Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-09
MEMBER SCORES
LEGISLATURE AS
DO-NOTH|NG BODY
Threatens to Resign Says
Members Cry "Retrench-
nient" and Vote Against It
Every Day

The Georgia legislature was de-
scribed as a "do-nothing body, COM
posed Of politicians who are willing
to submerge the states interest to
further their own political ambi
TONS" by Senator Duke, of the
Twenty-eighth, in scathing speech
delivered in the senate Wednesday
in opposition to a house bill Great
ing the Piedmont judicial circuit,
which passed by a vote of 81 to s..
81 am Disguised and outraged with
the general working OF our great
legislature, said Senator Duke,
and I am frank to say that l have
reached the point where - ~
to resign. A ring OF politicians is
running the state OF Georgia and
debating to the general assembly. 1t
is a tragedy that men of intelligence
continue to stand for it. The fingers
of the politicians are clutched around
the states throat and = people are
SuAIC1lliSs LII ouOAI1OA petty JCdlOu-
sizes stand in tie way OF constructive
legislation. AS a whole we are a
bunch of standpatters.'
Senator Duke referred to the sem
ate as a menagerie and declared it
amused him greatly to sit and watch
his colleagues argu He said he
was tired of hea1 g members say
they favor retrenchmeI.t.. and added
that the majority f both houses vote
against retrenchment evc.y
Gallery Fills Quickly
The news spread quickly that
Senator Duke was denouncing both
branches of the legislature, and the
senate gallery soon was filled with
spectators. Senator Dukes remarks
were frequently interrupted by
shouts of Amen from Senator
Boyce Ficlllen and others.
Senator Adams, Of the Forty-seV-
enth, took issue with Senator Dukes
remarks and demanded an apology.
He defended the work of the senate
and charged his colleague with be-
ing both ignorant and disgruntled.
Senator Johns, of the Twenty
seventh, sponsor Of the bill creating
the new judicial circuit appealed to
Senator Duke not to tender his res
ignation. He asked Mr.. Duke II the
people of his district used good
judgment when they elected him.
Answering your questions" re-
piled Senator Duke, 81 will say that
no one of real ability will come to
the legislature. The reason all Of
use were elected is that the folks
at home did not have sufficient range
Of CHOICE
Senator Duke charged that mem
bers of the senate finance commit
tee issued an ultimatun to the
house that unless the income tax
bill was acted on, there would be
no senate consideration of the house
bill repeating the tax equalization
law.
This was heatedlv denied by Sena-
tor Mayson, committee chairman,
who announced a session of the COM
mittee for o'clock Wednesday aft
ernoon to pass on the repeal bill.
Disguised, He Says
In his parting shot Senator Duke
declared that too many members
Of the legislature come to Atlanta
with other political ambitions. Many
want to be governor" he said, "and
many others want to go to congress,
and they are willing to bow to the
politicians and submerge the public
interest to further their desires.
eff this be democracy then l am
disguised with democracy" he con-
Guided.
The Piedmont circuit bill passed
the house week ago. 1t takes from
the western circuit the counties OF
Banks, jackson. Barrow and Gwin-
nett, leaving the counties Clarke,
Oconee and Walton. Senator Johns
declared that the congested condi-
ton of the courts of the circuit
necessitatnd Immediate relief