Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-29
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
THE MACON AND BRUNSWICK
ROADS OFFER TO PAY.

Treasurer Speer's Decision and ITS
Probable EfRect-Senator Brown Conn
ing to Attend the Western and At
Iantic Meeting, and the Railroad War
to Soon FOIlOw-Misery in the City.
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 28.-The present
owners of the Macon and Brunswick
Railroad have rendered in final payment
of 100000 in registered per cent. United
States bonds which Treasurer Speer does
not feel authorized TO accept. The act Of
Sept. 3, 1879, required the payment in
Georgia bonds, but the supplemental act
of Oct. IA following, allowed United
States bonds. The final payment is not
due until Feb. %, 1886, at per cent. in
terest, but the owners desire to pay now.
Here is Attorney-General Anderson's Of
ticial opinion in full to Treasurer Speer:
eff the purchasers of the Macon and
brunswick Railroad elect to nav the
balance due for said road in United States
bonds, they should be required to make
the payment in registered bonds of the
United states, issued under the authority
OF laws in force, when the act authorizing
the sale Of said road was passed. 1t can
not be supposed that the Legislature in
tended to allow the payment to be made
IN bonds issued by virtue of laws sub
sequentiy enacted, because it could not
possibly know what sort of bonds
might be provided for by
subsequent legislation. Suppose Con-
gress should have authorized the
issue OF bonds bearing no interest at all,
and which would sell below par, it surely
will not be contended that such bonds
would be receivable. The contract
created by the act of our Legislature is
to be interpreted in the light Of the laws
then IN force, which entered in.o and be-
came part of it. do not think vou are
authorized therefore to receive United
States per cents. The payment must be
made in the recognized bonds of this
State or in registered bonds of the United
states, issued by virtue of laws in force
when the act authorizing the sale was
passed. What the outcome of this de-
cisiOn will be no one can now tell,
although some persons predict legal
contest.
WESTERN AND ATLANTIC's ANNUAL
MEETING.
Senator Browns private car has gone
TO Washington to bring him to the annual
meeting of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad, on Thursday. Important mat
ters Will be acted upon, as the dissolution
OF the pool is now considered as almost
certain by the limitation Of the first of
March, if not by a sudden disruption
sooner. President Brown has appealed
to all parties to hold if possible and has
called a special meeting. 1t is predicted
that this will be the last meeting and the
end OF the pool. A prominent railroad
man told me to-day that Georgia is ON the
eve of the liveliest railroad war ever seen
in this section.
THE WEATHER.
The intense cold is followed bv rain.
and all outdoor work is still suspended.
This has left the poor without means to
procure food and fire wood, and much
suffering exists all over the city, while
the City Council Relief Committee have
but limited facilities to relieve the suffer-
ing. Added to this, Atlanta's recent
charIty sensation, so widely heralded, has
filled the city with tramps and beggars.
which adds greatly to the trouble. Unless
the city soon has better weather a general
appeal will have to be made to the citizens
Tor a relief organization to cover the
entire city.
THE NEW CAPITOL.
Architect Post telegraphs that he will
notify the Capitol Commissioners to-mOr-
row at what time he can meet them in
Atlanta. The publication about the dis
cusslon in regard to sending for him was
ANO'' 40 luc HhdJteI Was private
and not intended for the newspapers.
PROF. PENDLETON's FUNERAL.
The funeral of Prof. E. NJ. PendIeton.
formerly of the State University, was
largely attended from Trinity Church yes
terday, and his death is deeply deplored.
There were five funerals Yesterday.
DIR. COLEMAN DEAD.
DR.. W. E. Coleman died to-day. He
lately married a wealthy lady in Ken
lucky.