Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-28
ATLANTA'S MASSMEETING
FINK THE FAVORtTE or THE
LOCAL MERCHANTS.

ATLANTA, April 27.-Promptly at 10
O'Clock this morning, in accordance with
the published call, fully 600 business
men of Atlanta, representing all classes
/ and every interest, met at the Chamber
of Commerce for the purpose ofgiving an
/ expression Of public sentiment upon the
/ subject of the East Tennessee, Virginia
I and Georgia railroad receivership. Glanc-
/ ing over the packed bali it could be seen
/ that the meeting was composed of busi-
ness men assembled to transact business
and nothing more. President Wylly took
/ the chair. After announcing the object
of the meeting john NJ. Dunn read the
/ following preamble aud resolutions
At mass meeting Of the citizens of
Atlanta, held this day, agreeable to the
1 call of - merchants and business men,
made Saturday, April 25. the following
/ preamble ana resolutions were reported
/ by the committee designated for that plr-
pose:
After due inquiry and iuvest cation we are
/ led 20 the conclusion that If The present con-
/ ditiOn of affairs is long continued one OF the
! most valuable railroads in the State of Geor-
| gia is to be sadly crippled, and It's usefulness
/ to the people seriously impaired for years TO
/ come. The many millions Of money spent on
/ this system Of roads in Georgia by public
/ spirited capitalists are about 20 be tied up in
/ litigation under the preteuse Of collecting
/ few dollars. The seizure of great railroad
system for the purpose of enforcing the col
! lection of a small debt, we submit, should not
! be tolerated in any civilized land. We en-
phatically protest against THIS seizure be
| cause we are conscious that it is not right,
| because IL is injurious TO our whole southern
| country, and because it is an open notice to
the world that It if very risky thing to in
kRest money IN the South.
IN FAVOR OF FINK.
| Being satisfied that under the receiveTship
! of Mr. Fink the road will be built and the in
terests of owners and creditors VIII be sub
served. and the people Of Georgia have saved
! to them tins great balance wheel In Georgia's
transportation system, and being further
satisfied that while Judge Dorsey's appoint
ment may not be unlawful, it certainly is I'M
necessarily jeopardizing great interests for a
ResoLoed I. That it is the sense OF this COM
mupity and, we believe, the destro Of all the
good people Of Georgia thst the people who
furnished the money to buy and build this
| road in Georgia shall be al least allowed TO
name the receiver in preference to any man
claiming small debt against the corporation.
/ ReS0Jse9 2. That this community once for
| all notify Receiver Fink that we feel a sense
| Of great obligation to the capitalists who fur
/ nished the means to build and equip the
Georgia division of this system of roads.
ReSOIOe8 g. That this mass meeting most re-
/ spectfully suggests that if our Superior Court
would promptly hear the pending case upon
!
| very soon be reached.
During the reading of the resolutions
Capt. Dunn was frequently interrupted
with loud and prolonged applause.
AN AMENDMENT.
AS soon as quiet was restored f. p.
/ Howell introduced the following amend
ment:
! As business men, interested IN the prosperity
of Georgia and this CITY, We feel called upon
to say that we consider the apparent conflict
/ of jurisdiction between the State courts and
| Federal courts over the pending litigation
| against the East Tennessee, Virginia and
| Georgia railroad as not ooly unfortunate and
| ruinous 20 the road, but Injurious to the pros
perity OF our city and state, that we DO not
| believe II Is possible to maintain continuous
| line Of this system and axe 1t q competing
/ line If this conflict continues. We
/ believe, further, that 10 is the duty
/ of all good citizens TO DO All
| that is possible to bring on the trial of the
| suit now pending before Judge Hammond, SO
/ that the matter now at issue between the
| complamants can be determined onits merits;
| that we believe that when this issue Is 20
| heard, and there is any amount imperled,
making it a necessity 70 appoint rcceiver to
! take chargeof the property, that said amount,
I il determined, can be amply secured, so that
It. will be possible 10 have the road under one
management. subject TO the control OF one
judge and one management that we pledge
ourselves, and will so make q pledge formal
and binding, Just as soon as the case is heard,
to see that every clam that is legal is paid as
soon and as full as il tine same was to be paid
by the receiver under said bill: that we be-
lieve in this way that the rights Of all the
litigants may be protected, and no injury Will
result 10 the management Of the ropd and to
the citizens Of this State and this city.
AKIN TO A STORM.
julius Brown, ex-counsel of the East
Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, arose
and said:
a now Offer [Cries Of Question
drowned his voice.
The chairman managed to get the vast
audience quiet, and Mr.. Brown said:
Haven't | q right to be heard2 VIII
you apply the gag law? Am / TO be de-
MED the right TO be heardg offer these
resolutions as a substitute for the ones
Just read If ! can get a second"
Cries Of "No second"
EX-MayOr English-''I move to lay on
the table,"
81 second" came from a hundred men.
Hoke Smith--''Won't you give us
chanceT'
Mr.. Engllsh-''We don't intend to do
injustice TO any one, but we know the
purpose Of those resolutions" Cheers
The objection was withdrawn and Mr..
Brown was allowed TO read the substi-
tute, tue burden Of which was a protest
against the passage Of the resolutions
offered by Mr. Dunn on the ground that 10
ceusure the action OF the courts or en-
deayor 10 Influence them.
After the reading Of the resolutions Mr.
English said: awe are ready 10 submit
the question on its merits. Our resolu-
tiOus do not censure Judge Hammond.
Nothing is said against hIm-n0t a word.
The case has never been heard on It's
merits. Let it alone and we will be in the
hands Of a monopoly"
JULIUS BROWN HEARD.
Julius BrOwn-"Capt. English nas been
heard, and now / want n word or TWO.
am on record as "a monopoly fighter. Ny
record is a great deal better than some
mems here. ! was employed by cable 20
geta charter for this road. 10 was under
stood that II father or / objected, the char
ter was not 10 be applied for. drew the
charter and passed IL through the Georgia
legislature
Mr.. Bain--"Dldn't you get pay for itT'
81 did.n Great applause and confu-
sion.
Mr.. Brown spoke at great length, but
was frequently interrupted by questions
aud Kisses. He concluded by stating that
he was authorized 10 say that, IN the event
that II became necessary, the Western
and Atlantic would provide cars and To-
comotiyes 10 meet all demands.
"N0 doubt Of It." shouted voice, and