Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-21
TEMPORARY VICTORY SCORED
BY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

the house of representatives. Tuesday
by postponing action until Thursday
on the bill by Representative Davis,
of Oglethorpe, requiring the motor
vehicle fund, which is now set aside
for the construction of the state high
way system, to be distributed among
the counties on a basis of post road
mileage.
The motion to postpone was car
ried by vote of 106 to Sc on call
of the ayes and nays, after forty
five minutes of the hottest debate
which has occurred in the house dur
ing the present session. After post
poning action on the bill, the house
ordered 800 copies of it printed for
the information of the members.
This bill, when introduced, was
referred to the committee on gen.
eral agriculture, No. 2, instead of
being referred to the highway COM
mittee along with several other bills
of similar import. The highway COM
mittee last week after a hearing
practically put an end to the other
by reporting them adversely. The
Davis bill. however, obtained a ia
vorable report from the committee
on general agriculture, No: 2, and
came up for action in the house on
Tuesday. Opponents of the bill as
be to paralyze the functions of the
state highway department, halt the
progress the state highway
system and automatically deprive
Georgia of her share of federal aid
for highway construction amounting
to several million dollars year. On
this ground they fought the Davis
bill, led by Representatives Coswell,
of Wilkinson; Quincy, of Coffee, and
Turner, of Brooks, chairman of the
highway committee.
Representative Carswell delivered
against the bill one of the most eff
fective speeches ever heard on the
floor of the house. and was warmly
congratulated by the friends of the
highway department for his valiant
assistance at what they considered
critical juncture.
He told the members of the house
that he was interested in two great
movements. one of them being a
movement for better schools. and
roads. These two, he declared, mean
more to Georgia's development than
all other constructive y movements
combined.
Issues Warning
eff you pass this bill" declared
Representative Carswell, II warn you
that you will paralyze your highway
department., destroy your highway
system, of which more than 1000
miles has been constructed, and de-
prive the small counties of Georgia
of the benefits of the millions of
dollars which the federal govern
ment is waiting to give us, but which
it will not give us unless we have
a thoroughly organized highway de-
partment.'
The fight for the bill was led by
Representative Davis, of Oglethorpe,
the author of the. bill; Landlord, of
Toombs, and Bowden, OF Ware. Iney
vehemently disclaimed any intention
of destroying the highway system,
or curtailing in any way the tunc-
tions of the state highway depart
ment. They asserted that their sole
object was to obtain for the little
counties an equal participation in
the motor vehicle fund with the large
ed with the house not to postpone
action on the bill, but to pass it now,
and send it to the senate. in time Tor
the senate to pass it before the end
of the session.
In the course of the debate the
opponents of the bill pledged them
selves to set aside the general tax
which would normally have the right
of way, if either of those measures
should come up in the house on
Thursday and thereby threaten to
displace the Davis bill.
After the motion to postpone &C
ton on the bill had been carried, the
supporters and opponents of the bill
compromise. To this end and for
this purpose, q special committee
was appointed by unanimous consent,
consisting of three supporters of the
bill and three opponents of the bill,
the former being RepresentatlVes
McMichael. Landlord and BoWden,
and the opponents of the bill being
Representative Carswell, Arnold and
Rutherford. Representative Davis,
the author of the bill, was requested
by both sides to act as chairman of
the committee. A meeting of the
committee will be held Tuesday night
at the Kimball house.
Following the appointment of this
committee, the house adjourned until
$50 o'clock Wednesday morning.
The house on Tuesday concurred
in the senate resolution, adopted Mon
day, providing for an investigation
of. the. highway department by a
senate and twelve from the house.
The resolution passed the senate
without opposition by the friends
of the highway department. and
was likewise satisfactory to the
friends of the department in the
house. They believe that further
investigation of the department will
furnish a complete answer to every
criticism which has been made of it's
operation.
The house on Tuesday adopted a
resolution recommended by the rules
committee to meet at $50 in the
morning instead of 10 o'clock for the
remainder of the session. Represen-
tative Lewis, of Colquitt, moved to
amend the resolution by substituting
o'clock for $50, but this amend
ment was voted down.
New House Bills
The following new bills were intro
duced in the House on Tuesday:
By Messrs. Hatcher and Perkins
of MuScogee-To amend section 2S25
of the code relative to reviver of cor
porations to fix time limit at twenty
five years after expiration of charter.
General Judiciary No. p.
BY Mr.. Blalock of Ware-To make
voluntary testimony of husband and
wife, one against the other, compe-
tent in criminal cases. General Jul
dietary No. -.
By Floyd De1egation-To author
iZe comptroller general to withhold
final settlement with tax collectors
until digest has been corrected. CAP
propriations.)
BY Mr. Bush of Lamar-To author
ize state board of entomology to es-
tabliSh safety zones in advance of