The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-09
BACoN's RAILROAD BILLS.
Railroad Men Speak Against Them
Before the Senate Committaa


Before the Senate Committee.
ATLANTA, Ca, Dec. s.-The Senate rail-
! road committee met again tonight to hear
arguments on the Bacon railroad bills. The
session vas held in the Senate chamber to
| accommodate q large party OF railroad
men from various parts OF the country
who came to Atlanta to oppose the bills,
and others interested in the proposed legis.
lstion.
As a result Of the opposition 10 the bills
presented 70 the Senate committee it is very
probable that Maj. Bacon's bill will not
reach the Senate this session. In his ad-
dress tonight he himself suggested that
because OF the gravity Of the railroad sItus-
ton In the state and the importance
OF the proposed legislation 1t might
be we'll for the committe 10 pass
over the bills until more thor
odgh investigation had been given the sub
Ject. Mr.. Bacon also stated that be was
perfectly willing to have his measures
amended IN any way so that the main issue
involved should remain. which is to prevent
the operation in Georgia of another monop-
oily like the Richmond Terminal.
PROMINENT RAILROAD MEN PRESENT.
The prominent railroad men present at
to-nlght's sitting of the committee were; w.
r clyde, president of the CLYDE Steamship
Company; NJ. H. Smith, president OF the
Louisville and Nashville railroad; e. h.
Phinizy, president of the Georgia railroad;
Maj. J. w. Thomas, president OF the Louis
Vile, Nashville and Chattanooga; Henry
Fink, receiver of the East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad,
A. B. Andrews. vice president OF the
Richmond aud Danville, and Mr.. Walters
of the Atlantic Coast Line; T. g. duBignon,
attorney for the Plant system; Reuben Fors-
ter, receiver Of the Richmond and Danville;
Hugh l.. Bond, counsel for the receivers OF
the Richmond and panville; John w.
Green general manager of the
Georgia railroad; T. p. Branch of Augusta;
J. b. Cumming of Augusta, p. W. Mel
drim of Savannah, Joseph E. Brown, Jr.,
general traffic manager Of the Western and
Atlantic; Col E. B. Stahlman, commits
sioner of the Southern Steamship and Rail-
way Association; B. w. Wrenn, general
passenger agent OF the East Tennessee. Vir-
GINA and Georgia, and other railroad men
and railroad attorneys.
DU BIGNoN OPENS THE SPEAKING.
When the meeting opened Mr.. duBignon
addressed the committee IN opposition to
the bills, reading a letter from President
Plant of the Plant system, also protesting
against such legislation at this time.
William P. Clyde followed next, discus
sing at length the condition Of the railroad
interests of the state, claiming that the de-
MOBILIZATION was due to the efforts to do
business on lower rates of traffic than
eastern lines which handle twelve times the
amount of business per acre and defending
the Terminal company. He said the Ter
minal had left $40 O0O, 900 in the south and
he was not sure but that another Terminal
experience would be welcomed. Mr.. Clyde
believed that legislation such as Is proposed
by the Bacon bills would result In worse
decentralization, absolutely precluding the
possibility Of securing capital TO reorganize
the bankrupt roads.
MR.. MELDRIM's SPEECH.
Mr.. Meldrim OF Savannah, as representa-
tive Of Receiver Conner, who is on his way
to oppose the proposed legislation, entered a
vigorous protest in behalf OF the minority
stockholders OF the Central, which road was
the principal illustration in the argument
on both sides.
Maj. Bacon replied to these arguments,
reiterating his former arguments in support
of his bill, but disclaiming any desire to
push them through this session, as he had
been told that the Senate would probably
prefer 60 let them 60 over to the next ses-
sion because of lack of time Just now to
deal as carefully with the question as the
gravity Of the situation demanded. A secret
meeting of the committee will probably be
held to m orrow to agree upon the present
disposition of the bills