Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-10
COMMITTEE. OF
SENATE TO PROBE
I EXPRESS MERGER

The proposed merger of the South
ern Express company with the Amer
lean Express company, final authori-
ty to complete which will be asked
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion in hearing beginning at Wash
ington Monday, will be investigated
by the railroad committee of the
Georgia senate with view to pro-
tecting the interests of Georgtans,
who have claims against the South
ern Express company. .f
A resolution to this effect was in
troduced in the senate Friday by
Senator Fowler, of the Twenty-sec-
ond, who asked unanimous consent
to s,plaee it on its passage at once
on the ground that, with the senate
adjourning until Monday, delay
would mean that the investigation
could not start until the Washington
hearing is under way. . .
Senator Fowler's resolution de-
clared that the merger means the re-
moval of the Southern Express COM
pany's offices outside the confines of
Georgia, that there are many claims
pending against" the company, and
that, under the merger, it will have
no property in Georgia to serve as
security against collection claims.
His resolution gives the railroad
committee authority to call on the
Georgia railroad commission for any
information, data Or records wanted,
and to take testimony and summon
witnesses. Under the resolution the
committee will report it's findings
back tothe senate, which may then
take such action as it sees Mt to
guard citizens of the state against
possible loss. ~ .t
The resolution was passed unani-
mously.
Adjourn Until Monday
Before adjourning at IL O'Clock
until Monday morning, the senate
passed number of bills, chiefly
house bills of local interest. includ-
ing two measures by the Fulton
county delegation raising salaries of
Atlanta's city and criminal court
Judges to SI,5UU year.
The principal bill of general in
terest passed was that by Senator
Bowden. of the Fifth, providing that
no court shall inquire into the sale
of ice, newspapers, soft drinks and
gasoline on Sunday except under
grand jury indictment. The bill pro-
vides that this shall not apply to
present regulations of any munich
palities The bill, it is understood,
was inspired by a controversy IN
Waycross, in Senator Bowden's dis
trict, in which local organization
tried to stop Sunday sales of news
papers, ice and the like. ..
Among the important bills intro
duced in the senate Friday were
tieth, allowing women and girls to
enter the academic department OF
the University of Georgia, and a bill
by Senator Ennis, of the Twentieth,
which will repeal an old law gov
erning the admission of students to
| the Georgia Normal and Industrial
Institute at Milledgeville, so that the
schools auth critics will be able to
regulate this matter themselves.
Bills Passed
The following bills were passed in
| the senate Friday:
/ BY Senator Ayers of the Thirty
| third--To amend the act incorporat-
| ing the city of Commerce.
By Senator Rabun of the Ninth
! To make the town of Morgan eligi-
kble as site for a state depositary.
By Senator Bowden of the Fifth
To amend the act creating a bond
commission for Ware county.
House Bill No. 686-To amend an
act creating the town of Guyton.
House Bill No. TOTO amend the
| charter of the city of Griffin rela-
| tive to levy of annual taxes.
House Bill No. 696-To amend an
act establishing public school sys-
House bill No. 656: TO amend the
charter of the city of Pelham, so as
| to have chief of police elected by
| the people
House bill No. 673: To amend the
act creating the city court of Elber-
| ton, relative to appointment, of So
| licitor.
House bill No 702: To fix the sal
aries of judges Of the city court of
| .Atlana tat $500 a year.
| House bill No. 655: To amend the
charter of the city of Pelham SO 'as
| to provide for election of councilmen
House bill No. 697-To amend an
act incorporating the city of Thomas
| ton, relating to grading streets.
! House bill No. 751-To increase
| the salary of the Judges of the Grim
/ NAL court of Atlanta to $500 year.
House bill No. 669-To amend
| charter of town of Washington rela-
| Continued on Page 7, Column 81