The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-14
Two Mischievou. Bills.

A large number of citizens Of Dodge
/ county met ct the court house in Eastman
( on Friday and unanimously adopted reSo-
/ lutiOns condem1ing the Olive bill. and the
bill to forfeit the charter Of the Savannah
and Western railroad, both Of which are
now pending in the legislature. The Morn
! ING NEWS has never thought TINT there
was any probability Of the passage Of the
! Olive bill, and there IS certainly no good
! reason for the passage Of the bill TO forfeit
( the charter Of the Savannah and Western.
| There has been a great deal of talk
| throughout the state about the Olive bill,
and it IS probable that at Q last session Of
! the legislature quite a number Of the menu
bers OF that body favored 1t. They we're
Influenced to do so. perhaps, by the fear
that all the railroad interests of the state
were in danger Of being controlled by one
or more great combinations, and that these
combinations would cheek the states pros
perity and rob the people. A few months
careful consideration Of the railroad sitUs-
ton has convi ced the most Of them, doubt
less, that their fears were unfounded aud
that the Olive bill would iujure rather than
still favor the bill the conclusion is
almost inevitable that they have not given
i, and it, probable effect If it should
become law, as careful and conscientious
consideration as they ought.
II the I'LL should become a law, it would
have a most disastrous effect upon railroad
building in the state Railroads that are
now being built. and others that are pro-
jected, would be abandoned at once. T ose
having money 10 invest in new railroad en-
terprises would avoid the state, aud counties
that are greatly in need ( railroads would
he deprived OF the benefits and advantages
which they confer.
If there were no protection against rail
road monopohes and 'ombinationS, there
might be something to be said in behalf Of
the Olive ILL., But there is ample protec-
lion against them. The railroad commits
sion is barrier against extortion, injustice
and discrimination. During the time the
commission has been in existence, the people
have not been oppressed by the railroads.
When they have felt that injustice was e.
ing done them, they have sought redress
from the commission and obtained it. As
long as the commission remains-and there
is no doubt that it is here to stay--there
will be no necessity for legislation TO pro-
tect the people against railroad combina-
tions.
The Olive bill has already done a great
deal of harm, because 1t has caused those
who had agre ID TO invest in railroads In
this state to hesitate to do SC They may
not have thought there was any great
pro ability that the bill would pass, but
they did not want to take any risks, partc-
uierly as they sought a legitimate enter
prise payi & fair profit aud not a spscula
tive undertaking. Besides, they VERY
naturally argued that if the Legislature
would enact such a law as the Olive bill
they might reasonably expect legislation
still more ilibe n and hostile to railroads.
No, the people do not want the Olive bill
to become law; and neither do they de-
mand the passage of the bill TO forfeit the
charter Of the Savannah and Western road,
or any other road They want all the rail
raads they can get, and they don't want
those crippled which they have They have
confidence in their railroad commission,
and are willing to depend upon that insti-
tuition to protect them against railroad
monopolies d combinations.