Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-11
HOUSE WILL SEE
FIGHT ON HIGHWAY
BOARD THIS WEEK
Battle in Senate to Prevent
Repeal of Tax EquaIiza-
ton Law to Be Re-
Sumed

Representative McMichael's fight
on the state highway department in
the house, and the evenly-pitched
battle in the senate to repeal the tax
equalization law, will feature the
coming week in the legislature.
Representative McMichael has
several resolutions Of inquiry aimed
at the highway department. The
house debated them at length in
committee Of the whole last Friday,
and finally postponed action until
next Tuesday, when they will be re-
sumed as a special order.
The senate last week had a pro-
longed filibuster conducted by sup
porters Of the tax equalization law
| to prevent a vote on the repeal bill
of Senator Womble. Both sides in
dictated Friday at the close of the
week that they would take test in
the senate the coming week. A poll
of the senate shows that the out
come is extremely close.
Ballot Bill Passed
Passage by the house of the SEN
ate bill requiring secret ballot in
all elections, both primary and gen.
eral, is virtually the only legislative
result accomplished by the general
assembly after a week and half
since the session convened on the
fourth Wednesday in June.
The remainder of the time of the
house and senate has been chiefly
occupied with demands for "investi-
cations" of this and that, including
the department Of agriculture, the
state highway department, the col
lege of agriculture, etc.
The secret ballot bill, otherwise
known as the Australian ballot bill,
is an important forward step in
PGeorgia election methods, in the
general opinion of legislators and
state office-holders. 1t was strongly
recommended by Governor Hard.
wick in his opening message. 1t
passed the senate last year and was
passed by the house with minor
changes. The senate is expected to
l2concur an these Nifhfiretis If any
fobjection, which viii send the bill
to the governor for his approval.
The most important amendment by
the house was to set forward the
effective date Of the bill to January
1, 1924. ......
Provision of Measure
The bill requires all elections in
Georgia, both primary and general,
to be- held with a secret ballot. 1t
requires voting booths where voters
may, prepare their ballots without
being observed. 1t provides for and
requires an unobserved deposit by
the voter OF. his ballot in the box.
1t imposes severe penalties upon
election managers, clerks Of court,
and others handling ballots, for di.
vulging any information as to how
a voter cast his ballot.
n Highway bond issue legislation
and tax revision legislation have
made no .appreciable progress. in the!
house or the senate. The highway
committees of both branches have
held three joint meetings in an Of
fort ito formulate highway bond
issue program on which the major
4 on nc 1nyA hox 80
.ceeded. Opinions range all the way
from $40 100000 to $75,000,0 900 as to
the amount, Of highway bonds
which ought to be issued.
Highway bond issue advocates,
led by the Georgia Good Roads as
ISOLATION, have not weakened in
their support of the full amount
proposed, which is SIS, 100000. They
have announced, however, at least
inferentially, that if they can not
get a whole loaf they will take
half a loaf. That is to- say, they
would not object to a bond issue Of
$25,OO0,000, or perhaps even less, if
that was the best they could pos.
sibly get from +, this legislature,
though they plan to keep up their
campaign in support of an eventual
issue of not less than $75,000,000, all
told.
Tax revision seems to have reach
ed an impasse at the outset Of the
session. Governor Hardwick's state
income tax plan has strong support,
but admittedly not enough to mus
ter the two-thirds vote necessary to
pass a constitutional amendment in
the house and senate. Tax revision
along other lines has strong support,
but falls short of two-thirds. Should
the legislature not be willing to pass
to the people a state income tax,
Governor Hardwick would be will
ling to accept some substitute plan,
which would, in, his opinion, obtain
revenue from invisible property.
This much he has stated repeatedly,
A compromise plan Of tax revision
may be worked out before the SEES
sion ends. ~
During the coming week the port
commission is expected to render it's
report. 1t will recommend the build
ing Of state-owned terminal at
Savannah, and will submit detailed
plans and specifications, with esti-
mates Of cost. prepared by F.. ".
Cowie, the noted port engineer of
Montreal. who was engaged for this
work. Mr.. Cowie has been in Savan-
nah several weeks completing his |
data. The port terminal project was
Endorsed in Atlanta Friday by those |
the statewide meeting to |
form an organization to promote the |
proposed international maritime ex-
position in Savannah in 1926, with |
an industrial exposition in Atlanta |
to run simultaneously. The exposi- |
ton project and port terminal prof. |
ect are to be promoted in conjunc- |
ton by the organization formed at |
this meeting.
The port commission will recon- |
mend to the legislature the submits |