Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-09

After having been formally reelected
by the general assembly in joint session.
Senator A. s. Clay, by special invitation
addressed the members of the legislature
Wednesday morning, in the han OF the
house of representatives. Besides the So
Ions, there were present many visitors in
the galleries, and the senator's speech
commanded close attention.
President Slaton, of the senate, presided
over the joint session, and Speaker Hold
er presented Senator Clay, who was re-
ceived with generous applause. He spoke
for more than an hour.
Senator Clay expressed to the legisla-
ture, and through the legislature to the
people of Georgia, his deep sense of graf
itude for their support in his race for re-
election 70 the senate. He said he had
promised the people when first elected
that his public life should be blameless,
and that he would toll day and night TO
advance their best interests. He said
that, to the best of his ability, he had re-
deemed this promise.
ct have had no idle hours since 1 have
been a member of the senate" said the
senator Every speech have made and
every vote 1 have cast have represented
a conscientious effort in behalf Of the
best interests of the people of Georgia.
Continuing the senator referred TO his
work in the senate, but before detailing
some of his accomplishments he called at
tention to the fact that since the war the
south has not received her proportionate
part of the benefits from the national
government Only a small part, he SAID,
of the taxes paid by the south to the sup
port Of the national government has been
returned to the people Of the south by
the government. He cited the naval ex-
penditures as an evidence of this. He
said S137. 900 is expended to support our
navy. The south contributes her part or
this money, yet less than per cent has
found its way back to the taxpayers Of
the south. He carried the illustration
along this line further to more fully de-
velop his point, dwelling upon the $685.
/ Co., 900 appropriation for pensions, less
than 2 per cent of which comes back TO
the people of the south.
Approaching that the south was not
receiving her proportionate part Of the
benefits of taxation by the national gov
eminent, 1 determined, when | entered
the senate, to bring every dollar from
the federal treasury could for legitimate
public improvements. The results have
been gratifying. 1 do not claim any more
| credit for work along this line than 9TH
er members of the Georgia delegation.
"In 1897, when my service in the senate
began, we had one rural route in Georgia
1t cost the government $275. In 1909, we
have 1.575 rural routes in Georgia, and
! they cost the government A,565, SIS. In a
| few more years. the rural free delivery
service in Georgia will be completed. at a
! cost of over two million dollars annually.
II viii give employment to two thousand
of our young men at a salary of 500
each"
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Senator Clay invited attention to federal
in iu0r nr11a N
Of rivers and harbors. He said that 81
O5076 had been appropriated since 1897
to dredge the rivers and deepen the har-
bors of Georgia. The Savannah harbor.
| he said, is bound to become one of the
most important of the south. Two million
two hundred and ninety-f1ve thousand
| dollars has been applied to deepening this
harbor, so that the largest ships of the
world can enter it and carry our COM
merce to all countries.
THE whole SOUTH" he said, els inter-
ested in the improvement of this great
harbor at Savannah, and when the pan-
anna canal is completed Il will take its
place as one Of the great and important
ports of the world. The canal will short
en- the distance from Savannah to San
Francisco thousands OF miles by water
The distance around the Horn from Sa-
vannah TO San Francisco ais now 1929
distance will be 1890 miles The COM
merce of the south will be revolutionized
The great saving in distance between tne
ports of the south and the Pacific will
necessarily reduce our freight rates more
than one-half, and the markets of japan
and China will be open to our mer-
chants and manufacturers.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
During the last twelve years, the ma
tional government has appropriated for
public buildings in Georgia 81 ga 600 80 We
construction in Atlanta that will cost ST.
600, 600. exclusive Of the grounds The pub
lie building In Macon, costing $350, 0O0 has
been completed. A marine hospital in Sa-
vannah. costing $2O0. COO, has been COM
pleted, and congress has authorized pub
lie buildings in Rome. Athens, Dalton.
Marietta. Griffin. Augusta. EIberton,
Waynesboro, Milledgeville, Dublin. AL
bany, Waycross. Valdosta, Americas,
Cordele and Gainesville. Many of these
have been completed and others are be-
ing constructed.
Ground has been purchased in Cedar
town, Gainesville and Carrollton, on
which it is proposed to erect public
buildings. In few years more / hope to
Georgia with a population of FIVE thou
sand and more.
"At Chickamauga Park. the government
has expended S2.515, SO3.75. Thus you see
your representatives have striven TO bring
back to Georgia a part of the taxes paid
by Georgians in support Of the govern
ment. And while I am I'm the senate I
shall never cease my labors in behalf Of
the necessary public Improvement of our
state"
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
Mr. Clay next directed attention TO the
political situation. He told the legisla-
ture that there prevailed in certain Re
publican circles in Washington an impress
sion that Georgia would be a doubtful
state In thc next national election. He
said the Republicans were claiming the
Seventh and Ninth districts because these
went for Mr.. Taft In the last election.
ct have assured our Democratic friends.
however" said the senator. that Georgia
will elect eleven congressman in 1910, and
each one will be a Democrat. have
assured them also that in the next ma
tional election the Democratic nominees
will carry Georgia by $1,000 -
The senator predicted that the south
would never Join the Republican party.
He declared that the Democratic party
was entitled to win on its merits.
Compare the record of the two parties
and there can be but one result TO
- g.