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| STATE LEGISLATURE.
■ THE WORK IN BOTH BRANCHES
| YESTERDAY.
» Bill* SAID CobUk In—A Reaoiution To
Admit No New Matter After Wednea
day—A Pretty Oood Day's Work.
(Special to Chronicle.]
THE SENATE.
Atlanta, August 13.—Senate met. Rev.
M. B. Warton prayed. Roll call. Journal
read. Governer Boynton in" the Chair.
Quite a sprinkling of ladies in the gal
lery.
Hod. Phil Cook and W. L. Mathews in
vited to seats on the floor.
Senator McDonald moved to reconsider
the lost bill as to a branch college at Way
cross. Carried.
Senator Tatum moved for Senator Greer
to reconsider Ray’s guano bill. Laid on
the table.
E. D. Graham was invited to a seat on
the floor.
A resolution by Mr. Tatum W» offered*
that no new matter bdintrodafcedafter
Wednesday. Passed and transmitted to
the House.
New Bill*.
Mr. Rouse —To amend section 3694 of
the Code as to fees of ordinaries for record
ing. etc. Judiciary.
Mr. Tutt—To allow land owners whose
lands are intersected by turnpike er to 1
oads to pass free.
Mr. Polhill—To change time of elections
for county officers from first Wednesday in
January 1886 and every four years after.
Judiciary.
Bills or Third Reading.
Senate bill of Mr. Smith to provide for
procuring chain gang witnesses. Laid on
table.
Bill of Mr. Peeples—To provide for
paying for advertising by ordinaries of
no fence elections. Mr. Peeples explained
the bill. Bill passed.
T. W. Milner invited to a* seat on the
floor.
Message from the House announcing
passage of bills.
Mr. Parks* bill to make valid waivers of
homestead in spite of usurious interest.
Laid on table.
To amend section 1235 of Code as to re
ceiving pupils into the Deaf and Dumb
Asylum. Pupils must have been citizens
two years, and can stay at the institution
seven years. Passed.
To amend section 1215 of Code as to re
ceiving pupils in the Blind Asylum. Re
quires two years* citizenship. Passed.
Mr. Parks* bill to amend Constitution
to create the office of Lieutenant-Governor.
Laid on table.
Bill making effective waivers of garnish
ment. Laid on the table.
Bill to authorize the Trustees of the
State University to accept the college at
Waycross. Laid on the table.
Resolution os to mineral collections
made by Dr. Little, State Geologist, to
loan them to the Georgia Land and Min
eral Company. Laid on the table.
Bill as to bonds of county officers, re
quiring the liability of each surety to be
specified.
Mr. Tutt had the objection to the bill
that if some of the sureties failed then the
general security was dismissed to that ex
t ent.
Sr - Mr. Hoyt moved to make the bill the
-special order for Wednesday. Carried.
BiM to change the law as to jurors in
Laurens county. Laid on the table.
Mr. Pike offered a resolution for the
" committee of investigation of the Marietta
and North Georgia Railroad to employ a
stenographic reporter. Passed and sent to
the Home.
On motion of Mr. Dußignon House bills
were read the first time.
On motion of Mr. Pike the bill in regard
to Laurens county, laid on the table, was
taken up and passed.
Mr. Gustin offered a new bill for the ap
pointment of guardians ad litem in divorce
suits.
The business being up, the Senate took
a recess, subject to the call of the Presi
dent.
At 33 minutes after 11 o’clock the Presi
dent announced that there was no pros
pect of further business to-day, and an ad
journment was made nntil 10 o’clock to
morrow morning.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,'
The House met at ten o’clock. Prayer
by Chaplain McClelland. Roll call dis
pensed with. The Journal was read and
approved.
By Mr. Hulst y—A resolution that after
noon sessions be held from 3 to 6 o’clock
daily for tbe reading of local bills, favora
blv reported the third time. Agreed to.
fey Mr Maddox - A resolution that a com
mittee of five from the House and three
from the Senate be appointed to look into
the business of the Legislature, with a view
to an early adjournment. No quorum
voted to suspend the rule, and the resolu
tion was withdrawn.
By Mr. Reese - A resolution that no new
matter be introduced in the House after
the 17th of August without the unanimous
consent of the House. No quorum voted,
and, on motion of Mr. Little, the resolution
went to the Committee on Rules.
The roll of counties was called for new
matter
Mr. Key, of Jasper—A bill to empower
grand juries in this State to give sheriffs
additional compensation. Finance Com
mittee
Also, a bill to submit the question of
abolition of County Courts in this State
to the voters of any county on the recom
mendation of the grand jury. Special Ju
diciary.
Mr. Sinquefield, of Jefferson—A bill to
amend the charter of Louisville. Corpor
ations. -
Mr. Mason, of Johnson—A bill to incor
porate the town of Wrightsville, in John
son county. Corporations.
Mr. Redwine, of Hall —A bill to prohibit
the sale of liquor in 837th G. M. district.
Temperance.
Mr. Dupree, of Macon—A bill to amend
2611 of the Code. General Judiciary.
Mr. Head, of Monroe—A bill to amend
an act to protect the farming interests of
Monroe county. Agriculture.
Mr. Little—A bill to pay the contingent
expenses of the Legislature at this session.
Finance.
The Senate resolution to employ a steno
graphic reporter for the Committee on M.
J N. Ga. Railroad was concurred in.
By Mr. Crittenden, of Randolph—To en
large Solicitors-General’s fees.
By Mr. Robbe, of Richmond—A bill to
pay W.’A. Kellog the reward offered for
the arrest of Henry Williams. Finance.
Also, a bill to amend the various acts of
the State relative to public schools so far as
& they relate to the special tax on liquor.
