Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-16
GE0RGIA'S LEGISLATURE.
MIR. NORTHEN'S PROPERTY
RETURN BILL PASSED.

The Resolution AppropriRting Money
for the Confederate Cemeteries Re
terred Back to the Committee with ~
Batch of Amendments-hr. FELTON,
Speaks Against Selling the Western
and Atlantic Railroad.
ATLANTA, Sept. l5.-In the Senate to-
day, on motion of Mr.. Northen, the bill
to provide for a fun and correct return OF
the property OF the State for taxation
through the board OF assessors OF every
county in the State was taken up by Sec
tions and adopted as amended by the COM
mittee that reported the bill favorably to
the Senate. The only material change in
the bill was the striking out of the section
relating to wild lands, the Senate bellev-
ing that the provisions of that section OF
the measure were already fully covered
by the present law. The bill then passed
and was ordered sent to the House. A
number of local bills were read the third
time and passed.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day the resolution ap-
propriatlng $3.50 for repairing tho Con-
faderate cemetery at Marietta was con-
sidered in committee OF the whole, with
MIR. Brandt In the chair. There are 3,3i5
Confederate soldiers Inferred there.
Mr. Fte offered an amendment appro-
priating $500 for the cemetery at Cass.
vile, $240 to that at Kingston, $400 at
Resaca, $4,000 at Atlanta, and 5000 at
JOnesboro.
Eloquent speeches in support of the re-
solution were made by Messrs. Ellis,
Clay, Lewis of Greene, Boyd, Thomas.
| Calvin and Goodwin, and in opposition
! by Mr. Harrison.
Mr. Middlebrooks offered an amendment
including Covngton and Tnomasville.
Mr.. Harrell, of Webster, opposed any
action not paying honor to the memory Of
every Confederate from Galveston to
Gettysburg.
Messrs. Cbapper, Flynt, Russell Of
Clarke, and Harrell OF Webster, offered
amendments.
On motion OF Mr.. Pringle the commit
tee rose, and recommended that the reso-
luton and pending amendments be re-
committed to the Finance Committee, and
1t took that direction.
THE WESTERN AND ATLANTIC.
The substitute offered by the committee
providing for the sale OF the Western and
Atlantic railroad, il SS,00O,O00 could be
gotten for the property, and If not a re-
lease of the property, TO take effect at the
expiration OF the present lease, was called
up. This substitute was made up OF the
sale feature of Mr.. McLendon's bill and
the lease feature Of Mr.. Clay's bill.
Mr.. Hawks moved to indefinitely post
pone action on the bill.
Mr.. burden offered an amendment strik-
ing out the reference to sale.
Mr.. Brandt favored immediate action on
the bill. 1t cost US, be said, SjS2,000 an
nually to own the road.
MR.. FELToN's OPPOSITION.
Mr.. FELTON, opposed the sale of the State
road In his earnest, magnetic style. He
adverted to the fact that 1t was built by
our fathers under the most discouraglng
circumstances out of their resources, and
with their own labor and money. IL is
unexceled as piece OF public
property, and was considered by them
only second to the great canal OF New
York. IL was then held that under proper
management it would relieve us of taxa
tion, educate the people, and cheapen
rates OF freight. A spirit OF gratitude and
a sense Of public regard for our fathers
should impel us to vote against this pro-
posed outrage on their memories.
REVENUE PRODUCER.
II has been a wonderful revenue pro-
ducer when properly and honestly con-
trolled by Georgia. 1t has turned mill
ions into our treasury. The fable Of
.Esop about killing the goose that laid
the golden egg bad It's apothesis IN the
Georgian wishing TO destroy this road. He
referred to the hOnOred dead, who cOnse-
Grated their lives 10 this work. In 1851
when a member of the General Assembly
stated that the road needed new equip
ments, Francis 5. Barlow, Of Chatham
county, with an eoquence never sur
passed, Joined hands with upper Georgia,
and "A sufficient sum was appropriated.
He believed that, AS public prop
ertv, it was unexceled by any such In
the United States.
WORTH 100000
The road, he said, under proper manage
ment. would relieve the people OF the
State Of burdening taxation, and would
also. as the builders asserted, educate the
children OF the state. This road is worth,
according 10 the testimony OfGOy. Brown,
5000. 900 year. At b per cent. that is
SI2. 600, 900. This bill wants 10 sell 1t for
only SS00O,000.
Mr.. FELTON, had the floor at the hour Of
adjournment, and held IL after the opening
of the afternoon session until he concluded
his argument.
on motion the bill was tabled. The
popular Impression is that there is no i'm
mediate necessity for either selling the
property or releasing II, and that the bill
will not come up again this session.
The entire afternoon session was de-
voted 10 consideration Of Mr.. Gustln's
amendment 70 the bill providing for the
calling OF n constitutional convention,
which amendment provides That the
question OF n convention or no convention
shall be- submitted 10 the voters Of the
State At the next general election. NO