The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-22
GOVERNOR OF
GEORGIA PROVES
ACE STRATECIST
BY DEEZY SCOTT
United Press staff Correspondent

united PreSS StaH correspondent
Atlanta, Ca, May % CUP -
Georgia's young governor - 35-year-
old Ellis Arnall-had veteran poll
ticians aghast when he took office
Jan. IL and promised the legislature
that he'd Sign any bill they passed
except tax-raising measures"
But the upshot of the unique
method of giving the general as
sembly its head" brought the gov
ernor 100 per cent co-operation-two
and half months of political bliss.
The record of the honeymoon"
legislature which convened Jan. IL
shows that Arnall's 10-point CAM
paign platform was pushed through
the two chambers without hitch
in less than two weeks.
BY the time the body adjourned
sine die March 18 every other Ar
nall-backed bill had passed and
many of the members own pet
measures had died in Sub-commit-
tees.
No Vetoes Necessary
In addition, the assembly re.
Trained from passing any tax-raising
measures. Consequently no bills
were vetoed except handful which
were vetoed at the request of their
authors.
The 10 points included legislation
designed to reaccredit Georgia's Cos
leges which we're blacklisted durilI7
the term Of former Gov. EugeiAo
Talmadge; to create a new stass
pardon and parole board to "clexA
up the pardon racket; to take aws~
the "dictatorial' powers Of the go-~.
ernor by removing him from STAN
boards and allowing for budget sv..-
preparations by the assembly rattEa
than the governor, and by repealis=.:
the law that allowed governor ~
GUST constitutional state officials.
Almost Immediately the accred.-.
ing associations reinstated Georssl
schools when Arnall signed the So
organiza ton laws: a new state pa
don board was set up, and finance
commission was authorized TO have
the final say in state money matters.
Kept Hands OFF
Controversial issues we're fough
upstairs in the two chambers, while
the governor remained In his offices
below and refused to comment.
Among these, all of which failed,
were measure to authorize state
liquor stores, prohibition, and to
lease state owned property in
downtown Atlanta to a concern I'M
til 2022 AID.
When the bill changing Georgia's
clocks back from Eastern to Gen.
trial War Time was passed, Arnall
signed it at II 80 a. m. without any
previous warning 10 the state.
He ignored burst Of criticism
by the time shift with his daily
statement TO the press: This Is the
finest legislature in the history OF
Georgia. I've already said anything
they pass, I'll sign Immediately.
And Georgians can live on any
time they want, Rocky Mountain
Time If they like It," he added.
3 Major Bills Passed
Three outstanding administration
measures passed by the assembly
were: A constitutional amendment
to allow 18-year-olds to vote;
commission authorized to rewrite
Georgia's much amended constitu-
Jon, and a tax-excmption law de-
signed to bring the Coca Cola COM
pary home to Georgia"
The franchise of l8-ycar-
caused the only threat to the legis-
lative honeymoon. The house vot-
cd down the amendment but passed
1t the next day.
Administration leaders confessed
that an all-night persuasion
sion had been necessary. Members
who changed their votes explained:
"The governor wants this amend
ment submitted to the people. He's
announced that he'll take the
stump this summer and we've de-
cided 10 give the public chance to
decide the issue"
But there was no scheduled cleo
ton for the summer. So, as a part
ing shot, the agreeable legislature
passed a law designating Aug. 3 as
all off-year election date when the
constitutional amendments will be
ratified or rejected.