The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-01
TIE CITIZENS, CLUE.
A Meeting Held at Turner's Hall Last
Night.

/ A meeting Of the Citizens Club was
I held at Turner's Hall last night. None
/ but members Of the club were allowed 10
! be present at its deliberations.
The principal matter that held the at
/ tention Of the club was a resolution in
oOrsing the principles of the Railway
/ Employees Protective Associat ton. which
I was passed by an almost unanimous vote.
Speeches were made upon the resolution
| by DR.. L. A Falligant, Messrs. T. D.
I Rockwell, r. D. Guerard, and others.
The objects Of this association, which
was organized last November, and which
| were Endorsed by the Citizens Club, were
stated IN a circular which was issued a {
| that time. Those interested in the for
nation Of the association held that their
I interests were identical with those Of
their employers, and that the withholding
from railroads their rights under the
constitution, has rendered uncertain and
precarlous the occupation of thousands Of
mechanics, clerks and laborers in the
state. The invitation 10 Join the assOcia-
ton was extended to every employee of a
railroad in the state. They stated il
as their belief that railroads should
be encouraged to extend their lines and
multiply their facilities that the need Of
this section is better and more frequent
service rather than reduced rates Of
transportation; that the rates now al
lowed railroads are so low that they are
unable TO realize fair profit on their in
vestment, and are consequently compelled
to operate with reduced forces on short
| hours with lower scales of wages. and
that the result Of the arbitrary methods
of the commission has thrown many
Georgia railroads into the hands of re
ceivers.
They stated that investigation would
zhnE hot \ Il.
with one exception, is now or has been in
the hands of receiver, that the rail
roads are not enemies 70 the people, but
their friend, and that unless the rail
road commissioners permit railroads to
earn more than just enough to operate
them the demand for labor will diminish
and the compensation Of railroad
employees be reduced in amount and
their positions rendered uncertain
They state that it is belief
that railroad have rights equal to those
OF other corporations and IL is wrong TO
permit the enactment of laws to deprive
them of that to which they are honestly
entitled. They intimate that the rail-
roads are in the hands of a commission
composed Of politicians, who, by the
adoption Of unjust rules, cater to the
wishes of those who have the power to
confer offices regardless of the effect
upon thousands of people whose interests
are almost identical with those of the
railroads, They propose to appeal to
legislative bodies in behalf Of the
railroads and against adverse legislation.
and for the enactment of laws which will
put the railroads on a solid basis and in a
position where the railroads can do more
for their employees.
The main object of the association,
which was Endorsed by the Citizens
Club, is the opposition to any adverse
legislation to the railroad interests of the
state. The resolution it is said, also pro-
vided that the legislative candidates put
out by the club should be instructed to
oppose any legislation which is adverse
to such railroad interests, on the ground
that the interests of the railroads and
their employees are mutual.
Several speeches were also made urp-
ing all the members of the club to regis
ter