Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-06
HOUSE DEFEATS PLAN
TO STOP FARM AID WORK

by a vote OIL ~ 10 90 Tie nOuSo
of representatives al II o'clock
Thursday morning refused to strike
from the general appropriation bill
the appropriation of 100000 for
continuance of farm extension WORK
through the State College of Agri-
culture in cooperation with the fed
eral government and the counties,
under the Smith-Lever act, thus
ending a heated debate which ran
throughout the afternoon and night
sessions of Wednesday and Tapped
over into Thursday mornings ses-
sion.
At the opening of the debate Wed.
nesday afternoon it appeared that
the opponents of the appropriation
would sweep all before thine and
score a heavy victory, but the tide
began to turn in the closing hours
of Wednesday nights session, and
on the final vote they were beaten
by a margin of almost two to one
Following the action of the house
on the Smith-Lever appropriation
other items were disposed of in rapid
succession without debate until the
house reached the question of appro-
priating or refusing to appropriate
money to the board of public welfare.
The general understanding has
been that Governor Hardwick was
opposed TO the continuance of this
board and would insist upon its aboli-
ton. The appropriations committee
recommended no specific figure for
the board, but left it open for the
house to decide. Representative Will
liams. of Walton, introduced an
amendment providing SIS, 900 for the
board in 1922 and the same amount in
1928 and also $4,000 to pay the ex-
penses of the board for the latter
half of 1921, the board having been
left last year without any appropria-
ton.
Representative Ennis, of Baldwin,
one of the close personal and politi-
cal friends of the governor, made a
very strong speech in support of the
work of the board. Representative
Davis, of Oglethorpe, and numerous
other members supported him. The
house adopted the Williams amend
ment by a vote of 131 to seven. Rep
resentative Ennis privately expressed
the opinion that Governor Hardwick
would not veto this item in the bill.
Revised Tax Report
During the noon recess of the
ton committee, pursuant to inStruc-
tons given by the house, took back
from the house the entire general
appropriation bill and revised it by
applying a horizontal reduction of
10 per cent to all appropriations eX-
cepC those fixed by law. This action
of the house in refusing to proceed
further with the bill until it had been
revised was taken on motion of Rep
resentatives Davis of Oglethorpe, and
Woodward of Cook. 1t brought the
bill out of state of confusion and
turmoil, and paved the way for what
seemed to be a satisfactory compro-
mise.
In conference with Governor Hard
wick and Comptroller General
Wright, the appropriation COMMITTEES
applied 10 per cent reduction to the
institutions of learning, to the
eleemosynary institutions, and to
practically all departmental main
tenance appropriations. The COM
mon schools were reduced from $4,-
100000 to $4.25O,000. The bill as re-
vised carried total of $9,OOO,O0O.
Governor Hardwick had previously
announced his unwillingness to app
prove appropriations in excess of $S,-
100000 but for the sake of compro-
mise he agreed to strain point and
approve $9,000.000
School Cuts Accepted
When the house convened at 8
o'clock Wednesday afternoon, the
committees revised figures were
speedily accepted as to the common
schools, which had previously been
the subject of a prlonged contro-
versy; and as to the University of
coo to $4,000; the Georgia Tech,
which was cut from $4,000 to
$112,5O0, and the State College OF
Agriculture, whose maintenance APP
preparation was cut from 100000 to
$4,000. Vocational education was
cut from $4,000 to $4,000.
The house, in approving the Uni
versity of Georgia figure, inserted
a proviso that none of the money
should be expended for paying per
university business. 1t was charged
by Representative Landlord Of
Toombs, in this connection, that
university trustees were "in the
habit of collecting their per diem;
and expenses for railroad fare, and
hotel bills, on their trips to Atlanta
to lobby for the university" In APP
proving the figure for the main
tenance of the State College of Ag-
riculture, the house inserted a pro-
paid to the president Of the college.
DR.. Soule's present salary is $4,000.
This amendment was introduced by
Representative WocelIe of Camden,
why DR.. Soule should draw more
than the governor. and the chancel-
lor of the university"
All of the above items went
through the house in short order,
came the item of 500 900 for the
Smith-Lever work. otherwise known
as farm extension work. conducted
by the State College Of Agriculture,
with a combination of federal funds
f,,i1N 1t11
the voluntary option of the coun.
ties. The present appropriation Of
the state is $4,000. The appro-
priation committee cut it to 100000
in the hope Of satisfying the faction
who demanded its elimination, but
pose.
Biggest Debate in Years
Representative Moore, of Appling,
was waiting with an amendment to
strike the appropriation out of the
bill, and then commenced the great
est debate in the house since the pas
sage of the bone-dry prohibition bills
five years ago. 1t ran throughout
the afternoon session, continued
throughout the night session, and
overlapped into Thursday mornings
session, with more than forty speech
es, each one being limited under the
rule to five minutes.
Those favoring the amendment to
strike out Of the bill the Smith-Lever
appropriation charged that farm DEM
onstration agents have made a fall
lre of their work, have not establish
ed practical and helpful contact with
the farmers, have devoted more time
to chamber of commerce propaganda
in cities and towns than to actual
farm demonstration, and have been
too active in politics.
Those opposing the Moore amend
ment asserted that the fight on the
work was inspired by
]. ]. Brown, commissioner of agri-
culture, and his political machine Of
Ill inspectors and other appointees,"
aided by "the fertilizer trust and
other personal enemies of DR.. Soule''
Il was asserted that anY county dis.