Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-23
Macon and the Railroad Legislation.

In order that our readers may understand
the present condition of affairs, so far as
this city aud the railroads are concerned we
design to give short history Of the proposed
measures now pending before the Legisla-
ture.
Our readers will remember that about a
year ago some considerable interest was de-
veloped in our community over the action
OF the Railroad Commissioners concerning
the freight tariffs thea in operation. BY
Circular No. the Commissioners had de-
clared all roads operated under one man
agement, by lease or otherwise, to be but
one road, SO far as such roads stood rela-
tive to the tariffs then promulgated. The
effect Of this order was to consolidate the
whole Central Railroad system of Geor-
gia into one road and abolish all terminal
points, except on the borders of the State
aud at Savannah. Macon, with four several
roads terminating in her midst, became, as
to all these, but way station on the route
to the seaboard and the markets of the
country. Owing to the unjust discrimina-
tions OF this tariff, the regions which had
so long been tributary to Macon were forced
to send elsewhere, both to sell their produce
and make moneyed arrangements for their
business necessities.
The result was, that from the time when
the standard tariffs prepared by the Com
mission went into operation, TO the time
when the change was made to which we
are about to refer, not one bale Of cotton,
it is said, was unloaded at Mac IN from a
railroad car. 1t is worthy of remark that
to Captain w. q. RaOUl, the Vice President
OF the Central Railroad, Macon is indebted
for the discovery of the causes which thus
threatened 10 put an end to her CONNER
cial existence. In July or August, 1880,
Captain RaOul prepared an elaborate re-
port, which he laid before the Railroad
NJ, MIA eli ux,I L..
things, 1t was shown that to the working Of
the standard tariff was due the remarkable
falling of in the cotton and other business
referred to. At this time, also Macon.
through committee of her best business
citizens, asked to be heard before the Com
mission in regard to the alleged grievance.
Permission was granted, and the case was
argued, as well by those in favor as by those
representing the communities opposed to
the change.
The result was the passing of what. is
| known as Order No. 10, in which the Cen
trail Railroad was allowed to operate their
/ lines, in separate systems, and Macon was
! again accorded the advantages of a termi-
nal point. The parties benefited by this
change were the railroads on the one hand,
| and the people of Macon and the planters
along the line of the roads on the other.
| The parties who fancied the mselves injured
/ were certain warehOusemen in Fort Valley,
/ Monte yuma and Americus, who, by the
changes aforesaid, we're thrown into compe-
| tition with Macon for the cotton produced
in their communities.
The attorneys who represented the COM
munities before the Commission are In the
Legislature, and finding themselves unable
to carry their point with the Commissioners
they appealed to the former body. A bill
/ was prepared and introduced into the
Senate, which, among other matters, pro-
| vided for the abolition of Circular No. 10
| This was known as the Query bill. On
| this, Macon asked a hearing, and large
number OF her business men spent
two days before the Senate Committee on
/ Railroads in determined efforts to show
that body the injustice, as well as i'm
! proprietY of the proposed measure. 1t was
| thought that these efforts were successful.
| In the meantime, however, a similar bill
was introduced into the House by Mr.. Mil
Ter, OF Houston, and It was referred to the
House Railroad Committee. This necessi-
tsted further action on the part of our
/ business community, and an appearance
was made before that committee in the
same manner. Here the opposition 20 the
bill appeared to be successful, for the com
mittee of the House reported unceremoni-
| Ously against the measure. In the mean
time, however, a substitute was prepared
| to the Query bill in the Senate,
Incorporating certain legislation recon-
mended by the Railroad Com
mission, with the obnoxious measures re-
| ferred to somewhat yelled and disguised.
| This substitute passed the Senate with Ger
tain amendments, and is now pending In
the House. On Saturday last the House
passed a bill which contains all the legisla-
| IiOn recommended by the Railroad Commits
| sion without the Query or Miller adden-
dun. This is known as the Reese bill. It
is to be earnestly hoped, therefore, that
when the Query and Miller bill comes up,
the House will promptly vote it down, in
/ asmUch as there is left in 1t now nothing
| but marked attack upon the commerce Of
| the city of Macon. The bill is an effort
| to control the action of the Railroad Com
/ mission, limit their discretion and reverse
decision made by great experts after care
/ ful study and exhaustive argument upon
/ all the bearings of the proposed change.
1t has been well remarked that within less
| than two years from the enactiUg of this
railroad legislation, t. se spectacle is here
presented of one of the leading cities OF the
| State throwing the Railroad Commission
| between itself and the Legislature to pre-
| vent the absolute destruction Of its COM
mercial prosperity. The measure IS passed
aolely in the interest of few dlsaffected
warehOusemen along the line of the South
western Railroad, and is nothing more than
an effort to force the railroads against their
will to levy so heavy a tax on produce and
goods otherwise stopping at Macon as to
constitute an embargo upon all such trans
actions. It's Injustice is apparent when it
] is remembered that Macon's city govern
/ ment has subscribed and paid more money
| to railroads than the entire taxable property
| Of the towns eeeking this legislation is
valued at upon the tax digest.
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