Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-08-17
IN PUBLIC FORUM
To The Times-Recorder:

/ o Inc TlmeS-Recorder:
In your issue of the 18th, you re-
ferred to the bill 20 abolish the Office
OF county treasurer of Sumter as 4
COMEDY of Errors" Will you please
permit me, for the benefit of the public,
to give brief history of this meas
ure.
The bill to abolish this office was
drawn with the idea that it was a gen.
eral bill amending a general law, and
therefore did not have to be adver-
tised as a local bill. 1t was intro
duced on this idea Subsequently the
notice was given of intention to apply
for an Act, as though it was local
bill, On the idea that if the legislature
should raise the point, we could meet
their requirements, but the bill pass
|
ed the House and the Senate and nc
point was raised as to whether it was
a general or local bill
The bill passed both house and SEN
ate, it having passed the Senate on
August 4th. On August End, two par
ties or interests" busted themselves
in opposition to the bill These were
represented by an attorney and one
who was familiar with the workings
of the legislature. 1t appeared that
they had secured a hearing of the bill
before the committee in the Senate,
without notice to the commissioners or
those favoring the bill On this day 4
conference was had in Atlanta by
some of the commissioners, the senator
and one Of the representatives from
Sumter, and it looked like the bill
would have smooth sailing, our senator
agreeing to do whatever the representa-
atives from Sumter agreed upon. The
| representatives agreed on an amnd-
ment and filed it with the Senate COM
mittee; the bill was favorably reported
by the committee and passed the Sen
representatives agreed on an amend
ment which had to be concurred in by
the House before it could become a
law. On Saturday the 7th, the house
concurred in this amendment. On the
same daye these two able gentlemen,
well experienced in legislative mat
tiers, procured resolution to be adopt
ed by the senate, reciting that this bill
was a local bill and had not been i'd
vertised, and requested the House of
Representatives to return the bill for
further consideration by the commit
tee. Nothing was done with this reso-
,
luton until Monday, the 9th, at which
time the representatives of the Board
of Commissioners of Roads and Rev
enues, in order to avoid complication,
and to save the county some three or
four thousand dollars per year. ac-
cepted a suggestion made by the repre-
sentatives of the special interests
for the resolution to be forwarded to
the House and the House. by unanim-
Gus consent, to return the bill to the
Senate for the purpose of reconsider
alton. and to pass substitute, in
lieu of the bill, continuing the Office of
, the treasurer at a salary of five hun
bred dollars. Nothing else was accep-
, table. or would be considered by the
gentlemen referred to. Representa-
tives of the commissioners agreed %
this if the substitute could be passed
These two gentlemen representing the
special interests" opposing the bill,
busted themselves seeing the snator
from this district and tn representa-
tives and governor, explaining the plar,
and agreement, and they all agreed
that they would favor it, and that the
substitute should pass and the gov
ernor would sign it. The bill was
brought back to the Senate and the
substitute was passed and was for
warded to the House, and on Wednes-
day morning, the date of the adjourn
ment of the House, Representative
Sheppard moved to concur in the sub
stitute. Representative Wheatley rails
ed the point of order that as theo rig
inal bill had passed both the Senate
and the House, the substitute was out