The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1908-07-21
GOV. SMITH TELLS WHY
He BOUNCED LITTLE JOE.
IN TEMPERED AND DeNFIE0 MESSAGE LEoIsLA
ruRE, GOVERNOR SMITH OFFICIALLY GIVES THE
oNs FOR BROWNS THE RAIL
ROAD COM MISSION.

Atlanta, July 20.-This morning in
response to resolution introduced
last week by Mr.. Johnson of Jasper,
Governor Smith sent in special
message giving his reasons for remov-
lag Hon. Joseph NJ. Brown from the
abroad commission. 1t is about the
same as the statement made in his
Jecatur speech when the govecncr
pened his campaign. it is written
narrative style, straight forward,
out not bitter. The matter was
wormed out of him. 30 to speak.
There is only one sentence susceptible
to criticism and that is his conditional
clause Assuming that Mr.. Brown was
in normal mental condition"
The message was prepared several
days age and has been carefully re-
lvised The governor has shown
it to several of MS close friends
in the legislature, and has sought
their advice as to how it should be
submitted
The message comprises about five
typewriter pages. The disposition
of the message is one OF the problems
ifcr the legislature TO solve. The law
merely requires the chief executive to
report a removal and his reasons
therefor to the next general assembly.
1t is presumed that the statute carries
with it by implication authority for
the legislature to pass on those rea-
sens.
What Will 1t Do?
Just what the legislature will do
with the message no one can tell. The
house will not press the matter unless
it is severe. They take the position
that it is good thing to let drop,
/ that Mr.. Brown has been well vindi-
Gated, and that Mr. Smith is still gov
ernor and should be respected, and
that there is nothing to be gained by
either through stirring up what is now
la dead issue
Mr.. johnson, of Jasper, who intro
lduced the resolution Friday calling
on the governor for the message, was
strong supporter Of Mr.. Brown.
However, his resolution was an indi-
vidual matter with him; the Brown
people as a body knew nothing of it,
and it is doubtful if their sapproyal
would have been given had they.
known.
The Message.
The following is the message
ITO the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives: On the twenty-first OF
August, last year, I suspended Mr..
Joseph M. Brown from the office CT
railroad commissioner. In pursuance
of the requirements of law, | have the
honor to report to you the fact of such
suspension and the reasons therefor
First. Prior to August twenty
second. 1906, the date of the demo
cratic primary at which | was nom
mated for governor, I reached the
conclusion that Mr.. Brown did not, as
a railroad commissioner, properly re.
gard the interests of the people. His
general attitude and conduct upon the
questions arising between the railroad
companies and the people were d!sap-
proved by me ,and I publicly stated
that if elected governor | would sus-
pend him.
! Second. On June seventh, last
year, the railroad commission passed
an order reducing passenger rates IN
Georgia. The records of the commits
sion show that Mr. Brown offered a
motion. to adopt what he termed the
zone system of passenger rates. This
molten received the support Of Mr..
Brown alone. Thereupon Commission
er Hill moved the adoption of the new
schedule of passenger rates, and upon
the same being put to vote Commis-
sioners Hill and Stevens voted for it..
Upon this motion, | quote from
the records of the railroad commits
SON Commissioner Brown voted
"No."'
In connection with his vote he
filed what is termed a motion by Jo-
seph NJ. Brown, commissioner This
paper was subsequently printed in
pamphlet form, covering eighty pages,
and after the decision of the commits
sion, was distributed throughout the
state in part by Mr. Brown and in
part as | have been informed, Dy
railroad companies. 1t contained ar
guments and statements adverse to
the reduction of passenger fares as
made by the railroad commission, and
also arguments to show that the re-
duction of freight rates was not ben
eficial to the masses of the people.
while l ccncede the right of any
commissioner to disagree to the action
of the majority reducing a freight or
passenger rate or fixing an obligation
upon the railroad companies with
reference to any service they may be
called upon to perform in behalf of
= the people, deny his right to remain
, upon the commission and furnish ar
( gument and evidence for the railroad
companies to attack the action Of the