Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-09
HARRIS EXPLAINS
WHY HE DECIDED
ON DRY SESSION
Governor Gives His Reasons
for Calling Legislature to
Meet on March 20 to Con-
slider Prohibition Legislation

Governor Harris Wednesday afternoon
issued a statement explaining why he
has decided to call an extraordinary ses-
sion of the general assembly to meet on
Tuesday. March 20, and announced that
the formal proclamation. calling the SEES
sion, would be issued either Wednesday
evening or Thursday morning.
The governors call will include but
two subjects for the consideration of the
legislature:
First, bone dry prohibition legislation
to prevent the shipment of any intoxt-
cants in any quantity into the state
Second, the deficit of $4,000 in the
pension fund.
1t is the opinion Or the governor that
the session will not continue for longer
than ten days and that it Will not COST
the state more than 100000.
Some OF the members of the leGisla-
ture. however. look for much longer
session. They believe that some time
viii be required to harmoniZe and recon-
ellie the various views Of representa-
tiyes and senators as to just what kind
of prohi bition legislation shall be enact
ed, and they also believe that when 1t
comes to the matter of making a special
augmentation to meet the pension fund
uCHclI
finances may be opened up. in which
event there may be lengthy debate.
The governor has assurances from
both President Persons, of the senate,
end Speaker Burwell, of the house, that
they will do everything in their power
to speed up the proposed legislation,
and he is also said to believe that he
VIII be backed up by a large majority
in both houses in the kind OF legislation
he may suggest.
Some of the governors friends are
declaring that if the Legislature does as
the governor expects It will, the work
OF the extra session will undoubtedly
make him an important factor in the
next gubernatorial race and perhaps may
result in him running for the United
States senate.
GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
Following is the governors statement
explaining why he will call the ex-
traordinary session:
II know there is a strong prejudice
in the state against extra sessions of
the Legislature. Hence L have hesttated
long before reaching a. conclusion to call
a session at the present time.
"Innumerable complaints have been
reaching me OF the evils growing out
of the enactments concerning prohibit
ton in the state. These complaints have
come from all parts of the common
wealth and from almost every class of
our citizens.
1T has been represented to me that
the provision touching monthly ship
ments of liquor from outside the state,
allowed under the present shipping
laws, have given rise to great trouble
and distress among the people. So nu-
merous have these shipments become
that a new business has started on the
border of the state, which has assumed
almost colossal proportions 1t would
seem from the wording OF the law that
the express agents at every station, who
were constituted the agents of the state
are being made the victims of deplor-
abl condition for which the legislature
itself is responsible. 1t was sought to
interest these agents in the shipment
of liquor into the state by allowing a
part of the tax or fee, provided in the
statute concerning deliveries, to so to
the agent as a part of his commission,
in many cases without accountability
to his employer
at has been represented, moreover,
that possibly 80 per cent of these ship
ments were made to Colored people. The
names of persons of full age living in
the home are frequently used to increase
the amount allowed under the statute,
and sometimes those of persons under
age are utilized for the same purpose.
Duplicate shipments during the month
were easy, on account of the difficulty
of Identification in this class OF per-
sons To such an extent has this bust
ness gone that almost every interest in
the state is being affected More espe-
ciaIIy in this true of the farmers whose
labor is being demoraliZed in so many
instances that extreme difficulty is be-
ing met with in the attempt to make
for pitching and planting
the crops
INTERPRETERS WITH CROPS.
These abuses if allowed to continue,
would soon interfere with the crop sup
plies OF the state, aud this. too, at a
time when our people are under the
greatest strain ever known in our his
tory, rs we'll on account of the strug
gle against the boil weevil. as on &C
count of the demands and demoralizinS
influences arising out of the war in Eu-
rope. The cost of living is already so
high that many people are suffering for
the necessities of life.
Some relief, therefore. is necessary,
according to the estimate made by the
portion of our people, and the
late ruling of the United States supreme
court on the Webb-kenyon law, opens
the way for remedy for the troubles
under this head by our own legIsla-
ture.
THE amendments to the postal bin
made by the United States congress on
the subject of prohibition-the opera
ton of which has been postponed until
July 1-.-have been carefully and closely
studied. Even a casual examination of
these amendments will convince any
one, willing to be convinced, that Sc
rious revision of all our prohibition
statutes Is of the first Importance If
they are to be adjusted to the new con-
dition that will be brought about by
these salutary enactments. If Geor-
gia Is to get bone-dry prohibition under
these amendments she must provide it
for herself.
at is currently reported that vast
stores Of liquor are now piled up on
the borders of our state, all OF which,.
must be rushed to market between now
and the LIST of July, and as this liquor
cannot be sold in the state where it is
stored, it will undoubtedly be sent to