Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-02
GEORGIA'S LEGISLATURE.
THE MARIETTA RAILROAD BILL
PASSED BY THE SENATE.

ATLANTA, GA, Oct. lin the Senate
to-day the special order was taken up. 1t
was the bill ''To provide for an adjust
ment and settlement of the claims,
equitable or otherwise, of the Marietta
and North Georgia Railroad Company"
The bill provided that should the company
complete and equip the road from its ter
minus at Ellijay to the North Carolina
line by Jan. l, 1888, the State will release
the company from interest on the bonds Of
the company held by the State from their
date to Jan. 1, 1888. If the company shall
fail to 80 complete the road then this re-
lease shall be void provided, further, that
the company shall file with the Governor,
in consideration of the provisions of the
agreement, the release OF all claims
against the State arising either in refer
ence to the cOnvicts loaned the road or the
loan made the company by the act OF 1871.
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.
The committee amended by providing
that if the company shall complete the
road as aforesaid, then the State shall
release the company from it's entire in
debtedness to the State-interest and
principal-provided the company shall
build the road at the rate OF one and half
miles per month. The State shall release
the same at the rate OF $1,000 per each
mile so completed.
Mr.. Davidson showed how the State en-
couraged the building of the road in order
to open up sena incOgnita,
section of the State, rich in minerals
and great in possibilities of agricultural
wealth.
THE STATES AID.
The State contributed $50 convicts
gratuitously to the road, to be used until
il was finished. In addition the State
loaned the road $4,000 OF money obtained
from the hire OF 1000 convicts TO other
parties, and sold to it $4,000 worth of iron
from the Murphy branch road. The State
received this $40, 900 in bonds of the road,
and the accrued interest thereon makes
the road now indebted to the State in the
sum OF S66, ,420. The two penitentiary
companies in the meantime were created,
and before the road was finished they
claimed the 250 gratuitous cOnvicts, and,
being refused them, sued the Marietta and
North Georgia road for their recovery, and
for the hire for part OF the time they had
been used by the road.
WHAT THE ROAD WANTS.
They won the suit, and the road had to
give up the conYicts and pay the $4,000
to the penitentiary companies. The road
now asks the State for relief by the reso-
luton before the Senate TO discharge this
debt at the rate of 50, 900 for every mile
and a half Of road they build in the next
90 months.
Mr.. Rankin opposed the measure as un-
constitutional, and not legally right. The
road has had no such claim against the
State.
Mr.. Maddox briefly favored the passage
of the bill with the amendments. The bill
was passed by vote of 34 TO 7, and was
Immediately transmitted to the House.
THE SALARIES OF JUDGES.
Mr.. Davidson called up from the table
/ the bill to increase the salaries Of Judges
Of the Supreme Court from $4,000 10 S4,-
| 600 per anDum, providing the same shall
not apply TO judges now in commission.
MIR. HOyle moved to amend by making
the salaries of the Judges of the Supreme
court SO 800 and Judges Of the Superior
courts $4,000 per annum. The amend
ment was lost,
The bill was then passed without dis
cussion by constitutional majority Of 80
yeas to nays.
In executive session the nomination of
Frank L. HarralsOn for State Librarian,
for the term of four years, was confirmed.
Among the bills passed were the fol
lowing:
Theincorporate the Savannah and West
ern Railroad Company.
A resolution authorizing the lessees OF
the Western and Atlantic railroad TO
change the gauge of the track, so as to
conform with the gauge Of other lines, as
soon as necessary.
INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS.
The bill 10 amend and codify all the
laws relating TO the Inspection OF fertil-
iZers was taken ND as the special order of
the day, and for the third time Mr.. Ray
offered a Substitute for the original bill, as
amended by the Agricultural Committee,
and upon which there was favorable re-
! port The substitute was proposed by
| dealers in commercial fertilizers at Sa-
vannah. He thought the substitute much
preferable to the original bill, and advo-
| Gated its passage. He thought that sub
| stitute protected the consumers against
fraud in every shape.
MIR. Cabaniss, upon the conclusion OF
the argument OF Mr.. Ray, moved to in
def nitely postpone action upon the bill.
The motion TO postpone Was adopted by a
vote Of IL yeas TO IL nays.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day the order OF the day
being consideration Of the bill requiring
payment i'm full OF policies Of insurance,
! 1t was taken up.
MIR. Brantley stated that a minority OF
the committee protested against the pas
sage OF the bill.
Mr.. Calvin presented his argument I'm
/ support OF the passage OF the bill. IL was
a clear and succinct statement Of his posi-
ton. The birth OF males and females, tue
I loss Of vessels at sea, and the burning OF
4 houses were governed by certain laws.
| lie alluded to II as showing how premi-
] ums were arrived Mt. In every city OF
! 900 houses. one house Will be destroyed
| by fire. His speech ab0unded with inter-
| estlng statistics and statements showing
the profit Of insurance companies.
APPROVED by AN INSURANCE MAN.
He had Clerk Harden read a letter from
| u. n. Noise, or Sumter, 5. c., an in
surance agent, indorsing his bill as sound
/ and just
Mr. Brantley opposed the passageof the
! bill in an earnest speech as a deceptive
/ one. and one liable 10 DO misunderstood.
Insurance Is based upon the idea that the
property is worth the amount Insured,
| and the companies agree to the amount Of
tho damage sustained not exceeding the
amount stated Ia the policy. The people
! had protested against the passage OF the
| law. and their protest should be beeded.
Georgia was in no condition 70 drive OF
capital.
Mr.. Thomas opposed the bill. II IL
passed, the rars, who are 50 bad In burn
! ing houses, would burn a great deal
| more. 10 Is a dangerous bill.