Savannah morning news., 1885-09-19
A VOTE FOR PROSPERITY.
THE SENATE PASSES THE RAIL
ROAD COMMISSION BILL.

24 Affirmative and 3 Negative Votes
The Bill Immediately TransmItted to-
the HOuss-Mr smith, of the ThIr-
teenth District, Makes the Closing
Argument-Othor Important Measures
Acted Upon
ATLANTA. Sept. 1S.-The Senate con-
cluded consideration of the bill to modify
/ the power of the Railroad Commission to-
day by passing the bill. Mr.. Smith, of
the Thirteenth district, made the cOnclud-
ing speech on the bill, which was in favor
of it, and the only argument made to-day.
He defended the press against Mr.. Thorn
toms charge that the press did not ex-
press public sentiment on this bill. They
had not been bought, but in some cases
where papers had published favorable
articles they had sent interested parties
a number of copies and collected no pay
from them. He agreed with Mr.. Thorn
ton as to the greatness of Robert Toombs,
who brought this control OF the roads
about. He was proud of that illustrious
citizens fame, and while he would add TO
it. if it were in mis- power, at the same
time he thought, for instance, that VIM.
NJ. Wadley had done as much for the
development of Georgia as any statesman.
HANDICAPING PROSPERITY.
He was not in favor Of hampering men
who were pushing the great industries of
the country, but he wanted to see them
| get equal rights and be put on a footing
with other citizens Of the State. Some
had said that more miles Of railroad had
been built in Georgia since the
establishment of the commission
than before. He dened this, and
said that, with the exception of some
little narrow gauge roads, railroad build
! ing had come to a standstill in Georgia.
! The people in Georgia and the capitalists
! North would not put their money in an
enterprise that they could not manage
/ themselves. South Carolina, Alabama
and Tennessee had tried railroad commits
| sions and they had found it necessary to
modify their powers. He wanted the
Georgia commission sheared OF its unlim-
tied power.
FIGURES TELL HOW IT WORKS.
| His opponents boasted about the
number of miles of road Georgia
was building. Georgia was build
ing at this time 1876 miles of narrow
gauge roads, while little South Carolina
was building 277 miles of broad gauge
roads, nearly three miles to GeOrgia's
one. Considering the size and wealth Of
! the two States, he would almost guaran-
tee that if the power of GeOrgia's commits
sion was limited, as this bill provides,
Georgia would in the next five years
build 1000 miles OF road. He said that In
hampering railroad men in Georgia we
were affecting the interests Of GeOrgia's
own citizens, as they owned $l2, 100000 of
the S1S,000,000 invested IN railroads in the
State.
PASSING THE BILL.
Mr.. Davidson stated the reasons of his
vote on this measure. Owing to lndtspO-
sItiOn and the duties he had to perform
during the session and as the bill had
been fully debated he moved the previous
question.
The motion was carried.
He then called the ayes and nays, and
the bill passed by the following vote:
AyeS-Messrs. BristOw, Brown, Caban-
/ iss, Caldwell, Clark, Clifton, COlley,
Davidson, Day, Falligant, Fuller,
| Hodges, Humber, Johnson, Maddox,
Murray, Northen, Rountree Russell,
Sheffield, Smith, Of the 3Oth, smith of the
32nd, Tison, Wilcox-24.
] NaVS-Messrs. Allen, Crawford, Glenn,
| Hoyle, Jordan, Lewis, Long, McArthur,
Mcbride, Rankin, Ray, Ridley, Thornton,
! Tigner, Traylor-15.
THE CAPITAL TAX BILL DISPLACED.
A bill leyying special tax for building
| the capitol came up as the next special
order, but the order was displaced to take
up and transact the following business:
+ The bill to require voters to register in
the counties Of Floyd, McDufiie, Burke,
| Randolph. Ebert, OglethOrpe, Wilkinson,
/ w sshngtou. Talbot, Walton, Morgan,
Lowndes, Emanuel, and Pulaski. Passed.
The bill TO levy a special tax for the
/ purpose of defraying the expenses OF
building the capitol, was then taken up as
! the special order.
/ Mr.. Maddox called the previous ques-
| ti0n, and the bill passed without debate
| by vote Of % yeas TO II nays. Several
/ Senators wanted TO discuss the measure,
but the previous question cut of all de-
bate.
Mr.. Day gave notice that at the proper
time he would move reconsideration.
IN THE HOUSE.
The House to-day passed the Senate
! bill TO amend the constitution by striking
| out paragraph 10, article VII, section 8
with reference TO local legislation by
vote OF 144 yeas and no nays.
The Senate bill 10 provide for a general
registration law was read the first time
and ordered printed.
The valued policy bill was ordered
I printed.
The bill to provide for the compensation
Of witnesses summoned as experts IN
cases outside Of the county in which the
witnesses reside WAS lost.
An appropriation Of $500 10 defray the
expenses Of laying the cornerstone Of the
new capitol passed.
The bill 20 amepd the code 50 as 10 in
crease tho saiary'of the secretary OF the
/ Railroad Commission from 81 200 TO 81, 500
/ WAS lost.
/ The b'll O. amend section 30i5 Of the
/ code relating 10 the appeal Of cases by
raiirOgds from Cne court 10 another on the
payment OF costs and giving bond passed.
CANCELLATION or MORTGAGES.
The bll 20 require holders of mortgages
/ 10 cancel the record OF the same when
/ they are paid of passed.
]
BISHOP SHARP TO BE GOOD.