The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-13
The Olive Bill.

There is TO be no further discussion Of the
Olive bill in the House. That is one thing
in connection with the legislature to De
thankful for. A vote is to Be taken upon
the bill next wednesday, and there is no
doubt tina: it will be defeated. 1t would be
a source Of sa,isfac ion if 1t were certain
that neither 1t nor any other bill having the
same object in view would ever be heard Of
again.
The bill has taken up great deal OF the
time Of the legislature. and therefore has
been the means Of prolonging the session
and greatly increasing the cost Of that
body. II legislation Of the kind which It
proposes, however, should receive its death
blow through it. there would be no occasion
for regrettiHg the increase it has caused l.
the expenses Of the legislature.
The Olive bill is condemned by the mos.
progressive men Of Georgia-mea who
make her best interests study, and who
are doing all they can to promote them. In
fact, it is condemned by all Of those who,
without any bias whatever, have given 1t
careful consideration. Il is not too much
10 say that it has given railroad building
in Georgia a setback from which it will
not speedily recover. 1t has made capital
lists hesitate 70 invest their money in rail
road enterprises within her limits, because
they were afraid that it might become
law and greatly lessen the value Of their
Investments.
II this bill should become law, of which
there is no possibility. the progress Of the
state would receive very noticeable check.
There would be suspicion where there is
now confdence-suspicion that there would
be other legislation still more hostile to
capital. The farmers who are now clamor-
ing for railroads because thsy find it 50
difioaltto reach the markets would net get
them. Their lands would not increase in
value, and there would be no improvement
in their sections. The state would cease, in
great measure. to feel the influence of the
forces which are developing her resources
and making her rish and populous.
1t is right to place such restrictions upon
railroads as will prevent them from making
unjust determinations, from charging ex-
orbitant rates, and to remedy other things
hbJUoAs fhl1 Cup 5gdto has piO
vided railroad commission, with which
the people have no fault to find, to do that,
but IDS not right to pass laws that will
check railroad building and will tend
to weaken those already built.
The advocates of the Olive bin know very
well that the railroads are the great devel-
opers Of the state, and that without them it
would be impossible for the state to make
any progress whatever. 1t is difficult, there
fore, to understand why they insist upon
legislation so hostile to them. The traffic
rates are steadily declining. Dr. FELTON,, in
his speech on the Olive bill, called attention
to the great difference between the cost Of
getting bale Of cotton to market now and
the cost few years ago. What is true Of
cotton is true of all other articles. Mr..
Edward Atkinson published some figures
recently, showing the wonderful decrease
within ten or twelve years in the cost of
transporting a barrel Of flour from Chicago
10 New York.
Railroads should be dealt with justly and
fairly. To deal with the n otherwise is to
lessen their usefulness and make them e1e.
mics Of the people.