Judiciary. Also, a bill to enable the own-
L ere of real estate to pledge the land as a
security for debt Judiciary. Also, a bill
to enable towns and cities containing ten
thousand people and upwards to establish
insurance. Corporations.
Wilson, of Sumter —To pay printing
bill of Railroad commission; also,to amend
act to establish pharmaceutical board.
Eason, of Telfair—To appoint guardians
ad litem in divorce cases.
Burch, of Towns—To stop driving cat
tie from North Carolina into this State.
Eason, of Telfair—To establish a branch
g college at McVille.
By Mr. Crenshaw—A bill to amend sec
tion 3533 of the Code. Judiciary.
By Mr. Lott-A bill to amend an act to
consolidate and amend and supercede the
several acts incorporating the town of
Waycross. Corporations.
By Mr Pringle A bill to amend the
charters of Sandersville, Oconee and Ten
nille. Local and Special.
By Mr. Wright, of Washington—A bill to
regulate the sale of liquor in the 155th
Militia District. Local and Special.
By Mr Pringle—A bill to prevent illegal
voting in this State. Judiciary.
By Mr. Broyles—A bill to prescribe the
mode of putting to death live stock made
valueless by injury bv railroad trains.
SENATE.
Atlanta, August 14.—Senate met at 10
o’clock. President Boynton in the Chair.
Bev. Dr. Jones made one of his beautiful
prayers. 801 l called. Journal read and
approved.
Hon. D. B. Frederick, R. W. Anderson,
J. F. Stapleton, Dr. P. Stolesbury, Mr. J.
Williams, Hon. D. E. Butler, Prof. E. w.
Butler, J. P. Fitzpatrick, W. H. Felton,
Dupont Guerry, C. B. Keene, Capt. B.
Milikin and D. N. Baldwin were invited to
take seats on the floor.
Bepqyts from-eerporatiOn oommiUee f£'
eeived. '
Message from the House reporting cer
tain bills passed.
In report es bills laid" on the table yes
terday were two introduced by Senator
Parke, one to create the office of Lieuten
ant-Governor, and the other to make
homestead waivers effectual. These were
laid on the table on his own motion, as he
thought both bills would provoke discus
sion and some opposition, and he prefer
red to have them considered by a full
Senate. The attendance on Monday morn
nieg is generally light. Senator Parks will
move to take them from the table some day
this week.
Bills were read the second time.
On motion of Senator Lamar, House bills
were read the first time.
The House amended the Senate resolu
tion to allow no new matter after the 15th.
by inserting the 20th. The Senate agreed
to the House amendment. So the 20th of
the month is the limit now for the intro
duction of new business.
J. S. Johnson was invited to a seat on
the floor.
Mr. Pike offered a new bill to amend
section 3560 of the Cod e, as to verdicts.
Senate having brought up all the busi
ness, adjourned at 11 o’clock, until to
morrow morning at 10 o’clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at ten o’clock. Prayer
by Chaplain McClellan. ■ Roll was called.
The Journal was read and approved.
On motion of Mr. Jalaway. of Dade, the
bill for tbe relief of Enoch E. Ketcher
side, of Dade, was rebonsidered. •
On potion of Mr. Harris, of Bibb, the
rules were suspended and he introduced
two bills.
Mr. Harris —A bill to prevent live stock
from running at large in Howard and
Viutville districts, in Bibb county. Spe
cial Judiciary.
Aino, a bill to extend the jurisdiction of
Justices of Peace in towns and cities hav
ing more than one militia district, over
the entire town or city. General Judici
ary.
By Mr. Dart, of Glynn-A joint resolu
tion that tbe Committee on the Peniten
tiary be allowed to employ a stenographer,
M>d that the expenses of the\et>mmittee
,be paid out of the contingent fund.—
Agreed to.
Tbe rules were suspended, and Mr.
Parks, of Greene, introduced two bills
Mr. Parks—A bill by Mr. Wilson, of
Greene, to amend an act in relation to
the mode of granting license to sell liquor
!in the counties of Schley, Talbot and
Greene. Temperance Committee.
Also, a bill by Mr. Wilson to prohibit tbe
sale of liquor within three miles of Baird's
Baptist Church on the line of Oglethorpe
and Greene. Temperance Committee.
The special order—the Capitol bill—
wm announced.
A motion by Mr. Jordan to postpone was
voted down.
Mr. Humber, of Putnam, submitted a
minority report.
The House went into committee of the
whole to consider the bill, Mr. Rankin, of
Gordon, presiding.
The minority report opposes tbe bill
because the bill contains no provision
requiring Atlanta to pay $55,000 due the
State on account of the location of the
capitol in said city, because the bill con
tains no provision for the sale or dispo
sition of the building now used as a
capitol, because there are not sufficient
afeguards thrown about the expendi
tures provided for in the bill. The yearly
appropriations should be left to subse
quent Legislatures after the first year.
The first year’s appropriation should not
be greater than SIOO,OOO, including the
$55,000 to be paid by Atlanta. The re
port concludes that unless the amendment
suggested can be made, the undersigned
will oppose the passage of the bill: R C.
Hinlan, V. E. Harris, J. Y. Wood, W. W.
London, 0. T. Zichery, T. F. Brewster, H.
L. Wright, John Mcßte, W. J. Ford. J. W.
Barksdale, Lewie W. Mobley, Tom Eason,
W. A. Little, J. D. Sutton, W. A. Wilson,
R. F. Orittendon.
Mr. Rice, of Fulton, the introducer of
tbe bill addressed the House. He re
viewed at length, in very interesting style,
the historv of the whole capitol question,
commanding tbe undivided attention of
tbe House. He then discussed the bill
elaborately, bringing out in a telling man
ner all the strong points favorable to the
passage. Mr. Rices’ entire speech showed
a thorough mastery of this subject down
to the smallest details, and its delivery was
practical, direct and convincing. * His
heart was in this work, and better work in
behalf of the people could not have been
done.
