Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-01
Biennial Legislative Sessions


II the plain voters of Georgia
could only realize the necessity for
-retrenchment and economy as they
should do. there would be a cry
from every county in the state to
alter the present law and assemble
the Georgia legislature once in two
years and give the body sixty days
to conduct the business and then
allow them to go home.
The great majority of the states
have felt obliged to come back to
biennial sessions and it is stating it
mildly to say improved conditions
have resulted.
The Georgia legislature had about
seven weeks of continuous session
in 1922. It was universally con-
ceded that the members fooled away
the time and did next to nothing
towards relieving taxation or of
cutting down expenses.
Because [ felt interested in the
taxation bill, I took occasion to go
once week and listen to what was
going on, for couple of days at
a time, and while it was understood
by the members that I had no op-
portunity to change or command
anything, and by no one, more
than by myself, I was actually
ashamed to see the recklessness Of
some and the apathy of others,
constituting together the majority
which ruled the body; with no sort
of attention to the wishes of the
people who voted them in, or of
the indebtedness Of the state, which
was enormous-and almost past
finding out.
And this was the second session
of same body. They had a regular
session in 1921, which postponed
everything that could be postponed
to 1922, and when the body assem-
bled in 1922, it was evident that
the business which was hoped for
was not only postponed twice. but
effectually crippled and again post
poned for 1928.
This fifty-day session in 1921 cost
the taxpayers, according to publish
ed figures of comptroller general,
one hundred and twenty-five thou
sand dollars. It is presumable that
the figures of 1922 will add up as
much or more. The whole term of
two years has cost q quarter of a
million dollars, and nothing done as
to retrenchment or cutting down ex-
penses.
It goes without saying that this
sort of thing will have an ending
before very long. An effort was
made in the general election OF
1922 to put new people in the legis
lature, because of this lack OF
business capacity-in those electei
In 1920.
The same story may be repeated
in the summer session of 1928, but
one thing is certain, the voters o!
who have shown such disregard OF
the necessities of the situation, and
viii put them out of commission
if the error is repeated Or continued
to 1924.
1t is clearly evident that some
thing has to be done to check enor
nous appropriations, until the state
can be relieved of its present debt
obligations. No private business
could keep out of bankruptcy
with ell play and no work. AS q
safe beginning on this line allow the
legislature one session in two years
An Enjoyable Visit to South Carolina
A year ago it was decided that the
1923 assembling of the great Ma
ional Highway association, together
nth the Bankhead Highway associa.
ton, and the Dixie Highway associa-
ton, should meet in Greenville, S.
c., on April 16, and discuss the
pros and cons Of the good roads
movement.
Twas one of the invited ones and
enjoyed the trip amazingly, consid.
ering my age, and the distance, etc.
Greenville was cordial as to wei.
come, and the visitors were very
pleased as to the city and its PEG