The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-24
A SERVICE TO SAVANNAH
Louis F. Garrard Rendered Som
Years Ago.

Editor Morning News: An incident in
the legislative career of the Hon. Louis
F. Garrard during the session of 1873, has
peculiar interest for the people of
Savannah, who are to be addressed
by him upon the issues of the
day, and his candidacy for United
States Senator. In my position, as chair
man of the finance committee of the city
council in 1873, charged with the funding
of the "a ,000, 900 defaulted debt, legisla-
tive sanction being considered necessary
to give binding force to any arrangements
made with creditors for the read iustment
OF the debt, it became my duty to go to
Atlanta and secure the enactment of
statute adequate for the purpose.
The legislature were kindly disposed
toward Savannah and quite willing to ac-
cord her any relief within their power re-
quired to lift her out of her EN- barrass-
ment, the result of extraordinary condi-
tions beyond her control
But the exigencies of the moment espe-
cially demanded immediate relief. How
to get this without seriously interfering
with quite as important measures on other
lines on an over-crowded calendar was
the burning question of the moment, for so
much depended, in the condition of
Savannah's finances, uponsecuring imme-
date relief. Savannah was not alone in
her trouble, for there were several other
cities in the state in the throes of debt
readjustment, and the Hon. Louis &. Gar
rard. member of the House from Mus
cogee. had introduced, and when reached
Atlanta, IN Savannah's interest, was Wig
orously pressing a general bill for the
compromise or other arrangement of de-
faulted debts of cities The leading
features of Mr.. Garrards bill were not
calculated to make successful the peculiar
r n I'D fs,an1
upon by the city and her creditors for the
Encouragement of her debt. Delay meant
dire consequences, and the situation that
confronted meant one of two things, de-
feat or the consent of Mr.. Garrard to al
low his bill to lose its place on the calen-
dar, which was its unmistakable death.
When approached MIR Garrard, whilst
eyidencing the fullest appreciation of the
significance OF accediDg to my request
that bill for the special relief of Savan-
nah be permitted to take precedence upon
the calendar over his bill. as promptly as
! made, Mr. Garrard yielded to, my i'm
portunity, and afterward aided in
| securing unanimous consent of the
House, after reading the journal.
TO It's second and third reading on two
| consecutive days in the face of crowded
calendar, and its immediate transmission
to the Senate after its third reading. The
Importance to the people of Savannah in
the sacrifice of Mr.. Garrard in allowing
his general debt funding bill to be dis
placed by the special Though called gem
erall bill for Savannah relief, lay in the
fact that without immediate and special
| legislative relief at the time sought, there
is the most positive proof that the 3 per
cent. arrangement would have come to
naught, and Savannah been burdened for
a long period with the payment
of 2 per cent. additional interest upon
an increase of at least 100000
more in debt for defaulted coupons that
| speedy legislation secured a settlement of
at 56 per cent. of face valuein cash. For
Mr.. Garrard's sacrifices and services for
! Savannah at time when so much de-
| pended upon what he did so quickly and
so cheeriully to his own disparagement,
Savannah owes him debt of everlasting
gratitude and should miss no opportunity
TO voice this feeling. One delicate and
/ convincing way to impress him with the
high esteem in which he is held for the
noble, generous service he rendered
and sacrifice he made, is TO fill the
theater when he speaks here from
parquette to dome. ID. G. PURSE.
Savannah, Ca, Sept. %, 1894