The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-07
SALEOF THE STATE ROAD.
DISCUSSION OF THE LEASE BILL
TAKING = NEW TURN.

Strenuous Efforts 10 Forcs a Settle
rnent on the Question Of Better
meuts Before Deciding the Fate OF
the Road-The Report OF the Com
rnittss on the olive Bill
ATLANTA, Ga, Aug 6.-The debate on
the Western and Atlantic lease was re-
surned in the House this m 'rning. The
question came up on the third section Of the
bill, of which the following is the clause at
issue: The said lease shall in no way in
terfere with the contract now existing be
tween the state and tie present le sess, and
the les,ees under this act shall receive the
road bed in its present condition, natural
wear and tear excepted, the personality, as
per inventory on file in the secretary of
states office, subject to the right of the
present lessees at option to deliver the prop
erty therein specified. II IN as good condl-
ton as when received by them, or upon
failure to do SO, then to account for the
same in money"
SUGGESTIONS BY THE SCORE.
The amendments already noted are nu-
nerous, relating in a variety of shapes to
the question of Uetterments. The most i'm
purtant are Mr.. Rankin'', which provides
that before lease Is executed the matter
of betterments shal be setued by aTbtra-
ton, and that of Mr. Tign,r Of MuScogee,
striking out all after 1.-THE secretary Il
states office so as TO ignore the better
ments.
SMITHS AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Smith of Gsinnett offered an amend
ment to Nj. Rankia's, st king olt ''arbi-
tration," ami inse ting in such manner as
the legislature NAV determine The de-
bate which followed was betterments or no
betterments.
Mr. Hill Of Meriwether made a lengthy
argument in opposition to claim OF bet
terments, holding that the rolling stock Is
a fixture and part of the realty, and that
the state is entitled under the existing con
tract to the whole of it.
Mr. Tignor spoke in favor Of his amend
meIt, insisting that the state should take
possession of the properly at the expirati II
of T. present. lease, and pay no attention
to betterne Is.
Mr.. Humphreys Of Brooks argued that
the lesseeS are not entitled to one cent for
bettermens.
MIR. Thews of Houston made an effective
speech 10 favor If Mr.. Rankin'S amend
ment urging that the betterme Is question
should be settled, whatever the result, so as
not to cnmplicate the new lease. The COM
mittee ose without progress.
AMENDMENTS TABLED.
The following amendments we're tablet
BY Mr.. Tstum of Dade-That no work
shops belonging to the road shall be re-
moved beyond tho limits Of the state.
BY Mr. Glenn-Ihat it is the sense Of the
Hou that no proper lease can be passed
until it is definitely ascertained what prop
erty is TO be leased.
By Mr.. Calvin of Richmond-That no
further discussion be had on the lease till
the bettermsnt' question is disposed of.
MORE TALK OF A SALE.
The talk over the House to-day during
the debate in,Acated very clearly growing
sentiment in favor of a sale Vt the
property, n the News correspo nds1t was
reliably informed that before the discussion
is over a Substitute already pre- ard will
be offered, providing that bids shall be
called for both for lease and sale. There
are more opel expressions in favor of
sale than have eve been heard before \
georgia Legislature, aud ere is no absolute
certainty AS yet what direction this ques-
ton Will take.
In the Western and Atlantic committee
Of the Hou,e this afternoon Senator Halls
resolution Tor a jOllt committee to make
careful examination to all property Of
the road was fought by Or. Fe ton AMI other
friends Of the lease bill, and tabled for tue
present
TIE OLIVE BILL.
The House rsi road comlnltuee this after
noon received the report of the special CO 10
mittee on the Olive bill The committee
could nett er report the bill / or agree on a
substitute for it, which leaves this famous
mo-sure in a very un avornhle cDndi-
ton. The general Dmmittee will make an
effort to do something with it next Thurs
day.