The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-08-26
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commit all Democrats to that method of sup
plementing the revenues of the general Gov
eminent, the action of the Georgia Senate has
carried CONSERVATION into the ranks of those
who wish to place some of the burdens of adj
ministration upon the rich.
The unexpected action of the Georgia Sen
ate seriously involves Mr.. Hoke Smith.
It is conceded that he had the Legislature
under his thumb. The Senate was his crea-
ture. Mr.. Burwell of Hancock was recog-
nized as his devoted lieutenant. The regu-
larity with which Mr.. Burwen and his col
leagues trekked to Mr.. Smiths office and resi-
dence was phenomenal. Apparently Mr.. Bur
well and his following never INDUCED In
single legislative sneeze until after Mr. Smith
had O. KID the snuff.
This notorious fact puts q big responsibility
on Mr.. Smith. 1t gave him a golden oppor
tunity to do something for the dear people
who have no friend but him. He, as is we'll
known, is e~-oficio guardian of estate,
trustee of our interests, censor of our morals,
custodian of our honor, and, speaking broad
ly, our sole guide, philosopher and friend
This being universally accepted and joy
Gus truth, it behooves Mr.. Smith to be care
full. Of the value of his services, we can only
Judge by results.
CD The Legislature being his, Mr.. Smith
might have persuaded it, or ordered it, to pass
that anti-lobby bill which, in 1907, was to
have been his very first achievement With
the lobbyists duly uniformed, tagged, brand
ed and belled the obstacle to good legislation
would be swept out of the path. But alas!
We amt got no anti-lobby bill yet Mr..
Smith, we seriously fear, is not so eager on
that sub ect as he once was.
(2) He might have spoken in favor of the
bill which proposed to make the big foreign
than 1fuI
taxes of from $40 to $500 per year for the
privilege of ral1ng millions of profits out of
this State. But instead of favoring this
equitable measure, which would have been of
vast benefit to our people, and an injustice to
nobody, he fought it savagely in his Atlanta
Journal, and killed it.
Mr.. Smith is going to hear from the people
on this, when he offers himself for office
again
(3) He might have said word against
that Eminent Domain BILL which came so
in the Senate had voted for it, and it was on
its passage through the House. How was it
checked and scotched? Read this extract
from a very courteous letter written me by
Judge John [. Hall, railroad attOrney-One
of their biggest and BEST
| was in Atlanta on last Monday to look after the
bill which had passed the Senate and it had gone to
the House When | told that you wished to be
heard it the Chairman of the Committee Rail
roads in the House stated that he could not hold
committee together for hearing the BILL
any bill, as the House was in a great rush to get
through the bills in the last days of the session When
parties suggested that you not member of
the Legislature and could not demand hearing, l
piled that you entitled to hearing, that your
prominence justified you in making the request to be
heard and that that request should be granted and
rather than there should be q failure to hear you
thought it well for the bill to lie on the table until the
next session of the Legislature, and that direction