The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-22
4 FIGHT ON THE RAILROADS.
INVESTIGATION OF THE CONSOLE
DATIONS DEMANDED.

DATIONS DEMANDED.
representative johnson of Hail
lion Requesting The Government
10 Have the Attorney General
Look Into the 1iatter-The Passage
of the Resolution Considered Ex-
tremeIy Doubtful and the Southern
Relieved to Have Kept within the
Law.
Atlanta. Ga, Nov. H.-The FIRST anti
railroad legislation Of the session made
its appearance in the House this morn
ing. II came in the form Of a joint res
olution introduced by Mr.. Johnson of
HAN county and is aimed at the Southern
Railway company. The resolution, which
has been expected and, therefore. did not
create much surprise, calls attention to
the recent report of the state railroad
commission to the governor, in which
that body refers to the tendency of the
railroads to consolidate, and expresses
DOUBT as to the effect of this tendency
lmon the interests of the public The act
of Dec. 10, 1888, prohibiting combinations
or agreements that are calculated 10 les
son or prevent competition is cited in
the resolution, and the general assembly
is asked TO request Gov. Atkinson 10 in
-truct the attorney general 70 proceed in
the name of the state to Investigate the
consultations OF the Southern Railway
Company or any other railroad companies
in the state that appear TO come under
the provisions of the act quoted. If it is
found that the Southern has made pur-
chases. consultations or agreements that
tend 10 lessen or prevent competition, the
attorney general, acting upon authority
of the act of 1893, is to declare
these agreements null and void, or
forfeit the charters of the railroad COM
panies that are amenable. 1t is diff
cult to fOretell the results of the reSolu-
ton. In the first place it is exceedingly
doubtful whether it can be passed through
the assembly and in the next place IL is
claimed that the Southern is not in vio-
latiOn of any OF the provisions OF the law
OF 1893.
The Senate spent almost the entire ses-
sion to-day in discussing the bill intro
duced by Senator Roberts, which pro-
Vides that it shall be illegal for railroad
or other corpora lions to enter into any
agreement with their employees by which
the latter sign away their rights to recover
damages of the corporation in case OF per-
sonal injury while in the service of the
same. The Senate was divided on the bill,
bat in the end IL was passed. The present
law allows railroads and other corpora
tons to make contracts with their en-
plOyes whereby in consideration of the
employment the employee agrees not to
hold the corporation liable for any injury
received while in their employment. Sen
ator Roberts made an extended argument
in favor Of the passage of the bill.
Senator Cummings opposed it. He
thought the parties ought to have a right
to make such contracts as they desired,
and that they should be bound by them.
Senator Brand thought the bill a good
one and that it should pass.
Senator Beers made forcible speech in
opposition TO the bill
Senator Starr also made a speech
against the bill.
President Venable opposed the bill. He
thought it was inimical to the labor in
terests of the country and would cripple
manufacturing and other industries
Senator Boyd made a-strong appeal for
the bill
The House this morning passed the bill
removing the county site of Fannin coun-
~ from Morganton to Blue Ridge, which
has been the occasion for one of the most
interesting local fights of the session,
the removal being strongly opposed by
delegations from the county, while other
delegations came down to favor it before
the committee.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Moore of
Heard county, making drunkenness in
public places a crime, which was lost
yesterday, was reconsidered at this morn
ing session, and is again on the calendar
awaiting its regular turn TO come up be-
fore the House.
The bill providing for a uniform system
or text books for the common schools of
the state has been made the special order
for next Wednesday, the 2Sth
Mr.. ScreVen to-day introduced a bill to
amend section ,92S of the code relating
70 sales Of property under executions Is
suing out Of the city court of Savannah
by providing that these sales be adver-
tised in some paper published in Chatham
county.
Mr. Wilink introduced a bill to amend
the act Incorporating the Title Guarantee
and Loan Company
The railroad committee submitted re-
port to-day recommending that Mr. Hous.
ton be allowed to withdraw his scalper's
bill, and also the bill to compel the rail-
roads to issue mileage books. introduced
tee reported faVorably on Mr.. Branan's
bill to put sleeping cars in the hands of
the railroad commissioners
Hon. Fleming duBignon has named Dec
10 as the time when he will address the
general assembly on the political issues
Of the day