The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-19
DEPOT BILLS DEFEAT
fiLlnt STisWs DEFEND THEIR
ACTION.
WAS IN INTEREST OF STATE.
C0MUTTEu on FIVE ISSUES IT'S
STATEMENT.

D
! Violated Well settled Policy oT
state Not 80 Engage in Own~rship
of Propcrts Those Interested ia
mu Charged With heeplnE Mo-
dives of IT, Opponents From tho
pnbIie
Atlanta Dec ik Tho committee OF
I five appointed by the tHlr's-ad members
OF thc Gcoreh Hons, ~ Renrs rsseutatives
I ta prcparr q defeus, of h. albusterlnE
/ Tactics whloh inoy ludulgei u 70 decent
/ tHe depo, b.u have been DO session in A.
lauta fnr t1o rast two dava ana to-day
/ finished i.a work
! The committee @ composed OF , H.
liau Of BInb o. W Hlrdvi.k 81 wash
/ iustou. Foudfen Mitchell az Thomas. r.
| ". Copeland of Walker iuI w. A.
/ Thomson Of poon VINO were most prom
ineut in tno parliamentary blttlr that
I blocked Legislation De- ihc House f1r fully
/ week 81 the last secession. Ths com
I m.iiee held anal mr,tlus to-day. aud
gave olt the following signed statemeut
To- the press
! Atlanta. Ca. pec is igo-ro tho
/ People 81 Oeoreis A. the present session
of tho leuslaturc there was Introduced a
/ nni which had Tor lts purpose the COM
/ sfrurfian hy the state of a passenger de-
/ pot ou property owned by n in tho city
| % Atlanta This property was a part o.
tne state road whieh Was ten years agB
leased io The Nashville Chntianoors AMI
s. Louis Railroad Company FOR a term
IT thirty ycars The bul did not propose
to erect depot for the use OF the states
railroad aa if was conceded that the
present passenger depot ln Atanta vas
sufficient for ai purposes 81 that road.
The biii wncu eedarpropfia.ed
the sum Si31.1io nov in tae state treas-
/ ury arising from the sale Of uronerty
owned rs the state 90 provided that tho
| state wac Co receive q ntf cont uuan the
amount actually invested hy the state as
! rental for tMs ieuui THE first question
that presented itself 20 the members u
the legislature. VAS tha riRht of thss
body, ac. nE uudeg the constitution. 20
appropriate this money for this purpose.
90 any other thlu thc ua1ancnt 81 sho
BONDED dcpt of the state Let IL b.
clearly understood. a. uaH said above
ihat The money proposed 90 De- used arose
entirely from the sale u the property ~
tho state
section !. paragraph ]. of tho consti-
tuition declares that the proceeds of ghs
sale 81 any property owned hy the state.
shall De- applied 10 the payment of co..
bonded dehi nud Ehnll not be ueesi fQs
auy other purpose whntecvr. 20 long as
the state has any bonded debts. The State
nov has an outatand NIX bonded debt of
nearly 100000
'-The advocates Of this mc1surc reeog-
nilc that under the above provision of
the constitution. thls moffey could not b.
directly appropriated 20 carry out this
scheme and in order 90 evade che consti-
tr.i0ral provision. they rpaarted 20 a sl.e-
cies % legislative legscrdem,dn 10 seeesn-
pfish Indirectly that which they Here for
hidden 80 do directly. This scheme was
DO APPLY this fund 90 the interest of the
bonded debts. which they claimed was
par ~ The debt. sud tnaf therefore, thia
money could b. 10 applied and the mouey
now iu the treasury and now heimg coli
lected for the paymeus ~ interest upoh
iho public debit. could De- used 20 build
the depot Even n the means could have
been provided 10 have carried into efcct
thls gcheme within the limits of che con-
| flitusion we dii not believe that the best
interests of the people 81 this state. iur-
! tiNed this legislation. q violated the wen
| settled public policy of the state thar
had been established since the people re-
| gained control of their government after
tire reconstructi1u period
| Experience during that period nal
/ demonstrated that the states 0wuerahip
/ of property or the state engaging in any
private enterprise was disastrous. and this
| policy - taking the state out ~ ihe own
I ership OF property. other than that re-
quircd for the support Of the government.
/ has been since that period steadily pur-
I sued The history of the state owner
Z ship Of this same railroad property DEM
onstrated the truth ~ the above prorosi-
! ton THE lessee bound itself % Huaka oh
| improvements on the road. and a. the ent
I 81 the lease che road WAS 20 b. returned
I 20 the state without charge bV the ies-
I sees for those improvements. This lessee
/ company has failed 90 keep the passenger
I deuoi fn Atlanta in the condition required
I by Sc lease This biil, u passed. would
| have relieved them from tais obligation.
/ that they are now under. y would hav0
/ Injured directly 20 the ncneat Of the Na-h-
] Vile. chattnnooga and g. Louis Railroad
/ Company. the icsseoa of the state road.
/ and Indirectly 10 an other railroads eu-
| tering Atlanta. in furnishing thom the
/ rnuch-desired terminal facilities in that
/ city at practically 30 cost
This large investment - the state On
/ lts pronerty situated In the heart of At
I lauia would also have beneaied some few
individuals who own valuable property In
l tho Immediate vicinity ~ the depot ny in-
I crensiug the value of their property
! s'For these reasons a large number or
/ tho members ~ the House of henrfHen'a-
/ fives thought i' their dufy ss representa-
| lives of the people ~ this state 20 "f'fo@c
/ ara defeat this legislation. which they
/ though. dangerous 90 the best Interests
| ~ the people from any polnb N YiH~.
/ MANY of ~ felt fully Justified az your
/ vepreaenfatiVea in rcaorting % any iegiii-
/ natc means placed within our power by
/ fhr constitution 81 this state or rules of
2 sfesfas. q defeat &c.
I 1--WE have prepared this statement ~
reference go this legislation N order that
Z Inc raapie may aee the reasons thar com
\ troilrA 81. and the motives ihmt aciuafed
j. in pursuing the course tnot We dia.
sra as it seems 10 b. he purpose of those
I lrtrresfe.i "a the passage of thJs hlll. that
I fhe reasons which controlled the oppo-
rsnta o. q should nOt be given 20 the
paf3llc. many 81 those members of tha
I House of Representative who were op-
POSED 10 n requested the undersigned q
prepare. an1 glve 70 the public this statf-
mens Acting Tor ourselves and Tor them.
I We submit the obove and f0rekoi1g atate-
mant to the cool and sober Judgment az
an Impartial pubic. Confident that when
the facts are fully understood oar coufee
/ will be indorsed and commended.
j n. Hall Of B41o
T. " Hnriwick Of waahlngton.
Fondercn Mitchell of Thomas.
F w Copeland OF Walker.