Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-08
NEGRO FIREMAN
BILL IS PASSED
BY HOUSE
Measure Aimed to Bar Blacks
From Locomotive Sticking
Barely Gets Majority.

BY a bare majority of 90 votes, the
lowest number which can pass a bill,
the Garrison bill, intended to bar negro
fremen from the locomotives on Geor-
gia railroads, passed the house this aft
ernoon. slightly amended. The bill
came up for passage yesterday, was de-
bated hotly and went over as unfinished
business until today.
The bill prescribes an educational
test for firemen of engines on all rail-
roads operating in Georgia, a test which
will virtually eliminate the negro, and
it was fathered and supported by union
fremen and other labor organizations.
Representative Bowen, of Decatur
county, gave notice that he would move
for a reconsideratio ton of the bill, and II
few votes can be changed it is pos
sible that the measure may yet be de
feated. 1t has yet to pass the senate.
Veterans Can Hold Jobs.
The bill was amended to put the law
into effect six months after it's pas
sage instead of four and its operations
We're limited to regular common car
riers, excepting short lumber roads and
other lines not really within the intent
of the measure. An amendment pro-
viding that the law shall not affect
present employees was adopted, giving
the veteran negro fremen now In ser
vice the right to hold their jobs.
The house of representatives today
voted for the first afternoon session of
the year, and at the end of this week
the first Saturday session will be held.
The house will be in session this after
noon from 3 to 5 O'Clock
The legislature is dropping behind in
its work and the leaders are realizing
the necessity of more work. harder
work and less talk. The rules commit
tee put over a report today limiting
all debate on any bill to 30 minutes,
holding individual members down to
five minutes, and even taking away
from the chairmen of committees
their cherished privilege of talking 90
minutes at the conclusion of all de
bates.
Speaker Holder had to order the
doors closed and send pages scurrying
into the lobbies when the session open
ed to round up late corners who had
stopped to finish after breakfast cigars
in the smoking room and halls. There
was a bare quorum voting after several
attempts to draw the members to their
seats.
Flood of Local Bills.
A flood Of local bills on passage fol
lowed. Speaker and clerks ran verbal
races to read their captions, announce
an arbitrary vote, record bill as pass
ed" and go on to the next. Perhaps
score were made laws in 50 minutes,
with few members paying any atten-
ton to bill or vote.
Representatives Alexander and Field
had a bill passed giving the town of
Decatur the right to condemn land for
school purposes.
The invitation to members of the leg
islature to attend a barbecue at Coch-
ran. in the new county of Bleckley, was
accepted by the house today, but it
precipttated heated debate over hold
ing a Saturday session for passing 10
cal bills. Members who have local
legislations pending were up in arms.
Mr. Deese, of Pulaski, author of the in
vtation, even offered motion that the
house meet at O'Clock Saturday morn
ing, transact its business, hold the spe-
ciaI train for BleckIey county until bus
mess is over and then take the trip.
Cochran To Entertain.
The house. in an uproar Of laughter
passed the motion, but quickly recon
sidered
The matter was settled by deciding
on a Saturday session and granting
leave Of absence to all members de
string to 60 to the Cochran barbecue.
There will hardly be quorum in the
house Saturday.
The Cochran board of trade win pro-
vide special train. free transportation
a brass band and a big feast to cele-
brate the creation of the new county of
Bleckley. which it has been trying to
put over for several years. Cochran is
inst below Macon on the Southern rail