The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-07-26
TIME WANTED
BY BANKERS
TO Adjust Finances in Case Of
State Prohibition.
APPEAL TO LAWMAKERS
Atlanta Clearing House Association Urges
Solons to So Amend Bill as to Be-
come Effective in 1909.

come Effective in 1909.
In a resolution unanimously adopted
by the Atlanta Clearing House Asso-
citation Wednesday morning, the asso-
citation requested the state legislature
to postpone the date at which the pres
ent prohibition bill, if passed, will be-
come effective January l, 1909.
The association comprises the Low
ry National Bank, the Atlanta Nation
al Bank, the Fourth National Bank,
the Third National Bank, the Maddox
Rucker Banking company, the Neal
Bank and the Central Bank and Trust
corporation.
The resolution shows that the Allan
J ia bankers take no sides in the pres
ent prohibition fight, but unanimously
request that one and one-half years
be given in event the state prohibition
bill is passed, for it to take effect.
It is pointed out in the resolutions
that the state itself and the large cit
les need this time in which, should
the bill be passed, to rearrange their
working plans under the new condi-
tons.
In the. case of Atlanta, the bankers,
ali of whom are Atlantians, call direct
attention to the fact that school, fire,
auditorium and armory and other i'm
Drovements have been contracted for,
and that the contracts have been made
with the understanding that present
conditions exist. They ask that the
time suggested be given SO that in the
event of the passage of the prohibition
bill, the city can readjust itself to the
new conditions
One Of the leading bankers of the
city made the following comment after
the meeting:
1--WE made no effort to oppose the
present bill In fact, the question Of
prohibition as a principle did not en-
ter into cur resolutions, but we have
only requested our legislature to give
us a short time in which, should the
state prohibition bill become law, to
readiust and rearrange for the state
itself. for our own banks and those Of
our sister cities, and for the contracts
into which Atlanta has already enter
ed, our business contracts and obliga-
TONS"
The resolutions follow:
"Wheras, the proposed state prchi-
bition bill now pending before the leg
islature, will, by it's passage, deprive
the state and the larger cities Of a
considerable yearly income, which in
come for the year 1908 in many cases,
and particularly in the case of the city
Of Atlanta, has been anticipated and
the obligations contracted thereon for
the erection of school houses, engine
houses, waterworks Improvements, aud
itorium and army and for other pub
lie improvements; and the withdrawal
on January 1, 1908, of the income de-
rived by the state and cities from
the licensed sale of liquor will cause
financial complications and in some in
stances prevent the completion OF pub
lie improvements now under construc-
ton; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Atlanta Clearing
House Association, That we request
and urge the representatives Of Fulton
county to use their influence to have
said prohibition bill so amended as to
become effective January l, 1909, so
that during 1908, the finances of the
state aud the larger cities can be SO
adjusted and rearranged as to meet
the changed conditions, and those cld'
zens of the state who have large sums
invested in the business to be affected
will have a reasonable time within
which to retire and close out their
business"