On motion of Mr. Little, the bill was
considered by sections. Mr. Harris, of
Bibb, explained the minority report.
Ou motion of Mr. Humber, the first sec
tion was so amended as to give the Presi
dent of the Senate and Speaker of the
House per diem while engaged in the busi
ness of the commission.
Mr Harris moved to amend the second
section so as to pay the five commission
ers one thousand dollars per annum each.
Agreed to.
Mr McGregor, of Warren, moved to
amend by having ten commissioners, one
from each Congressional District, each to
receive a salary of S6OO per annum. Mr.
McGregor spoke to his Amendment. Mr.
Hulsey opposed the amendment.
Mr. Ray, of Coweta, moved to amend
by having only three commissioners. He
gave his reasons therefor.
amendments es Messrs. McGregor
and Ray were voted down.
Mr. Redding, of Pike, moved to amend
by substituting “elect” for "select” in the
second line. Agreed to.
Mr. Spence, of Mitchell, moved to
amend by authorizing the Governor to ap
point the commission. Mr. Spence spoke
to his amendment which was also support
ed by Messrs. Rice and Fite. Mr. Mc-
Gregor fought the amendment. Mr. Wright,
of Floyd, favored the amendment. Mr.
James, of Douglas, approved the amend
ment. The amendment was lost.
Mr. Russsll, of C'arke, moved to amend
so that all vacancies occurring among the
Commissioners shall be filled by the Leg
islature. Agreed to. The second section
was then adopted.
On motion of Mr. Harris, the third sec
tion was so amended that no Commission
er shall receive any benefit in any manner
from the work of erecting the capitol. The
third section was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Harris, the fourth sec
tion was amended se as to make it a peni
tentiary offense for any Commissioner to
be connected directly or indirectly with
the contract for tbe building. The fourth
section was adopted.
Section 5 was so amended, by motion of
Mr. Little, that the whole cost shall not
exceed $1,C00,000. The section was
adopted.
Mr. Harris off red a substitute tor sec
tion 6 that SIOO,OOO be expended the first
year, and Dot more than SIBO,OOO for afly
year thereafter,and that the building shall
be completed by January, 1889. The sub
stitute was adopted.
Mr. Harris’ amendment to section 7, to
allow the State to build the capitol on
ground other than that "conveyed to the
State for that purpose,” was opposed by
Mr. Hulsey, and voted down.
Section seven was slightly amended and
adopted.
On motion of Mr. Harris, section eight
was so amended as to secure the State
against loss by furnishing money too swift
ly to contractors, and by requiring the
civil engineer to givQ.« good bond payable
to the Governor. The ’ section was thejg •
adopted after a few minor amendmftits.
Mr. Little moved that the*committee
arise, report progress, and ask leave to sit
again. Adopted.
Mr. that the morniug bony 4
be extended till the completion of the
bill. Lost. >
On motion of Mr. Jordan, of
the House adjourned to meet at 9 o’clock*
Wednesday. Richmond.
SENATE.
Atlanta, August 15.—Senate met at 10
o’clock. President Boynton in the Chair.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Levy. Roll called.
Journal read and approved,
Mr, James Bohannon, Col. E. C. Greer,
Wm. Rutherford, Wm. J. Andersop, R. A.
Nisbet, James M. Wilkinson, W. R. Gig
nilliatt, D. G. Hughes, W. H. Atwood, O,
H. Hopkins, S. D. Bradwell, J. C. Shep
pard, A. B. Daniel, J. E Martin, D. A.
Fraseur, Jas. M. Williamson, Jas. M. Mob
ley, H. W. Lewis, were invited to seats on
the floor.
On motion of Senator Lanaar, all the
members of the Agricultural Society were
invited to seats on the floor.
Report of Committee on Judiciary on
certain bills.
Mr. Polhill, of Committee on Finance,
reported resolutions favorably to paint
portraits of Governors Stephens and H. V.
Johnson.
Message from House received reporting
bills passed.
Special order —a House bill was
taken up.
It is a bill to enable sureties on the
official bonds of county officers in certain
cases to limit their liability on such bonds
when over $30,000, the limitation not to
be under $5,000.
The Judiciary Committee reported the
bill favorably with a slight amendment.
Mr. Dußignon, chairman of the commit
tee, explained the amendment, which was
adopted.
Senator Hoyt spoke briefly, in favor of
the bill, object. Large
bonds were very difficult to give When
every surety was liable for the whole
amount, and the public business might be
impeded By the matter. "TWtofH propos
ed in such cases of large bonds to allow a
division of the suretyship, wmchhe would
show did not weaken the bond or diminish
the State’s security, but actually made a
stronger bond.
He proceeded to demonstrate from a
case that had occurred that the law as it
now stands was defective in practical
workings, the State losing $38,000 in the
case.
Senator Hoyt discussed the measure in
his practical way, making a forcible pre
sentation of the reasons for it.
Senator Tutt opposed the till as an un
wise measure, and suggested that in the
large counties to be affected by it special
bills could be passed.
Mr. Parks opposed the bill, as it might
work harm and take away some of the ex
isting safeguards. Let the measure be
made local and not a State measure
County officers who sought the offices took
the chances of giving the bonds. There
ought to be a joint liability on the securi
ties. In the case of limited suretyship, if
several sureties failed, the State’s security
would be diminished.
