The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-19
BERNER ENTERS THE RACE.
Continued from First Page.l


lures hereafter erected shall be exempted
from the burden of taxation. There
seems TO be no pause in their steady pur-
pose to control the policies of the state,
and fatten upon the toll of the people
The issue confronts us and the time mas
come when Georgia should and must set
tie the question: shall the people govern
the corporations and organized capital. or
shall the corporations and organized cap
ital govern the people?'
In common with the suffering masses I
have waited long and in vain for some 9TH
Ell and ADLER man TO defend the constitu-
ton, and to maintain the principal of COM
petition in transportation and equality in
taxation
mo public utterance from any source
rewards the patience of a people who con-
tinue to suffer and to wait.
THE plain purpose of the constitution
Is to make IL unlawful for any corpora
ton to use the power conferred upon it
by the state for the purpose of defeating
or lessening competition, or encoura ging
monopoly, All contracts and agreements
entered into for that purpose are denounc-
ed as Illegal and void. BY that clause
competition became the established policy
of Georgia
''The convention we'll knew the state
was subject to political revolution. 1t APP
preciated the influence of corporate power
and corporate wealth. 1t understood that
If the policy, was left to the will of the
legislature 1t was subject to be changed
or destroyed. BY their wise foresight it
was placed in the constitution beyond the
power and touch of the Legislature The
convention doubtless hoped that thus ex-
allied in its high place it would
command the respect alike of corpora
tons and individuals
THE sequel shows that nothing Is TOO
high to Withstand the usurpations of cor
porate-power, nothing too holy to stay the
hand of Unsuitable greed.
Ihe people of Georgia, by their adop-
tion of that constitution, outlawed monop-
oily and exalted the policy of competition.
By its terms no corporation can make
contract the effect of which is to defeat
competition. 1t can make no contract the
effect of which is to lessen it. 1t is Meth
err TO be defeated nor lessened
by It's terms no corporation can make
a contract the effect of which is to estab
lish monopoly. 1t can make no contract
the effect of which, is even TO discourage
1t. 1t Is neither to be established or en-
couraged
The contract is void If the effect of It
is to defeat or lessen competition or estab.
llsh and encourage monopoly. 1t IL void
II II is intended TO have that effect, but
the constitution intended, and 1t does make
1t unlawful for any one corporation, di-
rectly or Indirectly, to own or control two
or more OF these great lines by any con-
tract or agreement which may have the
erect to defeat or lessen competition or
encourage monopoly.
1t must be apparent that with two or
more great lines from Georgia TO
the East or West competition would make
i Impossible for either line to exact from
the people unfair and unreasonable rates.
IL Is equally clear that IL these lines
are owned and controlled by the same
corporation IL would have power to levy
tribute on the people at it's will.
7 quote again from the learned Judge:
colossal enterprise assured OF handsome
division by Fthe} possession of monopoly
may well rest upon its position, knowing
however the country may suffer from these
exaetions, its own profits are secured.
II Is the rivalry of opposing interest,
the struggle for success. nay, even for
life with dangerous opposition that gives
life, enterprise and success TO railroads.
as to other human undertakings 1t is
the constitution of the state. IL the
policy of the state. When It is violated
II is the duty of the Governor in the ex-
ercise Of the sovereign power of the state
TO institute proceedings to set aside the
contract or agreement that establishes