Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-02
HIGHWAY PROBE
ASSURED; SENATE
VOTES CONCURRENCE

An immediate legislative investi-
cation Of the Georgia highway oe
partment was assured Tuesday when
the senate voted unanimously to
concur in the house resolution by
Representative McMichael, of Ma
vion, calling for sweeping probe OF
the departments operations at the
present session of the general as
semb!y.
This action was taken after Presi-
dent George III. CarsWell, and Sena.
tor Stephen Pace had made strong
speeches urging the senate to ac-
cept Mr. McMichael's resolution in
stead of the senate resolution by
Senator Pace.
THE highway department" Pres
dent CarsWell declared, lis entitled
TO an investiga ton at the hands of
this legislature in view of the clouds
now standing over its affairs. This
inVestiea ton should be a full, lair
and impartial one. Personally, l do
not agree with the wording Of the
MCMichael resolution, as it con.
tains charges against members OF
the highway department. These
officials should not be prejud;ceq.
Would Avoid Delay
However, if the senate insists on
adoption Of the Pace resolution there
is little likelihood that the investi-
cation can be started during the
present session. 1, therefore, urge
that the McMichael measure be
passed in order that the highway
department. may be probed before
adjournment, instead of being left
as a football to be kicked around
Just before President Carswell
took the floor. communication
was read to the senate in which
all the members of the state high
way commission urged that an in
vestigation be launched without fur
Their delay. The highway officials
denied public statements that they
HAD been trying to prevent the in
vestigation from being conducted,
and declared they earnestly desired
a careful inquiry by the present
legislature.
Senator Pace, in asking the SEN
ate to defeat his resolution and
said he had not receded from his
position that the McMichael paper
was worded unfairly to the depart
ment.
Yields to Haste Plea
However," he continued. Chair
man Holder and the other members
of the highway commission have ap-
pealed to me to let the McMichael
resolution pass in order that the in
vestigation might be speeded up. In
justice to the department and ITO the
people of the state, / feel that the
inquiry should be made at once and
! therefore yield from my position
and request the senate to disregard
my probe resolution
The investigating committee will
be composed of twelve members of
the house and five members of the
senate to be appointed by Speaker
Neill and President CarsweI.
President Carswell named the per-
sonnet of the senate committee as
follows: Senators Pace, Smith of the
Thirty-fifth district, Coates, Lank-
ford and Redwine. Speaker NELL, of
the house, during the day, was to
appoint twelve members on the COM
mittee, and it was expected that the
first committee hearing would be
held some time Wednesday.
Representative McMichael was in
the senate when his resolution was
adopted. He expressed himself as
gratifid witch the action taken, but
said he would make no further
statements in advance of the OPEN
ing of the committee hearings.
10
Tuesday passed the Phillips bill
requiring all persons driving motor
vehicles to come to a full stop 100
feet from all railroad grade cross
ings, and look and listen before pro-
Iceeding. Failure to comply with the
act is made a misdemeanor, and the
punishment is limited to fine of
$40.
/ Senator Phillips, in explaining the
bill to the senate, said it differed
( from the bill which the senate killed
a year ago in that it does not relieve
railroads from liability in damage
suits. He described the bill as a hui
manitarian measure that will save
hundreds of lives in the state.
Senator Redwine attacked the bill,
and said it was being sponsored by
railroad companies who want to
make law viOlators out of persons
seeking damages for injuries suffer
ed in grade crossing accidents.
Intended to Save Lives
/ He said that if this bill passed it
would be almost impossible for fur
| Their damages to be collected from
railroads in the state.
/ "A number of engineers on Geor-
eia railroads." he said, have re-
! Gently been indicted for involuntary
manslaughter as result Of acct
dents at grade crossings, and this
| bill is offered in an effort to shift
the burden to drivers of motor We
hicles."
Senator PAGES bill, providing that
bond equal to the value of the
property shall be given when an APP
peal is made is made from a mort
gage foreclosure, unanimously was
passed by the senate.
Another feature of the days SEES
sion was the submission of a report
by the constitutional amendments
committee. recommending the pas
sage of two bills by Senator Pace,
one of which would consolidate the
offices of tax collector and tax re.
cefver in the counties of the state
and the other, would abolish the
fee system in compromising county
officials in counties having more
than % 900 population.
Placed on Calendar