Senator Gustin thought the arguments
against the measure proceeded upon in
correct assumptions. He thought the bill
a good one for tbe whole State. He
thought the sureties under this bill would
be jointly bound. Business men were re
luctant to bind themselves for large
amounts, as it might cripple them. But
men would be willing to sign for small
amounts.
He thought the law proposed would
give better security for the State and
enable officers to give good bonds easier.
Mr. Jones opposed the bill. He liked
tbe old fashioned way of binding sureties
jointly and severally; which made them
all a vigilant committee to watch the
nrincipal. If the bill is correct in princi
ple it ought to be universal in its applica
tion and not to be limited to large bonds.
In wealthy counties large bonds are not
any more a hardship than smaller bonds
in less wealthy counties.
Mr. Dußignon supported tbe bill. He
had rather been disposed to oppose the
bill at first, but upon further reflection he
had felt it ought to be sustained. It was
not a general law, but only applied to a
few large counties. The only case where
the State could suffer was the improbable
one of the deficit being as large as the
bond.
Senator Neal thought it to tbe public in
terest that the Ordinary, in watching pub
lic money, should have the support of vig
ilant securities.
The bill was laid on the table for tbe
present.
Mr. Meldrim, of the Corporation Com
mittee, reported certain bills.
The Enrollment Committee reported
certain bills enrolled.
Resolution of Mr. Pike was passed to
recall a bill from the Governor to correct a
clerical error.
Resolution was passed authorizing tbe
Penitentiary Committee to employ a sten
ographic reporter.
The bill to accept a branch college at
Waycross was taken up.
Senator McDonald urged the passage of
the bill, which asked no appropriation,
but simply left the matter in the hands of
the Trustees. He believed it a good policy
to establish these branch colleges. He
left it to the Senate, and asked the poor
boon for its people.
Senator Frederick said he had voted
against thC bill, but would now vote for it.
These branch colleges were connecting
links between the common schools and the
higher universities. He would favor the
establishment of one in every Congression
al District.
Sanator Pike opposed the bill. This is the
entering wedge to establish colleges in
stead of common schools. We must begin
at the bottom. We are not able to have
both. We can’t have both free schools and
colleges, and we must crawl before
we walk.
The yeas and nays were called on the
passage of the bill and stood 25 yeas and
11 nays, and therefore was passed.
Senator McDonald was warmly congratu
lated on his victory.
Bills were read the second time.
/AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST Sc, 1883, ‘
Ex-Senator Bosh was invited to a seaton
the floor. y. 3
Senator Greer moved-io take a bill to
incorporate Morganton, in Fanjurfeounty.
Passed.
Senate adjourned toll tO-mor-
.V
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The Housejaiet at 9 o’ciock.//Frayer by
Chaplain MpGlellan. 801 l
Journal was read and approved.
Thejules were suspended end several
bills were introduced.
Mr. Shipp, oi bill to
fix the fees of Clerk of Superior Court in
reference to filing and docketing cases.
Special Judiciary. $ ilife
Mr. Wright, of Floyd l —A billwwjrohibit
the-sale of liquor in the G.
M., of Floyd county. TempMHta»-Com
mittee. I
. Mr. Mitchell, of Gwi«ett-»Hl to re
quire certain lawful
fences. Agriculture. Jp > r
Mr. Zacbrv, of —A hfil to amend
section 2409 of the uotiQ.
ary.
Mr Mitchell, of GwianFW I •1-0 pm
vidaoompensation fdriaHs ytF&relffWfn
nett. Special Judiciary.
Mr. Denney, of bill to prohib
it! fisbiDgafc certain lands.
Special Judicial ;
The CapltorSm-
The discussion, of ihlcapitol bill was
resumed. -
/ Section 8 was adopted. /
Mr.' Reese, of Wilkes, tooted to amend
9, • in line 4, bfffthsertiug "and
New York, ’Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis
and Louisville.”
Mr. Reese supported bis amendment.
Mr. Humber favored AhC amendment.
Architects up that way might do a better
job for less money. He was for Georgia,
provided Georgia made the.lowest and best
bid. Mr. Crenshaw, of Trfiupe, wanted to
see the capitol built byutjeorr ans with
Georgia material? Mr. R&ddi g said the
bidding should net be popfined to Geor
gia. Let it be open tqjAtiountry. There
were other comgjftyeewß&sides the Stone
Mountain concent Wb&edwine, of Hall,
was violently opposed to advertising for
bids outside of Georgia. He wanted it
built of Georgia material or nothing.
Mr. James, of Douglas, thought if that
as Georgia is about to build 8 million dol
lar capitol the world ought to know it. He
wanted it advertised, and the cheapest
bil accepted. The amendment was then
adopted.
Section nine was then adopted.
Section ten was adopted with minor
amendment.
Section eleven was ado . .... I
Mr. Harris, of Bibb, offered a substitute
for section twelve, that witpin sixty days
after the passage of this act the Governor
shall demand from the cityof Atlanta "that
.$55,000,” and they be apn&d to paying
the first instalment on t®s* building, as
part of the SIOO,OOO to be expended the
first year. An amendment by Mr. Little,
to the substitute that the rate of taxation
should not be increased in Georgia in the
erection of this capitol, was Adopted.
The substitute was adopted.
Section thirteen was thep adopted.
Mr. Harris, of Bibb, offered a new sec
tion -section fourteen, giving the commis
sioners power to take possession of the City
Hall Square, close up streets lead
ing thereto, and if neeesatify to condemn
certain adjoining property iAprder to com
plete tbe Symmetry qptUMground, the
t city , of. Mjgiig»udempat;
money. Mr Trains spofe fSt’Ma sec
tion, saying that the city had promised to
give five acres, and so far she had given
only about three and a half.
Mr. Hulsey made a strong speech against
the adoption of rhe section.
