Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-27
GEORGIA SO[ONS To
CONVENE WEDNESDAY
FOR BUSY SESSION
viii Elect U. S. Senator, Fight
on Prohibition Question, Act
on Plaza Bill, and Permit
Adjustment of ]. P.'S

The Georgia state legislature OF ls1i-
II viii convene and organize on Wednes-
day for an evsntful session
In addition to the election OF officers
of the general assembly and Of a sue
cessor to the late United States Senator
A. S. Clay, the Impression is becoming
stronger that a phase Of the prohibition
question viii be fought out before the
legislature and that this will be one OF
the most interesting matters that the
general assembly will consider.
The intentions OF neither prohibittoTists
nor anti-prohibitionists are distinctly
known, but It is believed that the former
will endeavor to prohibit the sale OF
''near-beer," while the latter may try TO
substitute local option for statewide pro-
hibition.
No definite announcement has been
made by either side Of what it intends TO
do. but indications are that each viii
endeavor to have important changes made
In the prohibition statutes, and thai the
legislature will seethe for while with
the question of prohibition.
LOCAL LEGISLATION
Among local. legislation for which an
effort will be made, will be the enactment
to connect the bridges from Forsyth
street to washington street, and another
authorizing bridges over the railroad
tracks at either Pryor street or Central
avenue, or both
The entire Fulton county delegation In
the legislature win introduce the plaza
bill and urge its adoption. A joint COM
mittee from the chamber Of coniiierce
| and city council has been appointed 20
advocate this bill and. among other
things, has addressed letters to all rrem-
bers of the legislature. requesting their
support of the bill.
The phase of the bill that will be
stressed will be the revenue 1t will Sc
cure to the state through the terminal
station and office building that will be
part of the plaza. This building viii
bring in to the state $4,000 a year.
Representative Walter McElreath win
present the bill for bridges over the
state railroad right OF way at the
Pryor street and Central avenue cross
ings. They will provide either that the
railroad tracks be depressed sufficiently
for the bridges to maintain the present
grades on Pryor street and Central ave-
nue.. or that the grades on these streets
and Wall street be elevated anc the
bridges be made of the same height as
the bridges on Whitehall, Broad and For
| svth streets. The change in grades IL
ju1ore probable than the depression ot the
railroad tracks. The construction of two.
bridges and the elevation OF the grade
would cost about sSSs050.
BILL AGAINST JUSTICES
Another measure that has a local or
igin, though It win apply to the entire
state, is a bill providing that the con-
stitution Of the state be so amended that
all large cities may vote on the question
| of abolishing justice courts. This amend
ment, is is said, is not aimed at justices
in the country, but merely those III the
cities The members of a COMMITTEES from
the Atlanta Bar association. acting with
representatives from Fulton county. are
drawing up this bill.
Another question that particularly at
fects Atlanta will be the action the leg
| islature takes in regard to new gov
ernor's mansion A subcommittee of the
Legislature recently recommended that the
O. mansion be leased to B. M. Grant, o.
Atlanta, for 80 years, for about $40, 100 a
year This subcommittee will on Mon
| day submit its recommendation to the full
Icommittee The action of this commit
tee win determine what recommendation
will be made to the legislature.
When the general assembly Organizes
It is understood that John NJ. Slaton, Of.
Atlanta, will be reelected president OF
the senate and that John n. Holder, OF
4 jackson county, VIII De reelected SPEAK
er of the house. Mr.. Holder, however. is
being opposed by Judge II. W. HOPKINS,
/ of Thomas. Representative Vinson, of
Baldwin, and Representative Tarver, OF
Whitfield, are announced candidates for
speaker pro tenn.
GOVERNORS MESSAGES
After organization, the legislature viii
notify Governor Brown that 1t is ready
for business and ne will transmit his
message to both houses. He has given
out no forecast Of what his message win
be- but II is understood that he will again
recommend that the control of mllnici-
pal public service corporations be taken
out of the hands of the state railroad
commission, or that the state election
laws be changed. He viii emphasize his
belief that the pardoning power should
be used with much discretion.
Governor-elect Hoke Smith win be In
augurated on July 1. On July 4 or he
will send his message to the legislfture.
Plans for his inauguration win be decided
after the legislature has met.
In his message Governor Smith VIII
urge the Improvement of agricultural ed
ucation and of methods of farming. He
will recommend that the state cooperate
with the government in soil survey
and he will urge the need Of improve
ment in agricultural lines in the rural
schools.
He will ask for more funds and facil-
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