Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-20
EXTRA SESSION
HINGES ON FATE OF
BILL IN CONGRESS
Governor Awaiting Congress-
Action on Reed Measure Be-
fore Deciding Question of
Calling Legislature

Whether Governor Harris will call
an extraordinary session of the general
assembly to enact bone-dry prohibition
law apparently depends on whether
congress passes the Reed amendment to
the postal bill, which already has pass
ed the senate and which a number of
congressman predict VIII be adopted by
the house.
The governor attitude became known
Saturday when inquiry was made as 10
whether there were any new deevlOp
ments in the extra session situation.
He stated That there would be no DEN
mite announcement on this question
from him until it was ascertained
whether the amendments now proposed
TO the postal appropriations bill in con-
gress will be enacted into law. For, if
these amendments should pass, then an
extraordinary session of the legislature
would be rendered unnecessary as the
reasons for one would no longer exist
AS congress will adjourn March it will
not be long until it is known whether
these amendments will pass"
This statement of the governor OF
course. means that he will not decide
on calling an extraordinary session of
the general assembly before March a.,
and it is also construed to mean that,
if congress passes the Reed amendment,
he will not issue such a call.
Congressman william Schley Howard
was quoted in dispatches Saturday as
stating that if the Reed amendment is
enacted into law genuine bone-dry con-
ditions will prevail in all states that
have prohibited the sale or manufacture
of liquor, which, of course, includes
Georgia.
Evidently the governor does not feel
that the $500 deficiency in the PEN
Sion appropriation will afford a suffi-
cient Justification for calling an extra
ordinary session OF the legislature. al
though if he does call one he undoubt-
eddy will include this subject matter in
his call
In response to inquiries regarding
the status OF the pension payments for
stated that he signed today a warrant
Confederate veterans. the governor
for the payment of the first division of
the pensioners amounting to $780,
T64.05 and checks will be mailed next
Tuesday. to the ordinaries for the same
He expects to pay the second division
as soon as the state of the treasury
will permit. He called attention to
the fact that the deficiency that has
been referred to in the press and in the
pension commissioners report to him,
does not refer to a deficiency in the
revenues of the state, hut is a deficiency
in the amount appropriated.
In this connection he said:
1.-THE governor could not pay more
than the amount appropriated If he had
/ surplus in the treasury of million
dollars, for the reason that the consti-
tuition provides that no money shall be
drawn from the treasury except by APP
preparation made by law. The COVER
nors warrant would not be passed by
the comptroller, nor honored byN the
treasurer if he, should draw it in \the
absence of an appropriation and he can
not borrow money tc pay for deficiency
in appropriation HIS borrowing power
is confined to borrowing to meet def
cheney in revenue, The money will be
in hand, but the appropriation has not
been made and the money. therefore,
can not be used until the legislature
meets. This applies only. however 20
a little over 500 of the pensioners