Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-07
Ne GRO FIREMAN
BILL |SFOUGHT
IN HOUSE
Fails to Reach a Vote Today,
and Its Friends See VIC
tory in Delay.

VI ICpl eSenldtlNeS JnlS AFTERNOON on lIle
bill of Mr.. Darlington, Of Richmond. to
prohibit railroads from employing negro
locomotive f1remen. The bill never
reached vote on the main question,
the house adjourning at o'clock to
attend John M. Slaton's barbecue, but
the members refusal to table the meas
ure gave indication of it's passage when
the main question Is reached.
The bill makes no reference to color
or previous condition of servitude,
which would render it unconstitutional,
but it provides an educational require
mont for locomotive firemen which few
negroes would be able to pass. 1t was
this educational requirement which
brought on a large part of the debate.
Mr. Darlington. author of the bill,
and DR.. George Brown, representative
from Fulton, were the principal advo-
Gates of the measure, which has the
backing of labor unions and which has
been the center of more than a little
hves. Mr.. Darlington dwelled on the
importance of a f1reman's position, the
responsibility he shares with the en-
gtneer and the danger to the public in
having a man Of low intelligence in this
work.
Or. Brown Once Railroad Engineer.
Dr.. Brown surprised the members Of
the house by declaring that he had once
been railroad engineer and had driven
locomotives In this country and In
South America. He made an earnest
argument in favor of the bill.
A motion to table, offered by Mr.. Ad
ans, of Had county. was lost on a roll
call vote. Mr.. Parker, of Liberty coun-
ty, voiced strenuous opposition to the
bill, and another member inquired II
Mr. Parker we're not q Bull Moose"
Mr.. Nix, Of Gwtnnett, opposed the
measure on the ground that many de-
serving white men who had been de-
prived of an education would be de-
prtved Of their jobs and educated ne
groes would take their places. Mr..
Wilson, of Gwinnett, offered a resolu-
ton providing that all present en-
ployees be not affected by the bill, and
Mr.. Smith, of Dooly, offered as an
amendment a clause excepting all de-
scendants of Confederate veterans from
the working of the law, this being de-
signed to take care of most Of the IL
hterate white men who might want Jobs
as firemen.
The color question. the relative abil-
fly Of white men and black, the diff
ference between corn field negroes"
and educated negroes" was thrsshed
out at length
The hoU1 renewed TO-DAY it's debate
on the general deficiency bill, the an
nual bulky document which appropri-
ates thousands OF dollars to make I'D
shortages in running expenses of the
state, TO pay extra employees of the
past year, to square old bills contracted
by the legislature and left unpaid and
to provide back salaries for officials
created by the last Legislature and for
whose payment no fund was set aside.
The bill includes an appropriation for
the back salary of the commissioner Of
commerce and labor, for his assistant
and stenographer; for a debt due a
water company for drinking water fur
nished the legislature last summer: for
additional pensions and number of
other subjects. Many of the specific
clauses already have been adopted and
the whole measure must finally be
passed, with such changes as the house
agrees upon.
Nearly three hours were consumed in
debating a motion by Mr. Anderson. of
Chatham, which passed, to reconsider
the passage on yesterday of the amend
ment by Mr.. Johnson, of Barlow. This
amendment provided that appropria-
tions be divided pro rata as available,
and was designed to pay school teach
ers more promptly by giving their
claims the same status as all others.
The Johnson amendment was defeated
by this action.
$4,000 Teachers Fund Killed.
The committee of the whole next
took up the amendment by Mr. Collins.
of Mitchell, to appropriate $4,000 ad-
ditional for public school teachers. 1t
was defeated.
Next was the amendment of Mr..
Paulk, of Irwin, to give the department
of agriculture $4,000 for tick eradiea-
ton work. It was lost, without a vote
in favor of it.
The general deficiency bill, by sub
stitute, was then reported back to the
house for passage. The bill was
passed as a whole by az to So. 1t APP
n
The bill was sent at once to the SEN
ate.
The proposal to create new county,
to be named Hardeman, was defeated
today before the house committee on
constitutional amendments, which voted
to against it. The committee heard
two large delegations from the section
affected and the room was crowded
with visitors.
NAIAIrNlIII