Mr Watson, of McDuffie, spoke against
the section. He thought Atlants had come
up fairly and squarely in reference to this
ground. We can take the city hall square
as it is, or we can take ten seres elsewhere
It is dangerous to copdemn private prop
erty for the sake of mere symmetry, just
to make the ground look pretty. ■ I am
against this amendment. Mr. Watson
made a splendid effort.
Mr. Bice opposed the amendment.
Mr. Harris withdrew bis new section.
Mr. Harris then offered a new section to
be called section fourteen, requiring the
city of Atlanta to cancel the lien upon the
present capitol building before th* pra
visiorsot this act shall go into effect It
provides, also, for the sale of the present
capitol by the Commissioners. Section
fourteen was then adopted.
Mr. Peck moved that the committee arise
and report the bill back to the House with
the recommendation that it do pass as
amended.
Another by Mr. McGregor, to print 300
copies of the amended bill was voted
down.
The original bill was then read.
The bill as amended was then read.
Mr. Rankin moved to amend section sec
ond so that the Governor shall appoint
the Commissioners. The amendment was
lost.
On motion of Mr. Jordan, the caption
was amended to conform to the bill.
The bill was then put its pas
sage. Mr. Spence, of Mitchell, fought
the bill. It is unwise now to expend
a million dollars to build a capitol.
Georgia owes $9,000,000. I am opposed
to increasing her debt at this time. The
masses of the people of Georgia are poor,
and I an opposed to imposing an addition
al tax upon them. lam opposed to the
great power given the commissioners. I
hope the bill will not pass.
Mr. Jordan called the previous question.
Sustained.
The vote was then taken and stood yeas
93, nays 58.
And so tbe bill to build a capitol passed.
The House adjourned to nine o’clock
Thursday. Richmond,
THE SENATE.
Atlanta, August 16.—Senate met at JO
o’clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Joaos. Pres
ident Boynton in the chair. Roll called.
Journal read and confirmed.
Some leaves of absence were granted.
Ex-Senator A. C. Westbrook was invited
to a seat on the floor.
Senator Livingston presented a petition
from the State Agricultural Society in re
gard to the investigation of the Agricul
tural Department. Referred to Investigat
ing Committee,
Senator Dußiguon, Chairman of Judici
ciary Committee, reported several bills.
Senator McDonald, of Temperance Com
mittee, reported a bill.
Message from the House transmitting
the capitol bill.
The special order, the House bill to tax,
railroads in counties, was taken up with
an unfavorable report of the committee.
Senator McDonald said there weri two
bills on this subject, one the House bill,
reported against, and the other a Senate
bill. He moved to disagree to the report
of the committee.
A message was received from the Gov
ernor announcing approval of the resolu
tion for the Investigating Committee on
the Marietta and North Georgia Bailroad
to have a reporter and send for persons
and papers.
Senator McDonald urged his motion for
disagreeing to the report of the commit
tee against taxing railroads in counties.
He said in Waycross the railroad company
owned 250 acres of land on which it re
fused to pay taxes. Yet the county was
put to large expense in trying railroad
cases. This was not just. The railroads
■ should pay taxes. There were 60 miles of
railroad in his county and little towns
were springing up owned by the railroads.
The farmers had to pay taxes on every
spot, but these wealthy corporations were
exempt. /The fact of former exemption of
railroads was no reason for continuing it
now. There was active injustice done that
should not be tolerated longer.
Senator Dußignon disclaimed all inter
est in railroads. He was neither an
attorney for them nor owned stock in
them, fie regarded this the most im
portant bill, in, its futufe effects, before
the Assembly, in affecting tbe future
development' of the country. He
should oppose the bill as one really un
just while seemingly fair. The properfjt
of railroads holds different relations to
the public than any other property.
Bailroads are ndt allowed to control
their own property. Bailroads are con
sidered as public highways, regulated
by the State, and this fact should be
1 considered in determining this issue.
Is there anything in the charter of tbe
railroads that renders the tax in this bill
Mhnmoral, using the Werd immoral in the
sense of bad faith ? The law of the State
at the time of the Contract was a partfof
the contract. That law only imposed thten
a State tax on railroads. It is claimed that
the State reserved the right to modify this.
But the Constitution of 1877 repealed the
power to make such modifications as do in
justice.
Suppose there is no legal inhibition,
there is a 2aoral obligation for the
State to do no such injustice. In 1877
W aen the new Constitution was passed four
of these roads were in a failing condition,
and the constitution was framed with a
knowledge of their condition.
The speaker considered the case of the
railroads. The Savannah, Florida and
Western Railroad was alluded to. Quite a
spicy colloquy occurred between Senator
Dußignon and Senator McDonald here.
Mr. Dußignon said that the tax in this
bill could not be levied on the rolling
stock. Is it a county or a State tax ? If a
State tax it cannot be collected by the State
for the benefit of the county. Some of the
rolling stock never leaves the terminal
counties, and yet this stock would pay
taxes in counties it never went into.
A sealed message from the Governor was
received.
Mr. Dußignon resumed, saying that un
der the bill counties would get tax on
property not in the county. He showed
practical inequalities of the operation of
the law. He read a Kentucky decision
that railroads in taxation were entities, not
legally subject to coercive severance. He
made the further point that the law would
give a monopoly to the Central Road over
the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia
Railroad. He thought no more trunk
roads would be built in Georgia for some
time, We have enough of them. Only
branch roads would be built, and these
would be discouraged by this bill. They
are not profitable at best and this would
render them less so. Advancement is the
watchword, and we must do nothing to re
tard our growth.
