The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-12-07
SHOVEL AND ToNGS FOR THE A.
c. L. RAILWAY.
Board of Trade Holds Enthusiastic
Meeting - Eminent Legal Coun-
sci Will be Employed.


business men were present and a |
good deal of interest was manifested |
by ALL
Among those present were the fol
lowing:
Messrs. r. McConathy, o. T. Green,
Arthur Hardaker, of Martel; E. c.
Mceod, of Kendrick; George Dittmer,
of Holder; r. c. Hall, r. S. Hall, d.
E. McIver. George MacKay, R. L.
Anderson, S. A. Rawls, Jake Brown,
J. ]. Gerig, u. c. Chambliss, A. S. An
derson, Charles Rheinauer, Maurice
Strauss, d. S. Woodrow, w. o. Mas
sey, A. j. Leavengood, NJ. Fishel, j. w.
Pearson, j. r. Moorhead,, G. E. Tay-
lor, E. E. McLin, Thomas Sexton, G.
G. Crom, Emmett Robinson, E. P.
Thagard, w. A. Knight, ]. M. Meffert,
c.. E. Cullins, E. c. Smith, E. Van
Hood, Walter, Hood, w. J. Richie, L.
]. Brumby, T. T. Munroe and Frank
Harris.
regular order of business would be
suspended and that the board would
at once proceed to discuss the bust
ness for which the meeting was call
ed.
! In the absence of the secretary, Mr..
l. ]. Brumby was requested to act in
this capacity.
The first speaker was Mr.. A. Har
daker, who read a copy Of a letter
written by his company to Mr.. EN-
erson, the traffic manager of the At
lantic Coast Line.
! Mr.. Hardaker explained the
impossibility of securing sufficient
cars to conduct their business. He
did not mince words condemning the
action of the officials of this system TO
provide proper facilities, but also he
claimed the company officials de-
ceived their patrons as to the fur
nishing Of cars.
Several gentlemen referred to griev-
ances and the consensus of opinion
was that the grievances were so clear
and manifest that their specific emu
meration was an act of supereroga-
ton.
Mr.. o. T. Green made some peril
nent remarks on the position of the
railways as common carriers and
their duties and obligations to the
public. Mr.. Green went on to show
how the railways were making enor-
nous profits, and, to illustrate his
point, read from the official figures to
show the large and increasing divi-
dends and earnings.
Mr.. Green ably discussed the ques-
I ton in it's legal aspects and calimed
that the encouragement of the state
could institute proceedings to force
the railways to perform their proper
duties to the public.
Mr.. George F. Dittmer, phosphate
shipper, followed Mr.. Green and
pledged his cooperation and support
Mr.. Chambliss desired to learn from
other lawyers present.
Judge McConathy was called on and
in discussing the question mentioned
the fact that the railroads might ex-
cuse their miserable service on the
grounds of the great prosperity of
the country" But in answer to that
the people might say they had ample
time to prepare for this condition.
The mention of the railroad commits
soners by Judge McConathy created
considerable laughter and not few
sarcastic remarks. Continuing he
said the commissioners were not in
touch with the people, that we could
hardly expect competent men at the
salary paid and that the salary
should be at least $4,000 a year and
further that these men should have
some knowledge of the railway bust
) ness.
E Judge McConathy also suggested the
) indictment of the railroads or rail
road officials by the Marion county
: grand jury which convenes in Ocala in
4 a very few days.