Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-08
GEORGIA ASSEMBLY,
IN LEGISLATIVE JAM
AS SESSION WAVES
No Revenue Measures, Nc
Highway Bills Have Been
Acted On-RuIes Commit
tees to Take Charge

|
before the end of the session on
Thursday, August II. the legislature
kstill has before it the principal meas
ures of the session.
No revenue measure has yet been
passed by the house or senate, al
though the house has passed the bill.
repeating the tax equalization law.
and the bill is liable to pass the SEN
ate by a close margin of one or two
votes. It failed in the senate early
| in the session, hut it's supporters ex.
press the belief that the action OF
the house in passing the bill is likely
to put it over in the senate when 1t
comes before that body as house
bill.
Admittedly the repeal OF the tax
equalization law would substantially
reduce the revenue Of the state
through a shrinkage Of taxable
values in many counties. This bill,
therefore, cannot be- considered a
measure to raise revenue.
The house on Tuesday will take up
the income tax bill and the bill pro-
viding for classification and segrega-
ton of property. These bills are
likely to occupy two or three days
| in the house. which means that they
will reach the senate barely in time
for passage-assuming that the
house passes them. There is con-
siderable opposition to the income
tax. Being a constitutional amend
ment, it will require a two-thirds
ma iority.
Soft Drink Taxes
Bills to impose taxes upon soft
drinks, amusements and evidences of
debt were introduced in the house
and senate last week by the special
joint committee appointed to- pre-
pare them. These bills provide that
the revenue raised from these
sources shall be set apart to pay
Confederate pensions which are in
arrears. To pay the new class o.
pensioners this year and next year
will take about $4,250,0 900. The law
authorizes them to receive pensions,
but no appropriation was provided
last year because of the insufficient
income of the state.
But revenue measures are not the
only ones awaiting final action as
the legislature cutters the home
stretch.
Nothing has been done toward
( the passage of highway bond issue.
bill, beyond prolonged wrangling in
various committees. After the high
way committees OF the house and
senate had worked out a compro-
mise highway bond issue bill, the
constitutional amendments commit
tees of the house and senate were
not able to act definitely upon it
when the bill came to them. The
two committees appointed a sub
committee, and this subcommittee
has not vet reported back to the
full committees.
Highway bonds, therefore, go into
the home stretch in a precarious sit
uation. Owing to the shortness of
the time remaining, the bills put
jam. Prolonged debate on any
single measure will threaten the life
OF all others awaiting their turn.
Highway Bill
The highway bond issue bill pro-
posed by the highway committees
would provide an initial bond issue
| of S5,000,000 in 1928, and annual is
sues thereafter, if approved by the
legislature. Each annual issue
would be limited to an amount which
coulG be retired with 80 per cent Of
the preceding years revenue from
motor vehicle licenses and the gaso-
line tax.
The bill providing for the erection
OF a state-owned and operated port
terminal must take its chance of
n no CT 40
session, due to the fact that the
legislature, has decided to visit
Brunswick next Saturday and Sun.
day to inspect the site offered by
that city in competition with the site
offered by Savannah. The bill names
savannah as the location of the ter
mlnal, and the legislature has been
to that city and inspected the Sa-
Yannah site. In accepting Bruins.
Wlck's invitation, the legislature in
effect held open the question Of the
location of the terminal. Returning
from Brunswick on Monday, August
IA. the legislature will have but four
days remaining before adjournment.
This parliamentary situation will
put the port terminal bill in SINH:
lar peril to the highway bond issue
bill and others awaiting attention.
The house has passed, at this SEES
sion, only three important bills. The
flrst was the bill by Representative
Mundy, of Polk, providing for BIZ
ennial sessions of the legislature.
This bill involves a constitutional
| amendment. 1t has made no head
way In the senate, and the belief Of
senators is that it will not pass. The
second important bill passed by the
| house was the repeal of the tax
| equalization law. This also is In a
doubtful status in the senate. 1t
| will be fought to finish by senator's
who contend that the equalization
law should not be repealed until
| some substitute revenue measure is
| enacted.
Rail Board Change
| The third important bill passed by
| the house at this session was the
railroad commission bill, passed Fri
| day. This bill, as amended in the
| house, reduces the railroad commits.
| sion from five to three members. 1t
appropriates $4,000 for the opera
ton of the commission and provides
! for raising the money by special
taxes on the utility companies sub.
| ject to the commissions jurisdiction
| 1t requires the attorney to the rail-
| road commission to represent the
| public in all contested rate cases,
and requires hearings in such cases
| to be held in the local community.
| 1t requires the commission to en-
| ploy auditors and appraisers In ev.
cry contested rate case.
The present session of the legis-
lature got off to a late start and has
never caught up with its business
The approaching adjournment finds
important measures banked up In