Senator Harris favored the bill as en
tirely in conformity with the Constitution
of the State. He read from tbe Constitu
tion the clause as to the sovereign right of
the State to tax. There is a deficiency in
the tax laws and it should be remedied.
In Wayne county the Savannah and West
ern Railroad runs, crossing the East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad.
Tbe Savannah, and Western owdb large
i-tiaiber lands, and has much litigation for
encroachment on the timber.
Mr. Gustin asked if these suits did not
grow out of citizens doing wrong to the
company. Mr. Harris replied half of the
time of Wayne Superior Court is taken in
these railroad cases, the railroads owning
bodies of land and track and other prop
ertj, and yet not paying one cent of tax.
It is unjust and unequal, and this bill
seeks to remedy it.
Mr. Harris further read the Constitution,
as to what could be exempt from taxation.
It was never intended to exempt bodies of
laud, and towns and store-houses owned
bv railroads from taxation. He also read
the provision, that taxation must be uni
form. He had no prejudice against the
ra-lroads. The country kept up the rail
roads. Let all be taxed together and
alike.
senator Hoyt opposed the bill. He was
not interested in railroads. He concurred
in Mr. Dußignon’s argument against the
constitutionality of the bill. He argued
that the new Constitution did not intend
to go back upon the railroads already char
tered, and deprive them of any immuni
ties under their charter. The division of
the taxes under this bill would be unjust.
Some counties would get a greater propor
tion of the taxes than other counties
What difficulty tbe assessors would have
in appraising the property! The railroads
are already sufficiently taxed. They pay
the government a tax of per cent, on
every rail of track, making $i,500 on every
mile of track. Most of the roads.carry
bonds for construction, which are taxed
and this is a practical tax on tbe railroads.
You have put on the railroads a Commis
sion which I favor, but this Commission
puts railroads upon a very different footing
from other property. Put additional tax
on the railroads and you cripple them.
The Air Line Railroad cost thirteen mil
lion dollars. It brought at sale less than
two million dollars, and is run on a basis
of one million six hundred thousand dol
lars* value and does not pay on that.
Senator McDonald asked if the failure of
tbe road was the reason it should not be
taxed. If so, nine-tenths of the farmers
deserved exemption from taxation, as they
bad not made money.
Senator Hoyt insisted that it was a rea
son. Only one of the branches of the Air
Line road pays expenses. He wanted
more railroads. This bill was contrary to
public policy and was calculated to check
the building of railroads. Mr. Hoyt,' made
a fine argument on the relations of rail
roads to the other interests of the country,
and upon it based a strong plea for the
policy of fostering railroads.
Senator McDonald interrupted that we
had fostered railroads. The State put a
million in one and lost it. Let us now
foster them by taxation, and let them take
care of themselves.
Senator Hoyt continued, making an
earnest and powerful plea lor the rail
roads.
Senator Lamar made one of his graceful
and characteiist o speeches, delivered in
bis eloquent manner. He opposed the
bill. He said that the railroad property
of the State occupied a peculiar position.
It was the large ! factor in our wonderful
progress .It was next to agriculture in
wealth and power. Yet U alone was reg
ulated by the State and crenied free com
petition. He touched upon the unconsti
tutional features of the bill. He conclud
ed with an eloquent appeal for justice to
this superb and filial part of the State’s
property.
Senator Meldrim opposed the bill on
practical common sense principles. He
‘ proceeded to demot strate the monstrous
wrong of the bill in its bearing upon leas
ed roads. It made the lessee and not the
owner pay the taxes on property.
During Senator Meldrim’s speech. Chief
Justice Jackson and Col. D. S. Printup
appeared on the floor. The galleries were
full Os ladies.
Mr. Meldrim discussed the provision as
to taxing rolling stock. During his argu
ment the hour of adjournment arrived and
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 9 o’clock. Prayer by
Chaplain McClellan. Roll was called.
The Journal.was read and approved,
Mt. Hoge, of Fulton; asked to be re
lieved from further service on the Com
mittee to Investigate the Marietta and
North Georgia Railroad. Granted.
The rules were suspended to allow Mr.
of Clarke, to introduce two gen
eral bills: ■ .
A bill to imposq. a tax on tobacco ped
dlers. Special Judiciary..
A bill to amemLsection 719 of the Code s
Ou motion of Mt. Middlebrooks, of
Newton, the wild land bill was taken from
the table an(t : hjade the special ordef for
next Tuesday /iftet the Journal.
Mr. Rice, of Faltdn- A bill to amend the
charter of the Georgia Pacific Railroad.
Bead the first time. General Judiciary.
Also, abill tq amend the charter of the
Atlanta and West End Bailroad. Commit
tee onjßailroads.
The special order—After the Journal the
was taken up and con
sidered. ?
■niaJSenate bill on this subject was read,
as majority report of tbe House Com
mittee. The minority apportionment plan
was also read.
Mr. Harris, of Bibb, advocated the ma
jority report. He thought that it was the
hept thing to be done under the circum
stances.
Mr. Fite, of Bartow, opposed the ma
jority report. He said tbe minority bill
was a better bill. He thought it was the
best bill for tbe Democratic party.
Mr. Watts, of Stewart—What is the Re
publican majority in the Third District
under the minority bill?
Mr. Fite-28,000.
Mr. Watts—What is it under the majority
bill?
Mr. Fite-24,000.
Mr. Watts-Isn’t the minority bill less
just from a party standpoint than the
majority ?
Mr. Fite Yes, it is. Mr. Fite then
stated that he was not speaking for the
benefit of any particular district, but was
contending for what he considered best
for the whole State.
The adoption of the majority report, he
thought, would turn the Eighth District
over to the Republicans. As to the Tenth
District, according to the majority report,
if a Republican had set out to make a Re
publican district he could not have made
a better one.
