The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-09


Your further attention is asked 10 this addi-
tional communication from the Railroad com
! mission rszI
7sArLANrA. June /. IS6l,.
HIS ErceHency ~. T.qNortheR, G t,srt,or. 49,
SIR-In pursuafce Of an act Of the general
assembly of Georgia entitled An act TO en-
large the powers of tie railroad Commission
of Georgia, TO prescribe for them addition al
10, <ls90, the commission Investigated
the through freight rates in force from points
in Georgia TO points out of Georgia and from
points out of Geoi gia to points III Georgia, on
the lines of the Western ana Atlantic Railroad
Company, the Central Railroad Company the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad
Company. and the Savannah, Americus and
Montgomery Railroad Company. In the opin-
ion of the commission these rates are discrimi
mating in their nature.
The commission called the attention OF the
officials Of said roads 10 the fact. and urged
upon them the proprlety OF changing such
rates. They, however, have declined to make
the changes suggested by the commission
The commission mas therefore determined to
present the facts to the interstate commerce
commission amt appeal to it for relief as pro-
vided IN the act referred TO.
The act further provides that the commission,
in all work devolving on it in this connection,
shall receive on application. the services Of the
attorney general of the state In the absence
OF the attorney general we deem it proper to
report these facts 10 you, and to state that We
are prepared to furnish the data and facts
necessary for institutinR said proceeding TO
whomsoever you may designate 10 represent
the attorney general in this matte. Yours re-
spectfully, L. n TBAMMELI,
Chairman Railroad Commission
To this communication replied that the con
tinued illness of the attorney general made it
impossible for that officer to render the neces-
sary aid before the courts, and that had Teen
compelled to employ the services competent
attorney to discharge the duties Of that office
at very heavy expense to the state; and as
the contingent fund provided by the last ses-
GT Of TInA n
nearly exhausted, would refer the matter of
this communication to you for consideration
and action
such action as will at once enable the commits
sion to enforce the provisions Of the act, to
which the commission has called attention.
THE VOLUNTEER FORCES.
1t is my pleasure to commend most heartily
the action of the general assembly in maintain
ing the military organization of the
state. Such an organization as the state is
now encouraging and aiding, is just as essential
to the well being and peace and good order of
our people as any branch of the civil govern
ment. Under the most favorable conditions of
society, here are always unruly and disturbing
elements that must be constantly kept under
menace and control. The peculiar conditions
that confront the people OF this state make
well organized, thoroughly drilled military
force absolutely necessary for the preservation
of peace and the protection of life and prop
eRty.
best citizens competent military men who are
willing to serve as members of a board advisory
To the governor, entirely without compensation
or reward This is an evidence Of patriotic de-
votion, under heavy personal sacrifice, that the
general assembly cannot but highly commend
Under some Irregularities, in the hurry of leg
islation during your previous session, the mill
tary advisory board determined that they we're
not authorized to establish a permanent en-
campmont for the instruction of the volunteer
forces OF the state. In obedience to an act ap-
proved Nov II, 1889, the board continued
the annual encampment therein provided for.
Under the laws governing the report of the
| federal officers in command OF the camp, am
not allowed to submit for your consideration
any part of the official statement to be made TO
| the general government. am permitted, how
ever, from personal conference with these
officers, to say that in all particulars, they put
| the volunteer forces of this state fully abreast
| of any on the continent, as far as their knowl-
edge Of official connection has gone In many
particulars they ranked the military organiza-
| tions of this state far ahead OF any
and all others. 1t gives me special
these officers upon the personal character and
| social standing of the men who make the vol
| unteer forces of this state. In this we will be
| specially commended TO the general govern
| ment. The soldierly bearing of the states
| troops will be commended as eminently above
| the average and equal to the foremost, among
the states. The diligence application and apt
ness in the school of the soldier will he specially
| and heartily approved by ths,ofisers in charge.
| The good order and subordination, under the
severe tests put upon the men, will make a
| marked feature of the report TO be submitted
Whilst the encampment, demanding, as il
| does absence from home, neglect of business
| and heavy personal sacrifice on the part OF the
volunteer troops, is supported by the state. the
| amount received by the men does not at all
| compensate for the personal Inconvenience
they suffer, and is in no way commensurate
| with the protection to life and property they
| furnish. The military is as much a necessity
| for the DFPSpFVatiOD nf order and the pafu an
| ance of law as the civil branch OF
| the government. The state cannot
afford to demand absolutely volunteer
| service from the one any more than
| from the other. No class or number of our citi
| Zens should be expected OF required to prepare
| themselves, solely at their personal expense, to
| defend the lives and property OF any other class
or number of citizens. II the state supports the
courts to prosecute the voators of law, the state
| IS equally bound to support the military that
| prevents the riotous uprising of tie rabble and
Subdues the violence of the naddened mob
Under an act of the general assembly, ap'
| proved Dec. 2S, 1890 the volunteer forces of the
| state were ordered into camp. The First, Sec
| ond and Ninth regiments and the Seventh and
Third battallons have each spent one week in
| camp
The First and Fourth battalions of infantry
| and the First battalion of cavalry and the At
| lanta Artillery were also ordered into
camp, but before the time indicated in
| the order arrived, the appropriation
| made by the general assembly for the
transportation ana maintenance or the troops
was exhausted, and the encampment was sus-
pended until further action by the general as
| sembly. The states money cannot be better
expended than in guarding the property and the
| lives of it's citizens.
THE PENITENTIARY AND PENAL LAWS.
The penitentiary system of this state has been
| the subject OF much discussion and some crit
| icism and condemnation ever since its organ
| iZation. 1t is worthy OF note that no practical
| suggestions have material I'D into better sys-
| tenn as a result of the Investigation and debate
| The contract between the state and the lessees
| was proposed and dictated by the state. The
| lessees accepted the contract as Formulated by
| the state. If the system is not in harmol.- with
| good government, the state alone is responsible,
and the lessees are in no way to blame, excep
\ in its abuse.
respectfully submit that when the contract
entered into by the state was accepted by the
| lessees, the right to condemn tine system as
such passed beyond the power or the right of
| the state.
| Not only is this true, but the policy if iusti.
| ned, has a more hurtful effect upon the con-
| victs themselves.
1t produces degree of unrest and a spirit of
| rebellion not easily controlled by the superin-
| tendents of the camps
The penltentiary is place Of punishment for
criminals. IL ls intended to BE- and ought to be
so severe in its penalties as to deter men from
| crime, under the dread of its punishment. 1t is
| the duty of the state, therefore, to give all
! possible help to the leSsees in enforcing the
\ laws of the state for the prevention of crime
and the protection of society.
In doing this, it is the duty Of the general as
sembly to guard, in every sense, the states in
| terests, under the contract in enforcing the
proper penalties of the law ard demanding the
humane tr .atment of its convicts, and to pro
tect, on the other hand the interests of the les