Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-25
Early Adjournment to- Another
Short Session in Fall to
Consider Any Other War
Needs Is Probable Program

OOIlSluGI my OlllGI Val
Needs Is Probable Program
strong effort will probably be made
in the Georgia legislature. which meets
in Atlanta next Wednesday for its an
nuaI session of fifty days. to limit the
session to consideration of two subjects
namely, the general appropriation bill
and war legislation-and then to ad-
journ to a time certain" probably in
the autumn, for another abbreviated ses-
sion to take up such matters of war leg
islatiOn as may develop subsequent to
the summer session.
Members of the house and senate who
favor this proposition argue that the
time and attention of the people as well
as the lawmakers are too completely en-
crossed in the winning of the war to
warrant any excursions into legislative
byways just at this time. They argue
that the members of the legislature can
perform a timely service to the state by
staying in session just long enough to
pass the general appropriation bill and
necessary war measures, and then re-
turing home to devote themselves to
their several business occupations and
professions, as we'll as to active service
in the various war campaigns which are
coming along almost constantly.
OF course. there will be opposition to
this plan. If it should be adopted, 1t
would probably preclude consideration
of the proposed prohibition amendment
to the federal constitution, unless the
legislature should decide that this was
a measure entitled to immediate consid-
Grafton as a part of the war legislation.
But if it should not be classed as such,
g. ~ fAkA khA
sion should threaten postponement of it
for a year, then the prohibition forces
in the house and senate would probably
object to having their measure side
tracked.
The prohibition amendment to the fed
eral constitution, forever prohibiting the
manufacture, importation and shipment
of whisky in the United States for the
purpose of sale, has been passed by the
national congress and is'now before the
legislatures of the various states for
ratification of rejection. Twelve state
legislatures already have ratified it. The
Anti-Saloon league forces, which are
back of the amendment, are counting
strongly on getting it ratified by the
Georgia legislature at the coming ses-
sion. A period of seven years is the
limit within which it must be acted on by
all the legislatures of the union.
In the past it has been customary for
the legislature at the first session OF
the new term to pass general appro-
priation bill carrying appropriations for
two years, but last year the legislature
got itself into very much of snarl
over the subject of appropriations, and
finally cut the Gordian knot by passing
a One-year bill. The result is that they
must pass another one-year bill at the
1918 session.
In the meantime a commission APP
pointed by Joint resolution of the house
and senate has made careful survey Of
all state appropriations. this commits
sion being composed of Governor Dor
sey, Chairman Hall, of the house appro-
priations committee; Chairman Carswell,
of the senate appropriations committee;
Attorney General Clifford Walker, and
School Superintendent NJ. L. Britain.
Senator Carswell has been advocating
a plan for the general appropriation bill!
to be written by the governor, based
upon the data secured in the ad interim
Commissions hearings from the heads
of all departments, and for this bill 70
be introduced and pressed for speedy
passage as an administration measure.
Whether this proposal will meet with
general favor remains to be seen, al
though it is quite probable that opposl-
ton will develop. The various conflict
ing interests seeking appropriations are
not likely to consent to it, but will
probably prefer to fight out their own
battles before the two committees and
the house and senate.
An issue that has been up in the
several years, and that was
up last year in the making of the gen
eral Appropriation bill, and that will be
NJ 81
whether the Georgia Normal and In
dustrial college for Women at Milledge-
vile shall be made the seat of home
economies extension work in this state
under the Smith-Lever federal appropri-
alton
This appropriation provides for ma
tional aid in farm extension and home
extension work, the federal
government putting up an appropria-
tion where the state puts up a SINH
lar amount At the present time Geor-
gia's share of the Smith-Lever fund
is expended through the State College
of Agriculture at Athens, both for farm
extension and home economics extern
sion.
The Georgia Normal and Industrial
college contends that the farm extern
sion work should be handled by the
state College of Agriculture, because
II IS farm colleSe, Whlle the nome
economics extension work should be
handled by the G. N. l. c., because it
is a women's college and was the first
in the state and one of the first in the
south to make home economics a reg
ular feature of its course of study.
Recently the trustees of the G. n. l.
c. submitted a request to the trustees
Of the University of Georgia, of which
the G. n. 1. C. is a branch, asking them
to separate the two features of extern
sion work and place home economics
at Milledgeville The trus-
tees did not grant the request.
Friends of the Georgia Normal and
Industrial college in the legislature will
probably take the colleges fight to
the house and senate. The College of
Agriculture will vigorously oppose any
separation of the extension work, con-
tending that the terms of the Smith
Lever act are such as to render the
present arrangement obligatory upon
the state.
Two highly important bills will prob
ably head the list of war legislation
at the coming session. The first is a
bill to enlarge the powers and increase
the appropriation of the State Council