The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-10
RAILROADS on The RACK.
Gen. Bullock and St. Clair Abrams
Attack the Corporations.

/ Railroads Charged With Defeating
the Commission Bill Before the Last
/ Legislature by Bribsry-Abrarns At
tacks Messrs. FlaRlsr and Plant.
The FinenciEring Of the Railroad
Magnates Denounced.
Ocala, Fla, June 9.-Gen. Bullock and
St. Clair Abrams were the reform orators
to-day. Jacksonyille's contingent, EIessrs.
Bars, Cockerell, and Fletcher, did not
/ appear owing TO the fact that they were
not officially notified that their presence
was desired. They wanted something
more definite than newspaper announce
ment 10 present themselves. While many
desired TO see and hear them, Gen. Bull
locks remarks and Mr.. Abrams red-hot
speech filed the bill and delighted
| courthouse full Of people,
F. E. Harris, editor Of the Ocala Ban
ner, called the meeting to order and said
there was a misapprohensio about the
meeting and some Of the speakers, and
Gen Bullock would explain. The expla-
nation consisted in stating how he be-
came one Of those who net in jackson
vile and attached his pame TO q document
which has caused a tremendous howl
from corporations and their hirelings.
and those democrats who were quietly
working with them for what was in it.
He said he recognized the TACT in that
| address of democratic pledges broken,
which the rank and file
of the party demanded should be kept.
He denied that the reformers met to ear
eel out the Offices; il was not thought of
or mentioned. He denounced the news
papers which so unjustly criticised their
actions and the motives attributed TO
| those who, in all sincerity, were speak
ing for the best interests of the producers.
The general made a frst-class railroad
commission talk, in which he said he
wanted fair and impartial one; one
that would DO justice to all parties con
! cerned.
MAJ. ABRAMS INTRODUCED.
Then he introduced Mai Abrams, who
he said, was Just bristling with facts and
figures which he had secured by coming
in contact with railroad officials and as
these corporate cormOrants had stigma
| tlsed him as rascal, he facetiOusly re
marked. the raseais having fallen out,
the major would now tell the truth
A synopsis cannot do justice to
the incisiye, powerful and brilliant
speech of the fearless orator OF Lake
county. He had no apology or explanation
70 make for his connection with the
reform movement. He knew what was
confronting the people and he would
speak his convictions. 1t was for the
people TO say whether they or the monop-
Olies should rule. II was not difficult to
see why certain lawyers and editors
spoke for corporation and hurled their
editorial philipics al the people. 1t
was the dangling checks of railroads
before them that made them so active for
them. He spoke of his twenty years in
Florida. how he found its affairs of state
and finance, and what helped them
out of their trOubles-the sales
of lands to the Disstons. It was
then he urged upon Gov. Bloxam TO
bond the lands Of the state for the build
ing for 5000 or 1900 miles Of railroad and
lease them TO parties to operate, His ad-
vice was not needed. Had il been the
present state of affairs would not now
exist. As it was, the railroads got the
lands and the people with them.
CHARGE OF BRIBERY.
He created a sensation by saying that
certain democrats were pledged to vote
for the railroad commission bill in the
las: legislature that one was full Of en-
thusiasn for it, had said so 10 MIN. had
written speech, part OF which ne read
10 him, but when it came 10
vote, he voted no" That
man was Mai. Marks. Of Orange
county. He could only surmise
+ what caused a change of heart Rail
road lobbyists swaFmed over Tallahas-
/ see. Certain senators were seen with
/ these henchmen Of the railroads, and on
/ yario IS occasions were seen going toward
/ Dubois famous wine vaults He also
- % . H. a.
! senator from VolUsia county, but did not
know how ne was converted. He said if
he Abrams had NccE- converted in q
hours from q strong railroad commission
man to an anti. he knew an enlarged bank
account would be his. He asked the sig
nlhcant que ton Why so many senators
pledged Tor "a commission after coming in
contact with the lobby changed their
minds. He told who II. 3. Plant was in
1870. republican. He then referred %
Gen. Bullock and himself stumping the
state and assisting, in redeeming il for
democracy. But the corporate tribe said
he and Ger. BUllo * were trying
10 disrupt the Democratic party. He
( (Abrams) aad others were only striving
10 point out its dangers and to avert them
He told how MIR. Plants railroad was
originally bonded for S12, 600 q mile. now
IT has been increased to $35, 600 a mile
/ VINO paid the interest or these fixed
charges! Il was wrung from the people.
THE 2. c. AND P.
He also referred TO the Florida Central
and Peninsular and the increase of their
bonded debt while having nearly S4O0. 900
in the treasury BY their showing it was
doing prosperous business. Then why
did they need this surplus cash? The
same could be said OF the Jacksonville.
Tampa and Key West railroad. II he
: (Abramsl was a rascal he leafned it from
those who abused him He spoke OF his
experience in building railroads, and
knew what they cost He said he could
more than replace the Florida Central
and Peninsular and better its conditions
in equipment ana accom- odatious al $40
600 mile and Go il az a clear profit of
/ from s.l,5O1 10 s., Oc0 4 mile The rail
road prope- Is in the state. 1900 miles.
{ cost about $4,000. O0o. 1t was bonded for
4 $50 ,0OO,G0O and had Ss}S, OO0, 600 in stock.
/ They were capitalized at SgS, 600. OO0. 1t
was not difficult 10 see the cause of uu-
/ reasonable railroad charges with such
/ watering Of stock.
/ de sgoEe OF the presence Of the chair
man OF the deDuctatic executive commit
tee and others of that body in Tallahas-
see. Why were they there Il was not
10 urge legislators 10 be true TO their
pledges 10 tie people for commission
There was only one alternltive-either
the people OF the state must rule the cor