The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-25
BIG TOPICS OF STATE.
A HEARING ON The BETTERMENT5
OUESTIO \.

Before the Western and Atlantic
Committee-The Blair Bill Discussed
In the senate-County Taxation OF
Railroads Talked of in the House.
ATLANTA, GA, July A.-The lessees,
through Maj Joseph B. Cumming,
their attorney. and Vice President Stahl-
man of the Louisville and Nashville
railroad, went before the Western and At
lantic railroad committee this afternoon
aud asked very plainly for betterments-
Mai. Cumming confined himself to legal
argument to show the states liability, I
merely for the excess of rolling STOCK, but
for all improvements, of whatever charac-
ter. on the road bed, rails, bridges, trestles,
side tracks, etc. He maintained the right
of the Iessees to detach and cary off these
wherever possible. He devoted consider
able attention to combating the PROPOSE
tion that the state cannot be sued,
claiming that the state loses sover-
eighty when she goes into a trade
and is liable to suit, and can be made to
answer. The claim TO betterments Is based
upon the character of the improvements,
and the declaration that the state had vio-
lated its contract with the lessees in estab-
fishing railroad commission, which re-
duced rates, and in chartering the East
Tennessee road, which also reduced rates
and cut off business. Vice President Stahl-
man made a long talk to the committee,
urging that it would be policy for the state
TO settle with the lessees He pictured the
road in its present condition, and told the
committee how nice it would be If the
state could offer it to the bidders as it is
now.
HoNEYED THREAT.
He claimed that the lessees could not be
asked to re urn 1t IL better condition
than it was in 1871, and they
could save nearly 700 by let
ting it run down during the balance
of the lease as it would cost that to keep it
in its present condition. and had cost it
annually for several years. Mr. Stahlnan
was piled with telling questions by MEM
bers of the committee, and made to dodge
and cover C nsiderably. Mr.. Hand read
him from the report OF President Brown,
that comparatively little had been spent o.
the road for several years, not exceeding
S25, 900 per annum, and in one year only
$1,000 Mr.. Stahlmen ated that
the lessees had got moth ng from
the road in a number of years, but a ques-
tion brought out the fact that they mad
been retiring income bonds, and out of the
issue Of 50 900, 900, now owe but 1921 600
On the singular proposition telegraphed
Last night he Il ought an agreeno t might
co di ion, would be surrendered to the new
lessees, the excess over s25, 600 per month to
be paid the outgoing lessees till January,
1891, as consideration of the surren Ter, but
the meat of this proposition developed that
the lesSees would require a settlement of
the betterments before such surrender.
WHAT THE LEssEEs WANT.
The committee asked Mr.. Stahl nan what
the lessee wanted as betterments, what
g. Il Al. - -.
great activity, but finally said that Gov
Brown had about stated it, fixing il on the
basis of the es innate of the commission
which appraised the property last year at
$750000, or deducting fixtures, which it is
not disputed the lessees are entitled to,
$500, 600. The committee informed Mr.
Stahlman that the legislature is not bound
by the finding of the commission as to the
amount of the betterments as they had
gone eyond their instructions in making
the report. Mr.. Stahlman declined to ex-
press an opinion as to the present value of
the road. Messrs. Stahman and Cumming
were asked about the generally credited
statement that at the time Of the proceed
ings instituted by the state to forfeit he
lease some years ago, a proposition was
made by President Brown that If the pro-
ceeding were withdra wn and the lessees were
permitted to finish out they would aba 1don
any claims for betterments. Mr.. Cumming
said it was the first he had ever heard of it
although one of the lsssees' counsel at the
time. and Mr.. Stahman said that The
Louisville and Nashville company epu-
dated it if it was ever made. Mr.. Stab =
man volunteered the information on tue
subject of bidder, that he understood tn t
two combinations were being formed in
Atlanta to bid for the road, but did not in
dictate the parties.
TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES.
The legislature had under discussion to-
day two imp rtant measures. In the Senate
it was the resolution indorsing the Blair
BILL and In the House the bill authorizing
the COUNTIES to tax railroads. The Senate
discussion did not reach vote. 1t C me
up on the following substitute for the orr z
inal:
That our representatives in congress be re-
quested to vote for the Blair bill, measure
looking to the aid of the public schools of the
states by the federal government, if the same
does not interfere with state con
spect except to secure to all children
of school age equal participation in the public
school funds and provide for non sectarian
schools and separate schools for whites anC
blacks.
In support Of the resolution Mr.. Massen
gale read long letter from Sch oil Com
missioner Hook, strongly advocating 1T
passage.
Mr.. Gibbs opposed the bill as a republi
have moth ng to do with. He said the state
school commissioner has tw ce tried to oh
tain an Endorsement of the Blair bill, and
has twice failed in Georgia, only
succeeding Def re a meeting of negro
teachers in Columbus. In NJ SIS
issippi a republican convention had frs
denounced tn whites, and then in adopting
q number of republican measures, declared
with whoop Tor the Blair b ILL., 1t was alb
surd for the south TO expect any good from
such south hater as Blair. Messrs. San
ford, Strother and Bartlett also spok,
against the bill, while Mr.. Boyd ma lie &
lengthy argument for it. The discus sior
will be resumed tomorrow. The debate
to-day indicated very strongly the opposition
to the Blair bill in the Senate
THE RAILROAD TAX BILL.
The debate i the House on the railroad
tax bill took a wide range and many mem
bers aired their vi WIS. Il was evident from
the outset that the measure would pass anC
it did By heavy majority, the vute beine
1876 TO 1G. The bill provides that hereafter
IN each and every year when any "a lroad
company i'll this state whose p operty il
now or may hereafter be subject to stat,
taxation shall make its annual re-
turn of property to the comptroller
general of the state for tn,
purpose of state taxation, they shall at th,
same time and by the same officer under
the same oath, make another return in the