Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-21


BY vote of 50 to the anti-lobbsing
bill Of Senator w. ]. Harris Of the 18th
district passed the senate Thursday
morning, and. although the opposition
was numerically small, It waged prob
ably the hottest fight OF the session
Senators Ennis and Crawford were the
only ones who spoke IN opposition to
the bill OF the other two voting against
the measure. one explained tina he voted
no because he did not understand the
bill.
The bill requires every attorney or
agent for any special interest to- Tile
with the secretary OF state the narn.s or
the firm represented and why he ia en-
ployed and also to file en- itemIzed &C
count OF his expenditures. The MEASURE
prohibits lobbyists from going on the
floor Of either branch of the Legislature,
but allows them to appear before COM
mittees.
This Is one of the important reform
measures advocated by Governor Smith.
which he failed to get enacted during his
first administration.
Senator E. A. Copelan moved that the
bill be tabled temporarily, because. he
slid, he thought that fully twothIrds
OF the senator's are not familiar with its
contents, and that copies should be
ton was lost.
One of the longest debates of the
present session Of the senate ensaed
Senator Harris defended his bill by as
sorting that the people want the bin and
have wanted it for years and asserted
that the anti-lobbying bill has been
killed before through politics and un-
fair legislation. He said that It has
been charged that the senate of Gsor-
gia was controlled by corporations and
that this bill would go far toward max
ing this impossible.
Senator W. H Ennis OF the aga OPP
posed the bill. saying that 1t was i'm
perfect and ridiculous and q reflection
on the senate" He didn't believe, he
said, that bills had been killed IN the
senate through the influence Of corpor-
atoms.
Senator Emmett Shaw OF the 18th
spoke in defense Of the bill saying that
the state is cursed by men whose BUSH
ness is not known to the public.
Senator w. H Crawford Of the Gath
took sides with the opposition on this
grounds that the present law Is am
pie ana that the law would do nothing
except help NIL the statute books.
The defense of the measure was con =.
tinued by Senator ]. E. Sheppard, OF the
18th, who said that an anti-lobbying
bill is imperative and that 1t Is general
ly conceded that the people demand the
new law.
Senator W. 7. Roberts argued that
the bill would do away with underfand
Legislation. and that every lobbyist
would be identified.
HERE EVEN NOW.
Senator Shaw appeared for q second
time. Even now" he said. IT believe
that there are men within the walls Of
this senate who are promoting personal
interests. but whose business Is not
known to the public
The previous question was called. The
bill was passed by vote Of IS 10 4. Those
opposing the bill were Senators Ci,aw-
ford, Ennis, Morris and Spence. Senator
Spence voted no because he said that
he did not understand the text Of the
bin thoroughly enough to indorse its
passage.
The bill of Senator Dickerson calling
for the drainage OF swamp lands was Ia
bled temporarily, because Of the desire Of
number OF the senators TO familiarize
themselves with its contents
AULT RESOLUTION.
Various matters ON minor importance
were disposed of and then Senator Shep-
pard, of the 18th. asked unanimous con-
sent that the time for hearing the Ault
resolution, providing for an Investigation
of the department of agriculture, be set
for 70 o'clock