The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-12-21
MIL TON SMITH
SCORES TEDDY
Head Of L. & N. Accuses President
Of Bullying Courts.
HITS AT TWO GOVERNORS
In Address at Barquet of Railroad Men
in New 0rIeans--Harrihan Talks
Of South's Prosperity.

James T. Harahan, president of the
Illinois Central railroad, in a speech
in New Orleans Saturday night, out
lined that roads policy in furthering
the souths commercial development,
the occasion of the address being
banquet rendered Mr.. Harahan by the
New Orleans Protective Union A
notable gathering of southern railroad
men were present, including Milton
H. Smith, president of the Louisville
and Nashville railroad. Mr.. Smith
was one of the speakers.
Mr.. Harahan said in part
"We have been handicapped by the
action of the government which has
placed five ships on regular schedule
between Colon md New York city,
and none between New Orleans and
Colon. Every pressure ought to be
brought to bear to induce the govern
ment to divide the appropriations so
that the gulf ports would not be plac-
ed at this disadvantage At least
rs, if not 80, per cent OF the Panama
traffic SHOULD pass through New Or
leans.
"To my mind it is not right to haul
a large quantity of goods which are
manufactured or grown in the section
I nave mentioned all the way to the
east when this traffic could be
brought direct to New Orleans and
shipped from here with great saw
ing in point of time and distance.
AM confident the people in the south
and in that territory, when they real
lie all of these facts, will join with
us in making every possible effort to
induce the government to properly
and promptly recognize our just
claims"
President Smith, speaking on "The
Great Railroads Of the South said
in part:
IN view of the existing prosperous
conditions, a pessimistic note will, [
fear, sound discordant, and yet, to
those whose duties and responsible
ties cause them to look ahead and
especially those who have struggled
through the panics and depressions Of
the past-who, perhaps, have lived
too long-the future, and especially
for railway transportation interests
is not free from anxiety. The cost
of operating and maintaining rail
ways has been increasing with leaps
anil bounds. Already many corpora
lions complain that, while their re-
ceipts from traffic are largely in
creasing, net receipts are not, and
in some cases are decreasing.
'To add to the anxiety, tie owners
Of railway properties are threatened
with loss possible ccnfscauon, by
the people, not that the people as
whole are antagonistic to vested or
property rights, but are, to an ex-
tent, debauchcd by the leaders, who,
for selfish reasons, vociferously de-
nounce corporations, especially rail
way corporations, falsely charging
them with running the country
"To particularize somewhat: in the
neighboring state Of Alabama, a gov
ernor will within few days be inau-
gurated and Legislature convened Z
pledged to increase the burdens of
the railways by largely increased tax
alton. and to reduce revenues by re-
ducing rates. It is alleged that, in |
some instances, the current rates for
transportating property are greater
than the rates for similar service in /
the state Of Alabama than the rates
for similar service in the state OF |
Georgia. In the last named state,
the. conditions are sDmewhat SINH I
lar. A governor is to be inauenfated
and legislature convened, pledged !
to enact and enforce extreme anti
railway corporation laws.
"The attitude Of tho government /
through its administrators, is distinct
" antaeonistic to railway interests"