Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-06
BUREAU Of MARKETS
ASSA|LED IN SENATE
At HEATED SESSION
Charges That Chairman
Mills Is on PayroII-ArnoId
Resolution Changed to In
oIude State College

"A
of markets, a branch of the depart
ment of agriculture, and use that
departments appropriation Of $780,
900 in supplying free school books
to the children of the state, brought
on O. hot fight in the senate Wed.
nesday.
and Thomas, of the Third, in intro
dvcing the bill, asked that it be re-
ferred to the committee on educa-
ton and public schools. Senator
Jackson, of the Twenty-first. offer
ed objection, declaring that unless
the senate intended to refer meas
ures of this nature to it's committee
on agriculture. it should abolish this
committee. .- t.>=
Senator Campbell declared the bill
was a direct slap at Commissioners Of
Agriculture J. ]. Brown. He asserted
the agricultural department was
just as vital to the state as free
school books. Senator Jones, Of the
thirty seventh district, asked Sena-
tor Thomas why he objected to hav-
ing the measure referred to the com
mittee on agriculture.
Warm Debate
ST am informed" replied Mr..
Thomas, that an important member
of the agricultural committee is on
the pay roll of Commissioner J. j..
Brown and is receiving a large
salary"
When asked the name of this
member, Senator Thomas named
Senator ]. H. Mills, chairman of the
committee, and added that Mr.. Mills
is inspector Of dairies for the depart
ment of agriculture.
He declared his information was
| that Mr.. Mills draws a salary or
$3.50 a month. .
Another question Senator Camp
bell asked Senator Thomas was If he
! thought Chairman Mills would be
biased if the measure came before
his committee.
81 have strong reasons to- believe
that the bill would be throttled, in
| the committee ROOM" replied the
| senator.
Senator Jones, of the thirty-sev-
enth, jumped to his feet and assert
Doesn't the senator from the
third realize that this senate is COM
poscI Of group of men who will
not tolerate the throttling of ques'
tons in committee rooms?'
That's all right" shot back Sen
ator Thomas, "I've seen things slip
ped over here before and 1 don't
doubt that it would be done again"
Attacks Mills
Continuing his speech, Senator
Thomas made an attack on Senator
wills for holding two offices. He
employment by the department Of
agriculture, was not free to give
unbiased consideration to measures
affecting that department. He hint
ed he would, during the session, in
troduce a bill prohibiting members
of the general assembly from hold
ing positions with state depart
ments.
Senator Mills reached the senate
chamber shortly before Mr.. Thomas
concluded his speech. He conferred
hastily with several of his col
leagues but took no part in the de-
bate.
Senator Boykin, after consulting
Senator Mills, asked permission to
c''estion Senator Thomas.
He asked him if it were not true
that Senator Mills no longer was
connected with the department of
agriculture.
THAT is news to me and thank
you for it, Senator Thomas an
swered.
Senator Thomas was told by Sen.
ator Boykin that Senator Mills is
also member Of the committee on
education and public schools.
Eyes, but he is not chairman OF
that committee and could not bring
as much pressure" retorted Mr..
Thomas. "It looks like my bill is 60
ing to draw the lines between the
public school children of Georgia
and the department Of agriculture.
The people Of my district are going
to stand for the school children, and
1 say away with this tommy-rot in
the agricultural department"
Bill Committed
Both Senators Thomas and Brown
declared the bureau of markets was
rendering little, if any, service to
the farming interests Of the state,
and that there was a growing pub
lie sentiment for it's abolition.
The senate voted, rs to 5, to refer
the bill for consideration to the COM
mittee or agriculture. During the
debate Senator Brown limited that
he and Senator Thomas, later in the
session, would introduce other meas
ures designed to accomplish changes
in the department of agriculture.
Immediately after their measure
had been referred for committee at
tention, Senators Brown and Thorn
as introduced resolution calling on
Commissioner Of Agriculture Brown
for a statement showing full details
Of the operation OF his department.
"For several years." the resolu-
ton. stated the people of Georgia
have been unable to get certain in
formation regarding this depart
ment. 1t also appears that there
has been much duplication in the
work Of the department. Of agricul.
ture and the state college Of ag-
riculture. In order to correct these
evils the commissioner of agricul-
ture is requested to submit to the
senate g. list of the names of all per-
sons who have been on his pay
roll for the last twelve months, to-
gether with a statement showing
the salaries or fees received by them,
together with a statement showing
the amount Of the appropriation al
lotted to each branch Of his depart
ment."
The resolution also called on the
commissioner to submit a statement
showing what disposition had been
made of cotton samples received by
his denartment as well as the nrn.