The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-02
HOT ARGUMENTS IN HOUSE.
MIR. HALL OF BIBB AND MIR. DENNY
OF FLOYD CONSPICUOUS FIGURES.

Halls Ril Requiring RntiFOa0S
10 BE Incorporated Under the
Laws Of Georgia-Gr. Denny Calls
the Man From Bibb DemaGOgue,
But Adjournment Cuts short His
Roast-Other Matters in the LeSis-
Iature.
Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 1.-lMr. Han of Bibb
and Mir. Denny Of Floyd county were the
conspicuous figures in the session OF the
House to-day. And it was a session that
had a good deal of sensationalsm about
il. 1t is very seldom that one distin-
guished member Of the Georgia legislature
calls another distinguished member a
demagcgue but that is what mir. Denny
called the gentleman from Bibb county.
and he emphasized the characterization
in such language as left no doubt that he
meant every word that he uttered.
The energetic language of the member
from Floyd was called forth by the speech
that Mr. Hall had made in support of his
bill requiring all railroads operating in
this state to become corporations under
the Georgia law. This is the bill which
has attracted so much attention from the
railroad lawyers and managers, because
of its alleged intention to embarras5 the
Southern Railway. IT has been referred to
as stab at the vitals of this corpora
ton, and through il and other kindred
measures Mr.. Hail has won the title OF the
anti-railroad leader of the present legisla-
ture.
The bill came before the House as a
special order to-day, and will be taken
up again in the morning by special act
of the House just before adjournment, this
afternoon, and its discussion continued I'M
til IL is disposed OF.
Upon the opening of the debate to-day
Mr. Park of Green offered an amendment
10 the bill relieving all railroad companys
now operating in the state from Its pro-
visions Mr.. Park made an earnest and
effective argument in support of this
amendment during which he declared
that there is no complaint from the peo-
pie against the railroads, but on the con-
trarv. the railroads. have so conducted
themselves that perfect harmony HoW pre-
vailed, and, therefore. there IS no cause
to enact legislation that will create DIS
turbance in these conditions.
Mr. Hall quickly arose upon the reading
Of Mr. Parks amendment, eXclaiming That
its acceptance meant the complete nulli-
fication of his bill, as it was intended TO
reach present conditions.
L
secured the floor and for ten minutes de-
livered himself of a well rounded argu-
ment in favor of the passage OF the
original Hall bill. He took the position
that il would bring the foreign railroad
corpora tions now doing business IN TINS
state directly under the local laws, max
ing Them suabe in the state courts, where
as now they can be reached only IN Ieoerai
courts. This was a hardship 60 the people,
he thought, and if there We're no other
reasons of state policy why all railroad
doing business in Georgia should be Geor-
aia corporations, he argued that thls
would be sufficient cause for the passage
of the bill.
took occasion to say that he wanted the
House to understand that he had no per-
sonal feeling in the matter. II had been
i,,dustriously whispered about, he said
that he was actuated in his attitude to-
ward railroad corporations, by desire to
BE- revenged for personal disappointments.
..When | entered this hall as a repre-
sentative of the people of Georgia, he sad
dramatically IF | ever had any luminosity
toward these Institutions, l left ii out
side that door and ] wish to say further
in REPUTATION of this SANDER that has been
SO unjustly circulated by the agents of
those great trusts, that had / been Will
ing TO sacrifice my honor and my manhod
] might now have been enjoying their pat
ronage."
Mr.. Hall was formerly general counsel
for the Georgia Southern and Florida Rail-
road Company, and his words were IN
reply to the rumors that he is lighting the
railroads on account of the loss of his at
torneyship.
After this effective introduction Mr. Hail.
who is probably the best speaker in the
House and undeniably leader in ali re-
spects, entered upon an imprisoned de-
nunciation of corporations. He quoted
Bob Toombs as saying that either the
people or the corporations must RUE, de-
claring that it had come to pass that the
corporations were now actually in the sad
die in Georgia. If the legislature failed
10 throw them off now, he said they would
soon have the state so firmly in their grasp
that resistance would be useless in the flu
ture. Mr.. Hall repeated what he said
yesterday in reference to the control of the
Southern by one man sitting in New York,
and replying TO a point made by Mr.. Park
of Greene, said that big lawbreakers this
company had no vested rights that the
state was bound to respect. He charged
that the Southern was opposed to bccom-
ing Georgia corporation because if it did
under our law a majority of the direc-
tors of the lines operated i'm this state
would have to be residents of Georgia. He
also argued that the people should have
the right TO have their difference with such
corpora lions adjudicated in the state courts
and not compelled TO so into the federal
courts for remedies. The state. he sad
should hold corporations subject to its
laws. yet how could these laws be enforced
and charters forfeited when their charters
were granted by foreign states?
In the conclusion OF his arraignmeut Mr.
Hall made an impassioned appeal TO the
House 10 stand up for the liberties and
rights of the people and against the greed
OF the corporation monsters.
Mr. Denny of Floyd started out with a
hot roast for the member from Bib.
Looking him straight in the face he de-
clared that he had never before listened
to utterances SO demagogicul
The gentleman" he said, has declared
his sincerity Of purpose in the presenting
of this bill He says he has no malice
in his heart toward corporations. Tn
fortunately might be more willing 10 take
him az his word were this the only blow