Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-08
MEET
|SEXPECTED To
BRING RESULTS
Concerted Action Is Planned to
Make Next Legislature Push
Swamp Reclamation,
BY JAMES B. NEVIN.

savannah llhelN VIII DIlnS ABOUT SOME
important results in the next Legis-
Iature.
South Georgia, where there is much
swamp land, is particularly interested
in the matter Of proper drainage, and.
from standpoint of sanitation and
public health, if no other, will stand
solidly for legislative aid thereto in
the future.
In Southwest Georgia there are sec
lions where stagnant water stands
nearly the entire summer, breeding
maIarial fever and other forms of dis
ease that might be done away with by
proper drainage of the lands.
In addition to that. moreover, much
valuable farming territory might cas-
liz. be reclaimed by the application of
Intelligent drainage methods.
The Legislature of 1894 passed a
drainage measure, carrying an APP
preparation of $4,000, with which
much effective work was done I'M
south Georgia. That law still is on
tine statute books, and under it the
present Geological Department of the
State is conducted.
\ concerted effort will be made inI
the next Legislature greatly to extend
the present law and amplify its pro-
visions
Congressman Gordon Lee, who isl
the South's member of the great
Congressional Forest Reservation
Commission, and who. by reason of
his membership on the Agricultural
Committee of the House, is in close
touch with the farming interests as|
the National Congress touches Them
f. very anxious to have Georgia,
through its next Legislature, prepare
Itself for participation in the forth
coming Federal aid to good roads law.
Mr. Lee says the present Congress
undoubtedly will pass law extend
ing Federal aid to State and county
roads under certain conditions. As
the various State laws now are
framed. however. il will be rather a
hard matter for Georgia to qualify
for aid, particularly as the Federal
law likely win provide that all road
work i'm which the National Govern
contract and not by convict labor.
Mr.. Lee makes no suggestions as to
what the state should do, SO far as
the details of the problem are con-
cerned, but he does suggest that the
forthcoming Legislature inform itself
as to the good roads work now under
way i'm Congress, that it may be ready
To share in the benefits offered when
they come
There is a growing sentiment among
Georgia Legislators that the State
should be provided as soon as posi-
BILE with a highway commission, com
posed of a few men who know the
necessities Of the state in the matter
of good roads and who may be de-
pended upon To seek Georgia's share
If the Federal aid along sensible and
substantial lines.
In spite of the fact that Rome is
The home Of SeaboTn Wright, the we'll
known prohibition leader, and there
ere no saloons or clubs there, crime
showed an increase OF 80 per cent in
Rome during tine last year.
This is set forth i'm an annual re-
por. for City Council Just prepared
by Chief of Police Harris.
I'm his papers chief Harris shows
hat Sl6.S47 i'm fines were imposed
during he year. which is an increase
If nearly so per cent over the CORE
spending period. Most Of these fines
we're imposed for drunkenness and
oiSorderly conduct. Seventy
blind tiger cases were made by the
police department
The new dog law. enacted by the
last Legislature, is looked upon gen
rally throughout Georgia as pretty
much of a farce.
Owners are required to return dogs
for taxation. but may fix the values
thereof TO suit themselves The con
sequence is that not many have dogs
they consider-for the purposes Of
taNatton-Worth anything whatever
and few are returned at ALL
In one OF the biggest and wealthiest
Counties i'm the State. one lonesome
canine is returned for taNation-yal-
Gcd at s.. This dog nets the State
about = - cents per amman.
Many of the State tax receivers
f1lnk the dog law should be repealed,
since now if is nothing short OF ridic-
Nous.
The Grand Jury of Wilcox County
has recommended that the City Court
IF AbbeviiIe DE abolished. and thar
.our terms of the superior Court Doe
provided hereafter. Repres entatiye
tRed. of Rochelle, VIII introduce "a
h'il in the next House seeking to car
rE into effect the recommendation.
There are movements ON in many
sections of the State To abolish city
courts and provide for more frequent
~itungs of the superior courts In-
stead. and IT should surprise no one
II the next Legislature puts many of
these lower courts out of business
Walter II. Page Uncle Sam new
Ambassador To the Court of -. James,
is an intimate friend of State Ento-
uu.ogist Lee WorSham. and they fire.
gucntly get together for heart-to-
heart talk about one thing and am
other
No man in the nation was more
genuinely gratifed when the Presi-
cent named Mr.. Page for the British
assignment than was Mir Worsaam.
HUSBAND IN JAIL, WIFE