The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-03-21
4 TenmeSsee Railway Com.
plaims.

The Hon. o, c. King has presented
to the Legislature at Nashville q me-
mortal that affects the welfare of the
citizens Of the State, and deserves their
strict attention. 1t states that Tonnes
see has conferred from time to time
valuable privileges upon railroad COM
panies "curtailing the rights Of the
people and abridging their sovereign
ty." Four roads were organized in
East Tennessee; the State lent the
bonds that built two OF the roads, and
partially the two others. For some
years the roads were operated by those
who built them, the citizens swning
much Of the stock. About 1870 two
of the roads consolidated, "and from
that event dates the open contest be-
tween the people of East Tennessee
and the management of the new com
pany." The consolidators, says the
memorial, then wanted to acquire the
chartered rights of the two other COM
panies, and the occurrence of general
financial trouble aided their designs.
The roads, partially completed. were
not able TO pay the State interest. The
Legislature referred the matter to
court, a decree was obtained and in
the financial stress property worth
81 ,000,0O0 was sold for $4,000 to R
T. Wilson, c. M. MCGEE and Joseph
Jacques, Of the East Tennessee
Virginia and Georgia road. The
Knoxville and Ohio was sold at the
same time, at low figure, and some
smaller portions Of theline. The roads
"have paid expenses every year, yet
( strange to say, it is claimed that fab
Nous sums have been raised on the
bonds "f the company, and mortgage.
given to the amount OF $4O,O00,OOO
The principal stockholders and bond
undertaking the same parties--noN
reside out Of Tennessee. As stockhold
ers, they compose the company thai
owns all the four roads; as bondhoid
crs, they pretend to have loaned t.
themselves as stockholders, those fab
ulous sums of money to secure which
the mortgages are given" The me
mortal goes on to state that the matte
wss put into the hands Of ,
receiver, who claims that it win take
three years TO accomplish his duties
Thecompany is thus relieved of re
sponsibility to the State, and the re
ceiver is responsible only to the United
States. The result is that when g.
careless employee Of the receiver rum
his engine over and kills . man il
Memphis, to obtain redress his widow
is forced to come to Knoxville anC
humbly bend before the Judge Of tn
United States Court and beg permits
sion to bring suit for redress of he
wrongs, and If granted must spend he
substance in passing to and fro be-
tween her home and court unknown
TO the authority to which the real de
PENDANT, the railroad company, owe
its existence. Orsuppose small ship
per loses his goods on the road operat
ed by creature OF the judge-the re
ceiver refuses to account for the loss
and the shipper must spend twice TIN
value OF the goods in suit at Knoxville
perhaps several hundred miles iron
his home, or quietly pocket the loss
The memoriaIist therefore asks tina
the Legislature "appoint joint com
mittee OF men leaned in the law to ex
anime and report measure to insur
the preservation of the sovereignty 0
Tennessee and secure TO her citizens
fairand impartial investigation Of thei
grievances and speedy redress there
of in her own courts" The Legisla
ture referred the memorial to the Ju
dietary Committee.-Memphis Dali,
Appeal.