The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-04
CHANGES IN THE LEASE BILL.
The State Road Lease Act az it Now
Stands.

Stands.
Representative Gordon, who returned TO
Atlanta last night to resume his legislative
duties, was asked while here what changes
were made by the House in the lease bill,
providing for the lease OF the Western and
Atlantic road, as the bill came from the
Senate.
Capt. Gordon said that there were quite a
number of changes the principal ones being
an amendment TO section2, providing for the
| advertisement for bids" sixty days after the
passage of this ect." the Senate having set
the time Of advertising Immediately pre-
ceeding the Goth of November, 1885,"
The above amendment also necessitated
change In section 8, providing that "the
bids shall be submitted in writing TO the
governor, ON or before Feb. 10, 1890, at II
o'clock noon" Whereas the Senate had
fixed it at Oct. q, 1890, without an hour
stated.
Another amendment was added TO Sec
ton 3, providing that the bids shall be
opened, sin the presence of the public. AZ
well as in the presence of the bidders or
their representatives, as fixed by the
Senate.
Ia section 3, the Senate bill makes the
bidder liable for failure to comply with bis
bid without making him liable 10 any
der shall be liable to the state for any dam
age that may result to the state from his
failure to comply, ETC."
1t was sought to strike out Of section
that in addition to the deposit as security
additional bond may be required not to ex-
coed $500, 200, but the House would not
alter the section.
In section the Senate did not fix the
number of people which shall compose the
board of examiners TO be appointed by the
governor, aud the House fixed the number
at three
In section the House struck out the pro-
vision requiring the lessees, on or before
Oct Of each year, TO make and file with
the governor an official report of what
rolling stock has been purchased
by said road; the amount received from
passengers and freights; the expenses in
CURED in the operating of said
road; the amount Of freight carried over
said railroad, and the rates
charged for the same, and any
and all other facts necessary to
the furnishing complete information of
the condition and operations Of SAID rail
road for each year during said leasen This
leaves the requirements Of the report much
curtailed. The lessees will only have to
make and file an official report of the roads
condition aud all the property leased CON
necUe1 JnefeWltD. IheY Will be required to
show "what improvements have been made
by the lessees, or additions made to the
track, bridges, depot buildings or side
tracks"
Section 10 was amended so that it pro-
vides that the lessees under the act shall re-
ceive the roadbed in its condition at the
time the lease contract is made, Ordinary
and natural wear and tear, up to the COM
pletlon of the present lease, excepted" The
words quoted embrace the amendment made
by the House.
Section IL was amended by the House
with reference to sub-letting by the lessees.
The Senate made no proviso, but the House
qualified the section by inter jecting this
proviso: eff in the opinion of the attorney
general it cannot be done ithout invali-
dating the title of the state"
Section - provided that in the event of
failure to lease the road or in the event of
the forfeiture of the lease at any time, the
governor shall operate the road under the
laws of this state ''of force prior to the lease
act of 1870" The words in quotation marks
were stricken out by the House.
The bill, as it went back from the House.
will come up in the Senate to-day, having
been specially assigned for consideration.
The first two changes in the bill will prob
ably test the temper of the Senate, and il
it concurs an early adjournment will be
reached; otherwise the session may be de-
layed until the close of the week, and Dos
sibly for weeks, Capt. Gordon thinks.