Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-18
GEORGIA AND HER ROAD.
A PROPOSITION TO OFFER 1T
FOR SALE.

The Resolution Laid on the Table
Another Bill Advocates Leasing the
ROad-A Number of New Bills Intro
duced-The Governor Stamps Several
Measures Laws
ATLANTA, August I'm the House
to-day a large number of reports of COM
mittees were received, covering the new
bills acted upon by them yesterday after
noon.
Mr.. Jordan, of Hancock, introduced the
following resolution, under suspension of
the rules:
WHEREAS. The bonded debt of Georgia
Is 81, 300 and the annual interest $780,
440, an average interest of ga per cent;
and
WHEREAS, The Western and Atlantic
Railroad cost originally $4,4OO,OO0, and a
further sum of $4,000, 600 to release it after
the late war, making an aggregate of
$7,9O0,000 that the State has paid out for
this great public improvement, large
portion Of which Indebtedness the State is
still carrying at per cent. per annum in
terest; and
WHEREAS, Upon this sum of $7,9OO,0 900
expenditure the State is receiving an in
come In thdkum of $500, 600 or less than 4
per cent. interest; and
WHEREAS, The road is worth fully
$s,OOO,OOO, and its sale will realize the
money to pay that amount of the public
debt of S,47l, 1875, leaving a balance of
only l,4ll, 135, and saving the people an
nually the difference between the present
income of 100000 from the State Road
and the interest of $685., 900 on the $S,000,-
900 OF debt; that the proceeds of said sale
could pay off said difference, amounting
to S235,0OO of the annual interest; and
WHEREAS, 1t would seem to be for the
interest of the State to sell the State Road
and hquidate the public Indebtedness;
be it
ReS0lred By the Senate and House of
epreSeHtdtlUeS, That a joint committee
of six from the House and three from the
Senate be appointed to investigate and
report to the General Assembly whether
it will be to the public interest to sell the
Western and Atlantic Railroad, and if so
what is its value, and when and how it
could be sold to the most advantage.
Mr.. James, of. Douglass, opposed, and
on motion of Mr. Maddox, of Chattooga,
the resolution was laid on the table,
The general impression seems to be that
the State has waited too long to sell this
property. The East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia Railroad is now lively COM
petitOr, and the Richmond and Danville
Railroad now proposes to build line
thus opening up another competing line.
Mr.. McGregOr, of Warren, introduced a
bill to lease the road for fifty years, to
take effect at the close of the forfeiture of
the present lease.
Mr.. Moore, of Taliaferro, introduced a
bill preventing the running at large of
stock in that county.
Mr.. Rountree, of Brooks. offered a resO-
luton for paying the mileage of the COM
mittee that visited the State University.
Mr.. Little, of MuscOgee, Chairman of
the Finance Committee, introduced a bill
providing the payment of the repairs on
the Executive Mansion and other public
buildings.
Mr.. Falligant, of Chatham, moved that
the Mattingly bonds matter be made the
special order for next W ednesday, which
was carried.
Mr.. Cox, of Burke, offered a bill au-
thOriZing the Commissioners of Burke to
increase the rate of taxation.
Mr., James, of Douglass, moved to dis
place the regular order, the redistTicting
bill, and devote the morning session to
taking in new bills.
Mr.. Reese favored the motion. and
Messrs. Harris, Hulsey and Rountree
opposed, and cOntended that the regular
order should be promptly acted upon.
The motion was lost and the regular or
der was taken up.
Mr.. Fite, of Barlow, esumed his ar
gument against the majority bill, speak
ing nearly an hour.
Mr.. Gary, of Richmond, replied in an
animated manner to Mr.. Fite's argu-
ment.
Mr.. Reese, of Wilkes, said that there
was not so much harmony in regard to
this bill as many had claimed, and moved
that this bill and all others of similar
character be recOmmitted to the Commit
tee on Redistricting, and two from each
Congressional district added, and this en-
larged committee be asked to harmonic
the various conflicting interests. The
present bill gives seven of the ten dis
trictS to the negroes. This is a white
mans State, and we can't have inde-
pendents at one end of a district and ne
grOes at the other.
Mr.. Jordan, of Hancock, favored the
motion, as did Mr.. Griffith, of OcOnee.
MIR. Harris, of Bibb, opposed and made
a mastery speech in favor of the bill. 1t
is not the cOlOred people we have to be
afraid of, and he proceeded to show this
by figures.
Mr.. McGregOr, of Warren, favored the
motion of Mr.. Reese, and INDUCED in
harsh and startling criticisms on the ac-
tiOn of the committee reporting the ma
jority report. He closed by sayiug that
if it was the last act of his lite he would
protest against this bill, born and nur-
tured as he has been. The yeas and nays
were ordered on the resolution offered by
Mr.. Reese. The result was 81 yeas and
IS nays.
Mr.. Falligant voted aye. The matter
will again come before the committee in
an informal manner. 1t is not thought
that the bill will be defeated on Tuesday.
At the afternoon session, with Speaker
pro TEN. Rankin presiding, 6S members
failed to respond to the roll call The
Usual Friday hegira occurred to-day.
The bill incOrating Ward in Randolph
county passed.
The bill prohibiting camp hunting in
Clinch county, as amended, passed.
A bill amending the charter of the Gate
City Street Railroad passed.
The bill protecting public bridges in
Pulaski county from fast driving and
heavy loads passed.
The bill paying the Sheriff Of Early
county insolyent costs from the County
Treasurer passed.
The bill prohibiting stock from running
at large in a certain part of DOugherty
county, and also requiring the fencing of
the county line, passed.
The bill amending the road law of
Emanuel county passed.
The bill authorizing Dougherty county
to issue bonds for free bridge passed.
The bill preventing stock from running
at large III OODu. Jasper. OGeelle. Han
cock and TaliaferrO counties, after a lively
and prolonged discussion over an amend
ment offered by Mr.. James, of Douglass,
to require Cobb to fence her county line
between Douglass. was finally tabled.
IN THE SENATE.
In the Senate, Mr.. Rankin's railroad
tax bill came up as unfinished business.
Mr.. Meldrim concluded his speech
against the bill, making a strong argu-
ment. as did also Senator Peoples on the
same line.
Senators Tut, Livingston, Tatum and
Jones spoke earnestly for the bill, and
pending Mr.. Jones' remarks the Senate
adjourned.
At the afternoon session the debate on
Mr.. Rankin's bill was postponed to
Thursday. The Senate then read House
bills the first and second time.
NOTES ABOUT THE CAPITOL.
The Governor has signed the following
bills. Amending sections 1927 and 4lS4
of the Code; amending the City Court act
of Savannah: the resolution dismissng
the suit against the Western and Atlan-
tic Railroad Iessees; to supply public Off
GERS with Silman's legal form book.
The Governor has appointed c. W.
Wimberly Clerk of the Court of Decatur
county, vice }. L. Wimberly deceased.
Commissioner j. Ii. Estill, of the South
ern Exposition, with other gentlemen, left
this afternoon for Louisville.
Mr.. W. MOntrOss. agent of the New
York Police Gazette, was arrested here
today under section 1857 of the Code for
distributing sample copies of his perni-
i ,.s,l