Mr. Gary, of Richmond—" What coun
ties named in the Tenth District have ever
gone Republican ?”
Mr. Fite—"Burke for one.”
Mr. Gary - "What others?”
Mr. Fite —"I know of none."
Mr. Gary-"I thought the gentleman
didn’t know.”
Pending Mr. Fite’s remarks, the hour of
eleven came, and the special order for that
hour, the memorial in honor of the late
Governor Herschel V. Johnson.
The report of the committee was rea**.
It is a well written and very elaborate re
view of his political life, and a beautiful
tribute to the memory of this pure patriot,
sagacious statesman and upright judge.
The paper reflected the highest credit
upon the committee and is altogether
worthy of tbe great man by whose honor
able life, lofty character and grand intel
lect it was inspired.
Mr. Lofton, of Bibb, delivered an inter
esting eulogy on Governor Johnson, re
counting how, step by step, he climbed
from lowliness to the height of honor and
fame.
Mr. Lofton said among other good
things, "Governor Johnson paid but little
attention to light literature. He was not
v man of books. Indeed, he once said
that he had never read a work of fiction.
And yet there were times when his diction
was as splendid as an autumnal sunset.”
His picture of Governor Johnson as an
orator was striking. He said that Govern
or Johnson had his own way of doing
everything. He was truly one of the
great original?.
Mr. Dupree spoke a feeling and flowery
panegyric. He said:
"One by one the jewelled stars which
flashed in the coronet of the people, go
out! Hill, Stephens, Jenkins, Crawford,
Johnson—what a galaxy of great names
are here!
"Os whom it may be said he wore the
civic wreath. His coming was not herald
ed by the march of soldiery, his voice
mingled not in the din of battle, an.l
round his noble brow were entwined no
blood stained laurels. How gloriously
he illustrated the beautiful truth —'Peace
hath her victories no less renowned than
war.’
"Like Hill, Jenkins, Crawford, Ste
phens. whose noble spirits have gone over
to the shades of the silent shore, he laid
down his life in the service of the State."
•’Posterity will write upon his tomb:
•Here lies a man who loved his country.’ ’’
Mr. Dupree’s speech was a perfect gem.
Its pathos was as exquisite as the word
painter was fine, and, best of all, it was
spoken from the heart.
Mr. Jordan spoke next. Among other
things, he said: "He was by nature an
honest man. He cared little for the the
ory, but planted his judgment upon the
eternal principles of right.
"His private and public life were as pure
as the snow-drifts which rest on Alpipe
heights, and I regard this man and his
great life the richest contribution, by
Providence, to Georgia in this nineteenth
century.” Mr. Jordan spoke with great
earnestness—moving the hearts of his
bearers.
The report was then adopted by a rising
▼oe.
The House adjourned to nine o’elockAo
morrow. Rkjmmond:
REtOLLECTIOKS OF THE OLD CAPI>
TOb-NO. 3.
Ait Interesting Sketch of the Olden
Time, From the Pen of One Who
Remembers—George Walker
Crawford, Governor
[For the Chipnicle.]
As my memories of Milledgeville cluster
around and are directed to that old gray
building, with its square central turret
standing solitary in the midst of a few
stunted trees, with their carpet of Bermuda
grass, called the State House, I chose to
dub these random sketches as above, al
though I have not heretofore mentioned
the building itself. How well I remember
my first sight of it! On a raw January
morning, after a cold wet night ride ot
45 -miles from Warrenton, in a lumbering
old four horse stage, which broke down
ten miles out, we came at last to the east
bank of the Oconee, and cutting against
the western horizon rose grim and gray
the old Capitol of Georgia. I speak of it
as gray, although tbe majority of readers
remember only as brown. The building
is of brick, though granite abounds near
at hand, and the outside stucco was color
ed gray, and so remained till the latter
part of Governor Johnson’s second term,
when everything was done up brown,
perhaps in honor of Joseph E., tbe in
coming Chief Magistrate. But as the
building required repairs, Governor John
son set the penitentiary convicts to work
and everything was done in good style.
So that when Joseph E. (the mqst remark
able character in Georgia history in my
days) came down to take possession, he
found everything brown.
Georgia has long been a Democratic
State, though the Whigs or State Bights
men, carried it occasionally. In 1839
Gov. McDonald had a handsome majority
over Charles Dougherty, and when, during
the succeeding winter, the Whigs named
General Harrison for the Presidency, it
was generally regarded as a forlorn hope,
albeit the old man was the hero of Tippe
canoe. In consequence of this nomina
tion several State Rights Georgians, nota-
TEKMS-$2.00 A TEAR.
bly Colquitt, Cooper and Black, aban
doped what they doubtless considered a
- ship and went over to JaSkson’e
Candidate, “the sly old fox of Kinder*
hoop,” who was then Qie President. Bwk
of these three none from
the effects of their desertion, except Col*
quitt, and he only partially'. I have never
known such political bitterness as the
Whigs felt and expressed for the three
traitors. as they called them, except that so
towards Joe Brown and his
Recon straction allies. Buc these party
hostilities gradually die away as they
should, and after fifteen years the man
who was more violently denounced than
even Walter Colquitt, finds himself abso
lute master of the politics of the State.
Among those who were steadfast ip the
dark days of 1839-’4O were Berrien and
Law, Jenkins, Crawford, Miller, Butler,
King, Foster, Gamble, Kenan, Chappell,
Toombs, '■tephens, Alford, and the great
body of Nullifiers. With log cabins, hard,
cider, coon skins and a general hurrah,
“Tippecanoe and Tyler too,” swept the
State like a prairfe firs, and triumphed in
the Electoral College. The power of Jack
son was broken, and many Whigs fondly
hoped this state of things was to last.
