takes about ten days to get the committees appointed and started to work. In the meantime bills will be introduced and other matters not requiring commit tee consideration will be given atten- tion.
 The first event of consequence will be the inauguration of Governor Smith on Saturday, July l. No steps have been taken this year to make this an impos- ing scene and occasion as was done four years ago when Governor Smith first went into the governors office. His first inauguration was accompanied by a lengthy parade in which Holxe Smith clubs from all over the state partici- pated. The military also turned out and the inauguration was held on the capi- tol grounds outside the building. the hall of the house of epresentatives which had always been used prior to that time, not being considered spa cious enough for so important an oc- cason.
 When Joe Brown was inaugurated. he walked over 10 the capitol and the ceremony took place in the hall of the house in accordance with previous cus- tom. That is the way it will probably be this year, though it is possible Gov ernor Smith will ride over in his auto- mobile accompanied by friends, instead Of walking it in the hot sun. But the outdoor Inauguration. it is stated, is not to be repeated, and the old custom will prevail.
 Ordinarily under the situation now con fronting the state. the legislature would proceed to ballot for United States sena- tor, each house voting separately, the first Tuesday after the opening of the session. But that happens to be d holiday, | the Fourth of July, so that the first ballot will not be taken until the Tuesday following, July Il. The day following the two houses must meet in joint session and ballot for senator. thus formally de- ciding the election.
 The senatorial election is to be a con- test between Senator Joseph M. Terrell and Gov. Hoke Smith, with some others claiming to hold the balance of power Governor Smith is not an announced can didate and will not be; yet he and his friends think he will be chosen on the first ballot
 Senator Terrell's friends hotly contest this claim. and insist that his election Is now practically assured. Senator Terrell has opened headquarters in the 1<imball house., and from Monday on he will be there until the contest is over It is somewhat uncertain what figure, l T,,I.. tr.sa .f ..a1 l tre is going to cut. He has never with l drawn from the race and, it is said, is l claiming some go votes. Some time ago his strength was conceded to be about 25. | His friends have -contended that he would | hold the balance of power and al lea ast have say in the naming of the new sen ator.
 Comes also one Thomas E. watson, who contends and insists that he controls the balance of power in the legislature that 1 he is in a position to dictate the cofrse | of 26 to 27 votes; that he proposes to come to Atlanta and open headquarters and to fight the election of a senator until the people of the state have been given an opportunity to say in primary whom | they want to represent them in the United | States Senate.
 | MT. Watson, of course, is fighting Gov ernor Smith He says he has no personal 1 designs upon the senatorship, but that l the people have not been given a square deal in the matter of the selection of d senator, owing to the failure of the state executive committee to call a primary, and he proposes to see that they get it. His plan is, it is said, to block the elec- ton of a senator until provision Is made for a primary and the choice of senator
 is submitted to ballot Whether he can do this or not remains to be seen. but
 that is what he says he is aiming at.
 Governor Smith has to combat the con
 tention in certain quarters that he was
 elected governor to carry out certain
 plans, and that it is his duty to remair
 governor until he has ehdeavored at lea s
 to put into operation the principles which
 he advocated. Governor Smiths friend.
 say this will not affect him; others nsis
 that will prove his Waterloo.
 Altogether this legislature is going tc
 prove one of the busiest the state has
 seen in some time. Besides all it's other
 sion general appropriations and genera
 tax laws for the ensuing two years. There
 are no pieces of legislation to which moro
 time is given. and it is usually the las
 day of the session before they are finally
 put through. Failure to enact either ont
 of them would necesstate extra ses
 sion They concern the states income
 and the manner of it's expenditure. This tincome is now something more than sj.. 000,000 a year, still it is far from adequate
 tc meet the many wants of the various
 state institutions.
 Of course there will be an effort
 made to increase the states income. This
 cannot be done through the general tax
 as that is fixed bv the constitution at
 mills, and the full amount is now levied | A..a Dat tl,.xt ,t.l