The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-24
GOING FOR THE LESSEES.
SENATOR BARTLETT TRIES TO
HEAD OFF 4 COMPROMISE


He Offers Series of Resolutions Do
nying the Right or Justice Of ANY
Claim for Betterments, and Requir-
ing q Bond From the Lessees as a
Guarantee that They Will Not
Wreck the Road
ATLANTA, GA, Oct. 23.-The resolution,
which it was rumored last night would be
introduced in the Senate this morning,
proposing arbitration of the betterments
claims, failed for some reason to come in
but Mr.. Bartlett knocked the proposition in
the head, if it was contemplated. by the
following resolutions:
WHEREAS, The committee appointed by the
general assembly to confer with the lessees OF
the Western and Atlantic railroad, and u
ascertain from them what claim such leSsees
make against the state. and how and in what
manner they propose and ask for settlement
of the same, have submitted their report con
tanning the claims of such lesseeS; and
WHERE S, Said claim as presented is, in the
judg llent of this general assembly, unjust ex-
travagant, not authorized BY the ase contract
or the law, nor in accordance with any principle
of natural equity or Justice; and
WHEREAS, The lessees and those representing
them have in the presentation of their
claim boldly asserted that they have
the right to dismantle the Western and
Atlantic railroad and render it prac-
tically vaueless to the state for railroad pur-
poses, and thus impair its value for lease or
sale, and to remove from the limits OF this state
all the rolling stock, engines and cars belonging
10 said railroad, and have threatened TO do so In
order to compel the state 10 litigate with them;
and
part of the lessees would be in violation OF the
rights Of the state in the premises, and might
result in great damage to the interests OF the
people Of Georgia; be it therefore
pv No of
Georgia the House of Representatives concur
ring. first, that tits the judgment OF this egls
lature that said claim is exoroitant and
state Of Georgia does not, under the
contract of lease, nor IN equity
or good conscience, owe said lessees any sum
purpose of imp rowing the condition OF said
railroad and its appurtenances, II any mas been
made; nor will 1t either consider, confer or con-
suit with them with reference thereto, nor
recognize or pay the same or any part thereof,
and will not constitute any court or tribunal TO
hear and determine the same.
2 Be il further resolved, That in the event
said lessees shall at any time do any act which
indicates that they intend to execute the threat
made TO dismantle said railroad, or remove its
rolling stock, etc, beyond the state it shall be
the duty of the governor to at once declare the
lease forfeited, and to proceed to take posses
sion of said railroad, its rolling stock and APP
purtenances. and operate the same as provided
for by law; and the governor is hereby author
tHou anu OlTeCbeO lake Oil necessary bUoDS
and means necessary to preserve and protect
the states property from injury and spolation
by the lessees.
8. ResoIted further, That the governor be
general his opinion as to whether any
one Of those individuals or corpora
tons who signed the bond given to the
state, or any one of the lessees, can be I'D in
dividually liable to the state for the faithful
performance of the contract of the lessees with
the state, ami If the said attorney general shall
be of the opinion that no one is responsible to
the state. then it shall be the duty of the gov.
ernor TO demand of the present lessees bond
10 the sum Of - dol ars to comply with the
terms of said lease contained in the lease act,
and II, at the expiration Of thirty DAYS they
neglect or refuse to do, it shall be the duty
of the governor to declare the lease forfeited,
and to take immediate possession OF said rail
road.
The resolution was referred to the general
judiciary committee, with instructions t.
make an immediate report.
STATE GEoLoGIsT.
The bill to revive the Office Of state geolo-
gist passed the House to-day, the speakers
vote making up the requisite constitutional
majority. The bill provides for a geo.
logical, neurological and physical survey
of the state, authorizes the governor to
appoint state geologist who shall be paid a
salary of $4,000, and hold the Office till the
Office is abolished or he is removed for cause
composed of the governor, treasurer, C mp
troller, commissioner of agriculture, attor-
ney-general, and school commissioner, who
shall have general supervision of the work
and expenditure of the appropriation of
$4,000 to defray the cost of the survey
The board will also appoint two assistant
state biologists at salary Of 81 $50 each.
THE BLUE RIDGE JUDGE.
At noon tomorrow the legislature will
hold joint sesslon to elect judge of the
Blue Ridge circuit. 1t is understood
tonight that all the candidates have retired
In favor Of George F. Gober of Marietta.
The bill to amend the charter of the
Macon and Birmingham railroad so as to
avoid Greenville, over which there has been
a fight. passed the house to-day, and its
friends are jubilant. The bill came up once
before. and was defeated, but was recon
sidered
The Senate passed the House bill making
a special appropriation of Sic. 800 for the
lunatc asylum.
The House railroad committee to-day re-
ported favoraoly the bill to charter the Isle
of II pc ra lway. but with an amendment
that it shall have o lly sixty feet right of
way through the town of Isle of Hope, and
1T prohibits the road from running within
800 feet of the river front