Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-13
HIGH LIVING COST
PROBE IS ORDERED
BY STATE SENATE
Charge Is Made That All Food
Prices Are Unnecessarily
Excessive Recall of EIec-
tive Officers

ton calling for a probe into possible
manipulation of prices and the high cost
of living generally, and the introduction
of bill by Senator f. II. Beck, of the
Forty-third district, providing for the
recall of all elective state and county
officers from United States senator's on
down, were the main features of the
Wednesdays session of the Georgia SEN
ate.
The Andrews resolution provides for
the creation of a committee of three SEN
atcrs and FIVE Representatives, who shall
conduct an investigation of alleged food
boarding, price manipulations and the
like with the view of recommending
appropriate legislation for penalizing Of
tenders within twenty days after the
Investigation begins.
The resolution, together with an
amendment fixing the cost of the in
vestigation at q maximum figure OF
$500, was adopted with only five votes
against 1t. Those opposing the resolu-
ton were Senators Denny, of the For
ty-second; Dickerson, of the Fifth;
Dukes, of the First; Townsend, Of the
Fourth, and Redwine, Of the Twenty
sixth. The senate then voted that the
resolution be Immediately transmitted
to the house.
Senator Beck's recall bill is said to be
the first legislation of this kind ever
proposed in Georgia. If enacted it
would make every officeholder who
holds his tenure by reason of an cleo
ton subject to recall. The bill pro-
vides that 20 per cent of an electorate,
whether of state, district or county,
shall have the right to petition for the
recall of an officer. Such a petition
shall be filed with the same officer who
receives notice Of the officials cleo
ton.
If the official whom the petition is
seeking to recall desires to resign he
may do so. If he does not resign in
five days, a recall election shall be or
dered in twenty days. Not more than
one recall petition may be filed against
an officeholder during one term unless
petitioners agree to pay the expense Of
an election.
This bill involves a constitutional
amendment and iww require a two
thirds vote of each house for passage
The food probe resolution was
laid on the table in the senate
Tuesday but was taken from
the table Wednesday morning on
motion of Senator Beck, of the Forty
third. Senator Andrews, of the Thirty
fifth; Senator Mundy, of the Thirty
eight, and Senator Beck all made
speeches for the resolution. The prin-
cipal opposition speech was made by
Senator Dukes.
MORE etao',( hrdl cmfwy ETAN
COMBINATIONS AT WORK.
Senator Andrews charged that there
are combinations working in Atlanta and
in Georgia to boost prices and rob the
consumer He said that the present
prices on food are beyond all reason ana
that the cost of an investiga ton viii
more than repay the expenses of same.
Senator Fields. of the Thirty-fourth,
wanted to know what the cost would ne
and Senator Andrews replied that IL
would be between $500 and $1,000.
Senator Beck brought out the point
that the moral effect of the intestiga-
ton on the man who is reaping Illegal
profits from high prices, would be great,
whether he was caught and punished
or not.
Senator Heath moved that the resoiu-
ton be amended to provide that cost
of the investigation would not exceed
$500, and this amendment was carried.
Senator Carswell. of the Twenty-first
made a rather sarcastic speech about
the resolution. II don't see what good
it will do" he remarkerd. But since
the money to be spent is not ours, but
the peoples, and the senate will get a lot
of fine publicity as sterling patriots by
passing the resolution, why, by all
means, let us pass it,"
Following the passage Of the resolu-
ton 1t was voted, on motion of Senator
Andrews, to transmit 1t Immediately to
the house.
The passage of the Andrews reso-
tuition was the main matter before the
senate Wednesday morning a number
Of bills were placed on their second
reading, a number of new bills were
introduced, and the senate voted to ex-
tend the privileges of the floor to Judge
D. F. Rawlings, and United States Mar
shall Joseph NJ. Davis
The bill of Senator Wohlwender's of
the .Twenty-fourth, which would repeal
a present law so as to make 1T unnec-
essary for state and county officials
to make returns CT accounts to the
comptroller general. was set as a spe-
cial order for Friday.
At noon the senate went into exec
utive session to receive a communlca-
tion from the governor.
Following the executive session, which
was confirmation of state officers NAM
ed Tuesday by Governor Dorsey, action
on two fraternal insurance measures
Of Senator Blackwell was postponed I'M
I'll Friday. A resolution providing for
the sending of a legislative COMMITTEES
certain boil weevil experiments are be-
ing conducted, was introduced by Sena-
tor Elders, of the Second and the sem
ate then adjourned.
SENATE BILLS INTRODUCED.
The following were the bills introduce
ed which passed their first reading:
By Senator Weaver, of the Twenty
third-To provide for a two-weeks'
term of the superior court of Taylor
county and fix the time of holding same
and to change times for holding supe-
rior court in Harris and Marion coun-
ties and the November term of Musco-
gee court.
BY Senator Weaver, of the Twenty
third-To amend section 606S of the
code of Georgia of 1910 so as to pro-
vide for the granting by the ordinary
of orders for the sale of perishable
property in certain cases.
BY Senator Moore, Of the Third-To
amend an act approved August 10, 1911,
creating the city court of Blackshear
as amended by an act approved August
6, this amendment relating to the quail
fications of the solicitor Of said city
court OF Blackshear.
BY Senator Townsend, Of the Fourth
To encourage planting and cultivatinS
oysters in this state.
BY Senator Andrews, OF the Thirty
fifth--To provide twice-a-month pay
days for employees of corporations with
certain exceptions.
D. - h. II Tt.