The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-22
MORRIS REPLIES
To WV. OSBORNE
CONDITIONS IN SAVANNAH
AS THE FORMER SPEAKER SAYS
HE SEES THEM.

cal CorruptiOn-MOrris Says Us-
borne Turns States Evidence.
Atlanta. Ga. Dec. 21.-Former
Speaker Newt A. Morris of the House
of Representative gave out this aft
eInoon an open letter In reply to the
recent statement of Solicitor General
w. w. Osborne, published in last
Sundays Morning News.
Mr.. Morris replies especially to that
portion of Mr. Osborne's letter dealing
with the last speakership fight 1t is
a warm document addressed directly
to Mr.. Osborne, and the writer does
rot hesitate to call names.
Mr.. Morris declares Mr. Osbornes
the last House who voted for him.
Mr.. Morris declares the House never
reversed him in but one decision, and
in that instance Mr.. Osborne himself
stated the House was wrong.
Anti-COrpOratiOR Measures.
Mr.. Morris then continues: This
same House that elected me speaker
by SO majority, in spite of the fact
that you led the opposition against
me, passed the franchise tax bill, the
bill to make the Southern Railroad
incorporate under the laws of Geor-
gia, the bill prohibiting the Supreme
and Superior Court judges from riding
on free passes, bill creating board
nf n IN ton,
property for taxes. Now, if the cor
porations, through their mercenaries,
could whip members of the House into
line against the will of the people to
vote for me for speaker, why it was
time to whip them into line to de-
feat these measures that they were so
bitterly opposed to. I supported every
one of these measures with all the
vim and energy could command
Attorney for Railways.
Further on Mr.. Morris says: "And
still the men who played such
prominent part in the passage of the
bills that are of vast Importance to the
great masses of people of the state are
tions, corporations mercenaries, lobby
lists and ring politicians. The answer
is plain: You are now, and have been
for a number Of years, attorney for
the street railway of Savannah and
the Southern Railway Company. You
asked about as many favors of the
Legislature for the past seven years
as any man that / can recall. You
have fought all along the line from
local bills to earnest mercenary work
against the franchise tax bill, and you
haven't confined your mercenary work
to the General Assembly of Georgia
alone. Only a short time ago you ex-
tended it to Washington, D. c., and
lobbied bill through Congress for the
Seaboard Air Line Railway Company
to authorize them to erect railroad
bridge across the Savannah river at
Savannah, which would have cut off
the boats of the Central Railway and
the steamship company from its
wharves.
A Fee of 5000.
My information is that you got a
$1,000 fee for this mercenary work, and
the bill was so unjust that the Secre-
tary of War would not approve of the
construction Of the bridge, and now.
Little Billy you have turned states
evidence on your brother mercenaries.
There never was anybody who had re-
spect for a man that would turn
states evidence except a solicitor gen.
eral.
You were member of the House
for four years. Take the record and
show us what you did against rail-
roads and lobbying. What did you do
for the children you now write about
or for prohibition? And you talk about
ring politics? You are at the head of
the dirtiest political ring to-day in
Georgia, and it is through this ma
chine that two big railroad attorneys
from your company will be in our next
House.
To Corrupt Politics.
You have done as much, n not
more, to corrupt democratic politics
i'm this state than any man In Il Of
your age. But since you have turned
states evidence, 1t is to be hoped that
you will dischs rye your duty as solic-
itor general and make more effort to
punish the managers OF the last state
election in Savannah under your ma
chine that voted nearly 1000 people
that were not at the polls. and did II
so boldly that they voted them alpha
betically as their names appeared on
the registration list. II Is true that
there was no opposition 10 the noml-
nees OF the Democratic party. but
grave constitutional questions we're
voted for al this election.
And you might do a little against
the gambling heils OF Savannah. that
your ministers preach 30 faithfully
against"
Deal In suppOrt of West.
Concerning the race Tor president ~
the next senate. Mr.. Morris says
your letter 10 the Constitution ls
headed ~ follows Solicitor who ia
managing Senator Vests campaign.
makes live observations You are .
be railroad moroenary. You want ~
West elected. 40 does Hon. a. D.
fgaiding sna Aon. 4, =. Brown ana