Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-15
THE VAGARIES OF A GEORGIA LEGISLA-
TJTRE

ITO a stranger who looks in on a SEES
sion of a general assembly in the state
- capitol the scene must be disappoint-
ing, if not grotesque.
These men (and two lady members) are
supposed to be representatives, qualified and
selected for their wisdom, justice and mod
eration.' There are more than one hundred
and sixty at present, with more a-coming,
when the subject matter can be brought be-
fore the body. Every county has one mem
| Der, great many have two, and consid-
cradle number have three. These belong in
the house. There are over fifty in the SEN
ate, representing districts.
The payroll amounts to $500 each day
The present general assembly is the second
held this year. For some ineXplicable rea-
son the governor did not get busy during
the regular summer session. He made an
address several times, but he confined his
real activities to making some appointments,
which remain entirely unexplainabe at this
writing, and he saw the general assembly
piling in new bills and appropriating state
money with spendthrift recklessness without
rebGIe or even demur.
When the legislature quit because their
time was up, and nothing done, the governor
aWoke to the fact that the people had eX-
pected him to urge action on the demand of
Georgia voters, in 1922, to repeal the tax
equalization act and to reduce salaries, and
to stop making new offices.
With remarkable agility under the exist
ing circumstances, he called a special ses-
sion to repeal the tax equalization act in the
senate (because the house had already ac-
complished that much) and to provide free
school books, as pledged.
These two things Gas disclosed by Hon.
Mr.. Dean of Gainesville), had been pledged
to the late Senator Watson by Candidate
Clifford Walker to secure the senator's &C
tive support in the campaign of 1922 The
issue was direct, and plain and emphatic
The senate refused to consider either at
the regular session. From a lofty elevation
they looked down on the house. They de-
clared they wouldn't consider until the leg
islature passed an income tax bill The big
dogs snarled at the lesser dogs.
AS it is well known, the legislature in the
regular ffty-day session did absolutely moth
ing. because the senate blocked all bills
which originated in the house.
Likewise, it is recorded that the extra, or
special, session has passed but one bill, the
auditor bill, with more big salaries and am
Informed, with an unequaled rush of appli-
cants already for the salaries which will fol-
low passage of the income tax bill The
senate which snarled at the regular session
not only. snarled but growled at the special
session. They spit at the house bills. They
strobe majestically through the capitol build.
ing, every one looking like przefighter who
could and would "eat 'em up" at one mouth,
full, if the house members did not tuck their
tails and retire to their own dog house.
For six weeks this cohtemptib1e tableau
has been exhibited in the state capitol The
flood of oratOry has grown more audacious
and irritatng.1 l only plain Georgia
woman, but l would if member of the
house of representatives, vote to stay there
until Christmas eve before l would recog-
nize the authority Of the senate body to
plant its heels on the repeal Of the malodor-