The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-25
PAY FOR THE LESSEES.
Mr.. HUFF SUBMITS a SERIES OF
RESOLUTIONS.

Most Direct Effort ct MADE IN Be
half of the Railroad Company-The
Senate Takes Up the Substitute
Lease Bill.
ATLANTA. GA, Oct. 24.-The betterments
question came up in the House to-day in
new shape on a resolution introduced by
Mr.. Huff Of Bibb, suggesting some rather
remarkable propositions. 1t is the most
direct effort yeJ made looking to an admis-
sion Of the claim of tie lessees and settle
ment with them. Following is the resolu-
ton:
WHEREAS, The report which was submitted to
this House in writing by the chairman Of the
House committee is the same as that submitted
to the Senate, this being the result of confer
ence had with the lessees of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad Company, by joint commit
tee; therefore be IL
ResoIued-That it is the sense of this House
that some action should be taken by the general
assembly, looking to an immediate disposition
of the claim which is now made out IN writing
and presented 10 the state by the iessees,
either by paying or agreeing TO pay some por-
ton Of said claim, or by promptly repudiating
the whole.
ResoIved. That committee of five be ap-
pointed by the speaker Of the House, whose
duty it snail be TO confer at once with the les
sees OF the Western and Atlantic Railroad Com
pany and learn from them:
/. What rent per month they will pay for
said road for twenty TO fifty years and abandon
their claim for betternents-
2 What rent they will pay for said road pro-
vided tie state will assume and pay back TO
them the taxes which they claim to have paid
on the states property in Tenness e.
g. What rent they will paw for the road pro
vided the state will assume and pay the taxes,
and also the amount claimed by the lessees for
twenty four miles of side tracks, and purchase
all tie surplus rolling stock now on the road;
say $4,000 for taxes S75.0 for side tracks.
and $751;, coo for rolling stock, making IN all
$750,000 the same to be taken out OF the rents
of the road at the rate of $4,000 per month
until all is paid.
T. What rent they will pay for the ROAD and
take from the state all the rolling STOCK and
personal property now on the road and owned
by the state as per the inventory taken in 1870.
ct price 10 be fixed by competent commits
sion chosen for that puri ose by the state and
the lessees so that the state shall hereafter be
relieved from all trouble, risk and liability as TO
wear and tear on the rolling stock and other
personal property. The difference between the
item of Tennessee taxes and the states prop
s sssy to be paid to the state in cash on Dec q
Resolved That this committee shall obtain
the information from the lessees in writing and
report the same back to the House by noon on
Monday, Oct. %, without recommendation.
THE SUBSTITUTE LEASE BILL.
The Senate took up the substitute lease
bill and adopted number Of amendments,
one of the most important of which was
one by Mr.. Harris of the Forty-second,
changing the time when bids shall be adver-
tised for from the four weeks preceding
Nov. 90, 1890, to four weeks prior to Oct. Is
of that year, and the time for their recep-
ton from Dec. to Oct. 81. Other amend
ments were agreed to, as follows:
"A proviso that no price less than the
minimum proposed in the bill as passed by
the House shall be accepted.
A paragraph as follows: "And it shall be
the duty of said lessees on or before Oct. l.
on each and every year, to make, and tolfle
with the governor of the state, an official
report of the condition of said Western and
Atlantic railroad, and all the property
leased connected herewith, which report
shall contain and set forth the following
facts: What improvements have been made
by the lessees or additions made to the
tracks. bridges, depots, buildings
or side tracks; what rolling
stock has been purchased by said road; the
amount received from passengers and
freights; the expenses incurred in the OPP
Grating Of the said road the amount of
freight carried over said railroad d the
rates charged for the same, and any and all
the facts necessary to complete informa-
ton of the condition and operations of the
said railroad for each year during the said
lease
A clause requiring the new lessee to keep
the road in condition equal to that of first
Glass lines in the state; one requiring the
lessee to observe the rules, rates, and orde
prescribed by the laws ami railroad COM
mission of the state; one making the lease
company liable for taxes, and one as fol-
lows: by striking out TIE first clause of said
section TO the word and in the third line
and inserting in lieu thereof be it further
enacted that said lease company shall be
subject to and required to observe and obey
all just and reasonable rules, orders,
schedules OF freight and passenger tariffs of
the railroad commission of this state. And
SAID lease company shall charge 40 greater
rate per ton per aiiiS o. through freight
over said railroad than the local rate
allowed and fixed on similar freights by the
railroad commission for said rallroad.'n
OTHER AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.
No further amendments were adopted,
though a humber we're proposed and will
be considered tomorrow. Among the
most important Of these are one by Mr..
Fitzgerald, identical with the old Harrell
amendment to advertise for bids for the
sale of the road, and two by Mr.. Bartlett
restricting bidding. so as to shut out
resolution will be promptly killed. Mr..
Bartlett's may stir up considerable debate,
but the indications appear to be that the bill
will be sent to the House tomorrow or next
day, and, unless the two bodies fail to agree
there is every reason to suppose that there
Will NC ~ ODsbdCio 10 duJOuT0meub on
Nov. 2.
SALE OF THE SWAMP.
The Senaoe bills incorporating the Su-
wannee Canal Company, and authorizing
the governor to advertise for the sale of the
Okeefenokee swamp, passed the House to-
day. The minimum price provided in the
bill Is l21@ cents per acre, and if no higher
bids are made, the governor is authorized
TO convey the swamp to the Suwannee
Canal Company at that price under certain
provisions and restrictions.
The bill to lease the Indian Springs reser-
walton also passed the House to-day. The
proposed lease is for term of twenty -flve
years.
The opponents OF the bill amending the
charter of the Macon and Birming ham
railroad by relieving it from its obligation
of passing through Greenville, which passed
the House yesterday, made charge in the
House this morning that the vote had not
been correctly counted, alleging that one
mmeher who voted ''no" was recorded Ives"
and two absent members recorded yves"
If this charge is sustained the bill
would just lack a constitutional majority,
although its friends claim that the speaker
would be still entitled TO vote, which
would save the bill. A committee Of three
was appointed to investigate the charge
A joint session was held at noon to elect