The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-28
FLORIDA NAVAL STORES.
How the Effort to Discriminate
Against Savannah Was Defeated.

How the Effort to Discriminate
Against Savannah Was Defeated.
Ashmore, Fla, May 25-Editor Morning
News: AS matter of special interest
to Savannah and to the naval stores oper-
ators in Florida, vino do business in and
through your city. l wish to give you a
brief account of the compromise happily
arrived at last night by which the obnox-
ious and wholly unjust naval stores in
spection bill was withdrawn from the Flor
ida Senate, and a substitute adopted when
is acceptable to the producers and TO Sa-
vannah and other outside interests.
The original Senate bill provided for COM
pulsory inspection of turpentlne and rosln
at the stills in all cases and where such
was intended for shipment outside of tho
state. In the case of naval stores going
TO Florida ports such inspection was 10 DC
made at the port and not at the stills.
The purpose of said legislation was clear
ly TO embarrass and hamper the producer
who shipped his product to Savnnah,
Brunswick or New York, and to virtually
put double tax of inspection upon him,
and thus force or compel him to ship (ulti-
mately) 90 Florida houses.
There has been a great deal of feeling
aroused by this proposed legislation and
a large delegation of producers and others
directly affected by The bill in Tallahassee
all during the week. The "air" has been
full of turpentine and rosin talk and the
legislature began to realize the serious
ness of such q step. The Importance of
the great naval stores industry for the
first time was brought home to the mem
bers of both branches. Savannah and
Georgia capital was openly attacked on the
floor of the Senate, and the cry was "I.et
us build up our home portsi Down with
outside interests"
A difficult situation was created which
was hard to meet and overcome. In be-
half of myself and other operators inter-
ested wish to put on record our appreci-
alton of and gratitude TO President Frank
Adams of the Senate, and to Senator N.Y.
ers of Tallahassee, for their conservative
views and eminent service at the confer
ence he'd last night of the opposing inter-
ests. at which a compromise bill was
agreed upon as a substitute. and which is
sa tisfactory and fair TO all parties
1t was delicate situation requiring tact
ability and craftsmanship to handle sue
cessfully and Mr. Adams proved fully
equal to the occasion, ably seconded by
Senator Myers. The measure as agreed
upon win pass both Houses without oppo-
sition and the crisis is now happily pass
ed. While the naval stores producers and
Georgia capitalists had many strong
friends in both the Senate and the House,
leadership and influence Of a high order
had to be eXerted in order TO secure the
compromise alluded to- Let credit be Civ
en- where credit is due and let il not be
forgotten by Florida operators in the fu-
ture that when their interest was serious
ly attacked and threatened that Messrs
Adams and Myers came TO the rescue, and
while looking fully 10 their home interest
assisted in preventing unjust and revolu-
tionary legislation which would have
crippled scores of naval stores producers
and endangered 100000 and over of Geor-
gia capital invested in Florida in this
great industry. A Producer in Florida.