Bow speedily and sadly all this changed.
The veiy next year after Harrison's over
whelming success the Whig candidate for
Governor, Wm. Crosby Dawson/ one of
the most popular and delightful men in
the State, was defeated easily by the
Democratic incumbent, Charles J. Mc-
Donald.
When the year 1843 opened there was
no prominent Whig in Georgia who anx
iously aspired to the nomination for
Governor at the coming election in Octo
ber. Early in the year (in February I
think) ther was an election toi one mem
ber of Congress to fill a vacancy. Georgia
had then eight members, elected by gen
eral ticket, voted for all over the State.
For the vacancy the Democrats put up
Alexander McDougald, of Muscogee, and
the Whigs named George W. Crawford, of
Richmond, and the latter was elected -
the name of Crawford being then, as long
before, and even now, very popular.
Crawford had long been a member of the
Legislature from his county and a leading
member of the bar in Eastern Georgia. In
his younger days he had been Attorney-
General of the Middle Circuit—all the
ether circuits had then a Solicitor, but the
prosecuting officer of the Middle Circuit
was styled Attorney-General. Although
an ardent and zealous party man, and
notwithstanding his fine abilities and ac
quirements, Crawford was singularly free
i rom that craving for popularity and pre
ferment which marks the public man of
this day. Willing as he might be to serve
his friends and the people when called on,
he asked nothing from the public, and
would not stand in the way of any man.
Moreover, an unfortunate occurrence of
his earlier life, in which he was as blame
less as any one could be, prayed on his
mind, and disinclined him perhaps, more
than naturally to anything like just and
self-assertion, though he never shirked
anything.
When the Whig Convention met at Mil
ledgeville in the summer of 1843 the great
question was, not who shall have the nom
ination, but who will accept it ? Os course
the party desired to win the race, but the
leaders had great doubts of their ability to
succeed. The almost *Unanimous opinion
was that Crawford could beat the race, if
any Whig could, but he did not want the
nomination nor the office. The position
was then considered merely an honor, a
position from which the incumbent could
expect nothing of profit or preferment, and
in which he could hepe to achieve but lit
tle of fame, or do but little of good. The
Hon. Mark A. Cooper was the Democratic
candidate - one of the three dt sorters of
1840, the most esteemed and least hated
of the trio, a most excellent gentleman,
.till living in a grand old age. (I do not
remember whether Crawford or Cooper was
first nominated ) It was very difficult to
get Crawford's consent to run—in fact, it
was not certain that he would accept the
nomination when made. But his friends
could safely say this much, that he never
showed his back to the enemy, and would
make almost any sacrifice for his friends
and party. So he was nominated at a ven
ture amid much enthusiasm, and the old
Whig fires of 1840 begun to burn brightly
once again. He made the canvass sharp
and lively, staunchly supported by the *
whole Whig phalanx, and drawing many
recruits from the opposition, which no
other man of his party could then have
done, and was elected by a handsome ma
jority.
It was a grand, gala day in Milledgeville,
the day of the inauguration, and the party
was jubilant and hilarious, and the Demo
crats accepted the situation with a very
good grace. There was a large crowd in
attendance, and every inch of standing
room id the house and gallery was occu
pied. Promptly at eleven o'clock the
Governor and Governor-elect walked side
by side down the aisle, and iscended the
speaking stand occupied by the outgoing
Secretary of State and the Secretary recently
elected. There were four stalwart, firm
looking gentleman. Gov. McDonald, stout
and ruddy, with dark hair and small reddish
side whiskers. Crawford, square should
ered, smooth shaved and a little gray.
Gen. John W. A. Sanford, the retiring
Secretary, tall, large, swarthy and still
handsome, though he had been an old
Indian fighter; and Nathan Crawford Bar
nett, a blue eyed, pleasant faced, middle
aged&tnan just then, first elected to the of
fice which he holds to-day, and which he
has held most of the time for forty years.
Crawford was what may be called a very
unequal man; at times before a jury, in the
Legislature, on the stump, rising to real
eloquence; at other times floundering
badly. His inaugural address was short
and highly satisfactory, delivered with
that peculiar occasional jerk of the bead
which distinguished him. At its conclu
sion he stooped, raised the open Bible and
kissed it after repeating the oath,and Gen.
Sanlord delivered to him the great seal of
State, which he handed to Secretary Bar
nett.
The Failures Os Yesterday.
Richmond, Ind , August 16.—The Farm*
era Bank suspended to-day. It was a
weak concern as a bank, but its directors
are all substantial men. They are princi
pally farmers and the claims will be paid
in full The deposits aggregate 540.000
to $50,000.
Cincinnati, August 16.—Capt. Vincent
Shinkle, an old and prominent steamboat
man of Covington, Ky., to-day made an
assignment to Judge Wm Finley and R.
F. Miller. The cause was the tightening
of the money market and the refusal of
the banks to renew his paper. The liabil
ities are estimated at SBO,OOO. Captain
Shinkle says his assets will equal his lia
bilities. His chief creditors are banks,
and he has embarrassed himself in help
ing bis son who would have been forced
into bankruptcy by the loss of the steam
er Charles Bodman, if he had not advanc
ed him $6,000. He had also sunk $20,-
000 with his brother, who failed some
time ago.
A Sensible Government.
Bcvtaxo, N. Y., August 15. —The Cana
dian government has addressed an open
letter to Capt. Rhodes stating that himself
or any other person attempting to swim
the whirlpool rapids from the Canadian
side will be regarded as insane and treated
accordingly. Rhodes to-day visited the
rapids and has given up his project of
swimming them, either as a result of his
inspection or the notice from the Canadian
authorities.