The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-15
PAY DAY OF RAILROADS.
THE BILL TO MAKE 1T NOT LATER
THAN THE 25TH BEATEN.

in Motion by Advocating the Meas
ure-Mr. Doolen Also Among It's Sup
porters.
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 14.-Mr. Boifeuillet's
railroad bill caused a lively debate in the
House to-day, involving sharp passages be-
tween one Of the leaders Of the House and
one of the youngest members. The bill
provided that railroads be compelled TO pay
their employees not later than the 25th OF
every month under penalty of fine and i'm
prisonment of the officials.
Mr.. Boifeulllet made a strong argument
in favor Of the measure. stating its object
to be one in accordance with the motto of
the constitution of Georgia. isdom,
justice and moderation" The bill,
he said, was for the protec-
tion Of working people, who in recent
years seem to be the last to be considered
in payments. The railroads have been hold
ing back the wages of employees for sixty
and ninety days, while grocerymen refused
to give them credit for food and house
owners threatened to throw them on the
street for failing to pay rent. Mr.. Boz
feuilet said he was opposed to adverse leRis-
lation to the railroads, but when 1t came to
a question between the railroads and the
working people he always intended to stand
for the working people, the men who made
the roads profits aud earned the salaries for
the officers.
Mr.. Fleming Of Richmond objected TO the
measure on the ground that it meant injury
TO the railroad interests.
GLASS LEGISLATION CLAIMED.
Mr.. Render OF Meriwether considered
the bill class legislation because ii was
aimed only at the railroads.
Mr.. Hodges of Bibb made a great speech
| in behalf Of the bill He considered it an
absolute necessity to protect the working
mer. As he proceeded the boyish repre-
| sentative waxed eloquent and made one of
the best speeches heard on the floor. New
York, Ohio and Illinois have such
a law" said Mr. Hodges, land Georgia
should not be backward in protecting the
Drawn and sinew Of her common wealth.
The presidents, receivers, superintsndenEs
and lawyers of railroads never fail 60 draw
| their enormous wages and draw 1t to the
hilt, too. bus the Door engineer who, day
after day and night after night, risks his
life 10 turned of at the end Of the mont
with the remark, mo money in the
treasury" You say he has recourse in
a lien. Yes, but he has TO pay a
lawyer $l5 or 800 to enter proceedings,
loses his job and is blacklisted by all the
railroads Of the state so that he cannot get
another job. say the man who brings the
fruit from the vineyard is first and best en-
titled to a stipend to support himRelf and
bis family. IL there is TO be any waiting
for pay let the officers and not the poor em-
ployes wait"
VICIOUS IN THE EXTREME.
Judge Hall got the floor and denounced
the bill as vicious in the extreme, p" because
it undertakes to control by legislation mat
fora Of IL b. -
ceiver the employees of a railroad could
get their wages by order of a court, and if
not In the hands of a receiver by lien on
the property Of the company. He was au-
thorized to give S25 in gold TO the gentle
man from Bib, or anybody else, who could
spot railroad in Georgia which paid divi-
dends on watered or any other kind Of
stock that did not pay its employees their
wages.
AF. Allen, chairman of the railroad COM
mittee, was allowed twenty minutes to close
the debate. He made a fifteen minutes'
defense OF the bill and gave Mr.. Hodges the
other five. Mr., Hodges remarked that he
did not expect Judge Hall TO vote for the
bill.
Judge Hall-Does the gentleman mean TO
insinuate that l belong to a railroad lobby 2
mot at ALL" replied Mr.. Hodges, 'but
inasmuch as you stated that you were
authorized to offer a reward of $25 In gold
in the interest of railroads, it struck me
that you had special interest to at least
that extent That was the reason for my
remark, and / think justifles it. l do not
mean, however, to reflect upon the integrity
Of the gentleman from Spaldiug..
. Judge HALL do feel authorized to give
s25 in gold if anybody will spot a railroad
In Georgia which pays a dividend on any
kind Of stock. watered or unwatered, what
ever, and don't pay employees their wages.
go further; III pay it cut Of my own
pocket
WELL" replied MIR. Hodges, "I want
railroad officers TO recompense the employees
before watering their own pockets"
DooLAN DEMANDS THE YEAS AND sAYE
Mr.. Doolsn Of Chatham ehampionsd the
measure and demanded the yeas and nays
IN order 20 put everybody on record.
Mr.. Henry of Reagan offered an amends
mont TO include all corporations and indi-
vlduals as well az railroads in the provisions
Of the bill This was for the purpose Of
killing the measure and Mr.. Doolan again
called for the yeas aud nays on the amend
ment 1t proved test vote. The amend
ment was adopted by rs TO "a. Mr.
, ment and Mr.. Guerard for it. MIR.
Osborne was attending some business In the
Senate at the time the vote was being taken.
The bill as amended was then voted down
, by los to %. Mr.. Doolan voted nay, with
an explanation that "as the amendment
Wos bdckeo on IOr bn6 purpose OF making
the bill imperative, and as he favored the
bill he could not possibly reconcile himself
to support it in the amended form"
There was a lively debate in the House
. tonight over the bill to appoint an agent to
look after the states property in the Vest
ern and Atlantic roads right Of way in
3 Chattanooga IL lie claimed that $40 900, 900
worth of Georgia property has been
absorbed without warrant by the peo-
pie of Chattanooga.
/ Mr.. Hill Of Meriwether championed the
bill and was opposed by Mr.. Rankin of Cor
8 don and Gwinnett, who saw a scheme to
| create another expensive state officer. Mr..
: Rankin began fighting the measure and in
. terposing all sorts Of objections until he
wasted over an hours time. The result was
= q stampede on account Of Mr.. Rankin's po-
sition and the bill passed.