The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-26
MAI. RYALS' OYSTERLAW
NO SUPPLEMENTARY BILL YET
INTRODUCED.

The Major Claims That Ample Notice
Was Given about the Introduction
of the Measure-His Talk With Mr..
Desvergers-The Interview With the
Governor Ryels' Proposition.
| ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 25.-The oyster bill
matter is ia no more satisfactory shape now
than it was Saturday. No supplementary
bill has been introduced. A long talk was
had with Maj. Ryals tonight. What be
SAYS about it may be of interest to Savan-
nah. The major himself is far from being
satisfied with the first statements printed.
- MAI. RIVALS STORY.
The following story is told in his own
way: 'In the first place ample notice was
given that such bill would be introduced.
The coast survey was incorporated in the
original bill, a copy of which was at
Thunderbolt for the free inspection Of the
public. Repeated conferences of fFIends
and opponents of the measure were held SC
Savannah. / was invited to attend. but
did not do So told them to go ahead and
agree upon a bill, have 1t drawn up by some
comUetent lawyer and you'd introduce it.
The bill was regularly introduced on
July 10, read a second time ten days later,
aud a third time about ten days later and
it went to the Senate, going through the
same regular channel, and finally passed in
a slightly amended shape. The House con-
CURED in the Senate amendments on Fri
day, Aug. II.
RIVALS TALK WITH DESyERGERs.
ION the Sunday following met Mr.. Des-
vergers at the depot in Savannah coming on
to Atlanta. j left the sleeper, and going
through one Of the passenger coaches found
Mr.. Desvergers. 1 had an hours talk
with him. He said he was
coming away for his health.
/ asked if he was going to stop in Atlanta,
and he said he thought be would. l asked
him if he did so to come up to the capitol,
and he said he probably would. Not the
slightest iutimation did he give me that he
was coming on any business in
any way connected with the oyster bill.
The next day he came to the
capitol and asked for Mr.. Clifton. He and
Mr.. Clifton had several conference3. [
gave him nv seat by Mr.. Clifton as a mat
ter of courtesy. 1t was day or two be-
fore had the first intimation of his mis-
sion here, and then it came through another
source than Mr. Clifton. Mr.. Desvergers
got copy Of the bill and left. Then on
Friday
HE REAPPEARED WITH PETITION
asking the governor not to sign the bill.
Saturday at 10 o'clock | got a message
from the governor. He wanted the friends
and opponents of the bill TO appear before
him together. l went to Mr.. Clifton and
handed him the note then got Mr.. Dun
woody and Mr.. Hartridge and went to the
executive department. l had tried to find
Mr.. Lamb and Mr.. Williams, but the Sell
ate had no session that day, and could not
get them. In the secretary's office. with US
three were Senator Glenn there on another
NATTER and Secretary Tip Harrison.
A few minutes before 10 o'clock Mr.. Cliff
ton came in and told me to tell the governor
he had an engagement and could not be
there. l told him would not deliver any
message to the governor, that he had chape-
roned the thing by himself so far, and he
could keep on chaperoning it.
Then Mr.. Clifton went off. The
governor came in ana asked us into his
private Office. The memorial states, by
way of parenthesls, that the survey was
not in the original bill, but had been put on
in the Senate, that the bill was gotten up
secretly and railroaded through.
INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR. ~
1.-THE governor asked us what we had to
say about the petition. / told him there
were some good names on it, but that he
knew how petitions were gotten up. sigma
lures being obtained after q thorough mis-
representation or misrepresentation of the
facts. He asked what we wanted
him to do with the bill.
told we wanted him to sign it. Mr.. Hart
ridge said then that while the bill was being
discussed IN Savannah, before the legisla
ture met, he thought that the maps of
survey should be made prima facie evil
dence only, and that six mouths occupancy
in addition should be required to make it
conclusive evidence.
MAI. RYALs' PROPOSITION.
"The governor asked If we were willing
to send the bill back to the House. l told
him no, emphatically, that was not. Mr..
Hartridge then suggested the idea Of an
other bill to amend that one, and | said
that if anybody would draw up such bill
would introduce it. That is
the whole of the conversation. We left the
| governors office without Knowing what he
was going to do with the bill. The governor
asked Mr. Dunwoody how he stood, and
| that gentleman said he wanted the bill
signed and would not agree to favor any
amendment. He would consider that when
| it came up"
Mr.. Hartridge and Mr.. Dunwoody were
| shown Mai. Ryals' statement, and both say
| that it is entirely correct. Maj RYals says
! further that nobody has has asked MIN to
introduce q supplementary bill here or in
| Savannah except Mr. Desvergers. That
was last Saturday night. And that" says
| the major, twas not In manner that
| AfA