Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-20
CICER0S OF THE STATE.
THE TWO HOUSES IN ATLANTA
IN DISCUSSION.

Licenses for Foreign Insurance Com
Panies the Theme in the Senate-The
Bill Passed-COuntY Taxation O f Rail-
roads Under Fire in the HOuse-Capi-
tai Notes.
ATLANTA, July 19.--In the Senate to-
day, after the reports of committees, the
special order was taken up, the bill fur
ther prescribing the manner of licensing
foreign insurance companies in this State.
Senator Morgan moved to disagree to
the report of the Judiciary Committee,
which was averse to the passage of the
bill and supported his motion by speech.
Senators Oliver, Livingston, Davis, Tutt,
Greer and Hoyt favored his motion and
the bill.
Senators DuBignon, Gustin and Parks
opposed the bill, which finally. after a
lively debate, passed by SO yeas to nays.
The bills for the redistricting of the
State were made the special order for
Wednesday.
Senator DeWolrs bill is somewhat
popular. Itgives the first district BRYAN,
Bulloch, Burke, Chatham, Efiingham.
Emanuel, GlasscOck, Jefferson, Liberty,
Scriven and Tattnall counties.
Senators Gustin and Peoples were ap-
the Governor and Attorney General in re-
gard to the best plan to pursue as to the
collection of the TreZevant claim.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day, Mr.. McRae, of
Montgomery, moved to reconsider the
action passing the bill of Mr.. Patton, of
Thomas, prohibiting the driving of live
stock from feeding ranges in that county
without the consent of the owner. The re-
consideration was granted. After a short
debate by Messrs. McRae and Patton for
and against the motion, the special order,
Mr.. Rankin's bill taxing railroads in the
counties through which they pass, COM
mencing with 1884, was taken up. The
minority report was presented setting
forth that, as some roads are exempt
from such taxation, the passage of the
bill would work injustice to less favored
roads. The report was signed by Messrs.
Owens, Dart, Patton, Mcintosh, Little
and others.
Mr.. Mcintosh opposed the bill and
showed that while over eighteen millions
would be taxable, more than twenty mil
lions of railroad property would be eX-
empt.
Mr.. Redding, of Pike, favored the bill
with great earnestness, but yet asserted
that he was not prejudiced against rail-
roads.
Mr.. Harris, of Bibb, sustained the mi
nOrity report, and asserted that there
were thirty instead of twenty millions of
railroad property declared untaxablc by
the highest courts of the land, and this
bill simply proposes to strike at the
weaker and newer corporations that have
done so much to build up and develop the
State, citing the Airline Railway as an
example.
Mr.. Wright, of Floyd, replied with
fierce eloquence, contending that not
alone to railroads were we indebted for
the growth of the State. Agriculture and
manufactures share in this honor alike
with railrC ads, and if they are taxed
railroads should bear a similar bnrden.
Mr.. Ray, of COweta, moved to strike out
the second and third sections of the bill
and amend the sixth line of the first sec
tiOn so as to read trolling stock and road
bed' and other property to be returned as
now provided for by law and not as pro-
vided for in sections 2 and 3.
Mr.. Rankin, the author of the bill, ap-
pealed to the House, amidst general ap-
plause, not to strike the bill down by such
amendments, but to kill it direct if it was
an unjust or unwise measure.
Mr.. Rays amendment was voted down
by an overwhelming majority.
Mr.. Owens, of Chatham, then replied to
Mr.. Harris, of Bibb, ably discussing the
claiming the bill was unjust.
Mr.. Little, of MuscOgee, followed in one
of his calm, clear and fOrcible arguments
in favor of the minority report, and
claimed that we owe it to the new and
feeble railroads of the State that they
shall not be oppressed and crushed by the
provisions of this bill, while the larger
and richer corporations are exempted
Railroads increase the value of real es-
tate, open up new and rapid transporta-
ton facilities, and we ought to encourage
the building of new roads, and not cripple
those already completed.
Mr.. Watson, of McDutie, cOmbatted
these arguments, and said that the new
railroads are bound to share the burdens
of county taxation, and not be exempted !
because certain old charters put a few |
railroads beyond the reach of taxation. |
He knew that this fight on the part of the |
railroads was coming, and for one he |
was prepared to meet it now and here. |
[ Applause.
Mr.. Woods, of Walker, made the most |
practical and most applauded speech of |
the morning, showing that all industries |
were linked as one, each contributing to |
the wealth and growth of the State. Every |
dollar brought into Georgia to build or |
extend a new railroad is divided among
all our industries, giving increased actiV- |
ity to their operation 1t will be unwise |
for us to crush out these new railroads or |
stop the building of projected lines by |
oppressive taxation.
Mr.. Fite, of Barlow, advocated the bill |
as constitutional, wise and just, but he |
hardly got started in his speech before the |
hour of adjournment arrived The indi- |
cations all point to the passage of the bill |
in the House, unless a great change is |
made by the discussion of tomorrow.
NOTES ABOUT TOWN.
A locomotive engineer, of this city, |
lately visited DR.. Boswell, at Talladega, |
Ala, and saw his flying machine. He |
says that the doctor was cranky, but in |
dead earnest about making a success of |
the machine. He had spent long time |
on the experiment, and without losing |
hope. 1t is no humbug, although it may |
fail to accomplish its purpose, for there is |
some merit in its conception.
Gov. Mcdaniel returned from Athens /
this afternoon, and will probably send in |
the nomination for Solicitor tomorrow,
as the pressure is very strong on the part |
of the friends of the rival candidates.
A JOCKEY BADLY HURT.