The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-21
AFTER SUB TREASURY
SAVANNAd'S CLAIMS URGED AT
THE CAPITAL.
MYERS, LANE AND WILLIAMS.
HEARD BY WAYS AND MEANS COM
MITTEE.

Savannahinns Also Saw Secretary
Shaw and Received Assurances
From Him That He Would Give
the Matter His Attention and En-
dOrse the Bill If Conditions War
rant It-AlI Three Addressed the
Ways and Means Committee on
Savannah's Importance as Port
and Her Immense Business.
Washington, Feb. 2O.-Savannah's
claim for the establishment of a sub
treasury in that city was forcibly and
impressively presented to the Ways
and Means committee of the House
to-day, and also to the new secretary
of the Treasury. The members of
the Savannah delegation, consisting of
Mayor Myers, Mills B. Lane of the
Savannah Clearing Association, and J.
p. Williams of the Savannah Cotton
Exchange, accompanied by Represen-
ative Lester, appeared before the COM
mittee and had hearing of more than
an hour. There was full attendance
of the committee, and while they made
numerous inquiries concerning the ne
cessity for a sub-treasury at Saw
annah nothing developed to indicate
what the decision will be regarding
Colonel Testers bill. 1t was brought
out during the hearing that the bill
had not yet been referred to a sub
committee, nor has Chairman Payne
called on the Secretary of the Treasury
for a report as is customary in such
matters.
Representative Lester briefly stated
the object of his bill and then intro
duced Mayor Myers. The Mayor dwelt
on Savannah's Importance as a port,
stating that it was the leading city of
Importance between Baltimore and
New Orleans. He called the attention
of the committee to the necessity for
sub-treasury in a city doing business
that amounted annually to one hum
dred and fifty million dollars. At the
close of his remarks Chairman Payne
asked Mayor Myers several questions
tending to show that the government
might derive very little benefit from
a sub-treaSury at Savannah.
President Lane followed Mayor Ny
ers and enumerated the convenience
sub-treasury at Savannah would prove
to the banks. not only in Savannah
but also to those throughout Georgia,
Florida. Alabama and the Carolinas.
this, he said. was because of the great
amount-of- money handled in Savannah,
all of which had to be shipped from
New York To ship money from New
York to Savannah required not only
considerable time, he said, but great
expense in express charges. With a
Sub-treasurv located at Savannah the
money would be there on the spot. He
said in regard to Chairman Payne's
question as to the benefits accruing to
the government, that the government
would also be benefited: besides it is
the policy of the government to con-
slider primarily the advantage and ac-
ocmmodation to the people. Mr.. Lane
the committee in regard to the ship
ping interests of Savannah and the
number of banks in the city.
Mr.. Williams, in a very few words,
summed up what he considered the
reasons why Savannah should have a
sub-treasury He pointed out the va
rious interests that would be accom-
modated, as well as the large number
of people. He emphasized what he
considered to be a very important fact,
that, If the treasury would be To-
Gated in Savannah it would be of SER
Vice to business interests as far as Bir-
mingham on the one side and both
South Carolina and North Carolina on
the other. He said Savannah is TO the
South what Chicago is to the West,
because of her great railroad facili-
ties.
This afternoon the delegation called
on the Secretary of the Treasury and
laid the matter before him. Senator
Clay accompanied the members to the
Treasury Department and introduced
them to Secretary Shaw. Mr.. Lane
acted as the mouthpiece of the delega-
tion and went over briefly the facts in
the case. Secretary Shaw questioned
the delegation closely as to the busi-
ness importance of Savannah and
wanted to know what expense the
government would be put to should II
be decided to establish the proposed
sub-treasury. Mr.. Lane stated that he
felt certain the clerical service asked
for in Representative Testers bill could
be considerably reduced. There would
be no expense for a building as the
government already has two public
buildings there, affording ample room
for the sub-treasury.
Secretary Shaw told the Savannah
gentlemen that he had no patience with
that provincialism which prevents the
development of each and every section
of the country. II will look very care
fully into the matter of establishing a
sub-treasury at Savannah, and IL /
find that it can be done without bur-
dening the government with unneces-
sary expense l shall be glad to indorse
the bill"
Mr. Lane leaves tonight for New
York and will be accompanied, as far
as Baltimore by Mayor Myers.
Mr. Williams expects to be in the
city several days.They expressed them
selves as much encouraged by the in
terest which Secretary Shaw showed
ia the matter. and should the bill Sc
cure favorable report from him, they
believe IL will have considerable weight
with the members OF the Ways and
Means Committee.