Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-08-03
STATE ROAD NEEDED
FOR FAIR RATES
Long Lease Would Take Rights
From People.
1T WILL BE A VIRTUAL SALE
Senator Gambler, of Thirty-Fourth Dis
trict, Declares that All Railroads
Run into the Den of J. p. Morgan.
Made a Strong Speech.

Made Strong Speech.
Atlanta, Aug. 2.-In one of the
strongest speeches heard on the SEN
ate floor in a number of years, Sena-
tor Murphy Gambler, of the thirty
fourth district Wednesday portrayed
how the railroad systems in Georgia
have been holding the people in their
grasp for many years. The remarks
Of Senator Gambler were made during
the debate on the long lease bill of
Senator McHenry, which was made
continuing order from Tuesdays ses-
sion. Senator West also spoke fa-
voring the bill No vote was reach
ed and the bill came up Thursday.
Senator Gambler spoke scathingly
hands of railroad corporation for
SO years, during which time he said
that the claim on the road would not
only pass out of the hands of the peo-
pie now, but that for generations the
citizens of the state would have to
stand idly by and receive a small rent
al for the road which at the end of
the lease would be worth a sum in
estimabIe.
I'VE need this road" exclaimed Sen
atOr Gambler, ito combat with the ex-
orbitant, excessive and unjust discrim-
nations of other roads in the state
1t is now thirteen years before the
present lease expires If we now give
another lease for 80 years, it will be
211S before the people of this state
can say what shall be done with the
property.
THE lease of this road will amount
to nothing else than a virtual sale,
and it will become allied with
other systems which are dominating
the freedom of our people,
THE Central, the Southern, the Sea-
board Air Line, and the Atlantic Coast
Line railroads are the great systems
of Georgia.
But the Southern, Atlantic Coast
Line and Seaboard, indirectly by their
ownership in the N, c. & ST. L., and
the L. & n, the present lessees of the
Western and Atlantic go to make up
one great system.
This system is owned and operated
by eight men in New York, controlled
by James Pierpont Morgan.
These roads all run into the den of
j, Pierpont Morgan, in Wall street.
That is why l am not surprised when
the advocates of the bill say that
there is only one bidder for the state
road
L do not think that we should take
the fate Of a road away from unborn
generations, when the forefathers have
by their struggles endowed them with
a birthright which was born in great
travail
In one hundred and twelve years.
from now, 1 believe that there will
be population of 25,000,000 people
in Georgia. They could contribute
more to the road than could the rent
al of 100000 a month for 80 years.
This road is the gateway to the
great distributing points of the west.
We must keep it to control and curb
the excessive freight rates now being
practiced by the railroads It is moth
ing but right for us to hold the last
battleax with which we can operate
against the powers which threaten to
dominate us.
Railroads, after all, are only pub
lie highways. They are operated for
the rights Of the people. The people
have right to take these roads when
ever they see fit, and reimburse the
men who have established them.
Il do no. say that favor govern
ment ownership Of railroads, but my
friends, the control of roads by the
government Is ten years nearer than
1t was some time. ago. | believe that
in not many years we will see the
roads operated by the powers of the
state or the government.
Il say that by the year 201S, when
the 112 year lease of this road would
haxe expired, the roads Of our coun
try will be operated by our people"
At the conclusion of Senator Can
dlers able speech, President West,
who had spoken in favor of the bill
Tuesday, again took the floor.
Il ask the question:" said President
West, eff we shall build to the sea-
board, can we afford to own and oper.
ate a great steamship line to form
our connections?
Il alment the day when this gov
ernment shall approach centralized
despotism by owning public utilities"