Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-20
M'LENDON MAKES
REPLY TO CHARGES
MADE AGAINST HIM


the wrigntsville and Tennille railroad.
This letter and a telegram was the only
correspondence Mr.. McLendon could pro-
duce. The other letters, he said, were
written by hand, and he had no copies.
The committee was divided as to wheth-
err Mr.. Patterson or Mr.. McLendon should
be heard rst, and Mr.. Wright and Mr..
Anderson debated this point. Mr.. Ander-
son seemed to think that after Mr.. Nc
London testified II might be unnecessary
to hear from Mr.. Patterson. 1t was voted
to hear from Mr.. McLendon first.
PRODUCES GOVERNORS LETTER.
Mr. McLendon was asked to confine his
evidence to the governors message first,
and the bond issue next. Mr.. Nc
Lendon submitted letters from ex-Gov-
ernor Smith and the editor of The Jour
nal protesting against Mr.. McLendon
sending the now famous Albany letter.
Mr.. McLendon said these constituted one
Of the reasons why he had never mailed
this letter.
Mr.. McLendon then replied to a charge
of Judge Hines that he had not furnish
ed him. as, special attorney, information
on pending rate legislation, notably the
proposed advance on interstate rates. An
other was the proposed reduced wage
scale on roads. He produced correspond
ence, which he said showed his interest in
these matters.
EXPRESS COMPANY.
when he called on me for inforrna-
ton, 1 showed him my files. but told
him to get the files of the other COM
missioners also," Mr.. McLendon said. He
read a letter to the interstate commerce
commission asking for its report on the
audit on the Central of Georgia railroad.
He also, he said. went into the status OF
the Adams Express company. in connec-
ton with it's dividend of 200 per cent. He
said this company was a large stock
holder in the Southern Express company.
He said the Adams Express company
charged several times as much as the
railroads He produced other correspond
ence showing his investigation OF ex-
press charges. He wanted to know, he
said how much Of the Adams dividend
came from the earnings of the South
ern Express company.
He submitted these files, he said. to
show that he had not abandoned the poll
cy he was elected on, as the governor
charged in his message. He added that
express charges ought to be reduced. He
didn't know how.
Mr. McLendon said he didn't know
what other files he had with him, but
was sure there were others in the COM
missions office.
ALWAYS INVESTIGATING"
ct was always investigating and getting
all the information could he added.
He then showed correspondence on the
interstate commerce commissions audit
of the Central.
Mr. McLendon complained of being
''hedged in" in the matter of announcing
to the public all the proceedings of the
commission.
II am inclined to believe that II the
governor knew everything, his mind
would have been changed in many partic-
ulars," said Mr.. McLendon.
In reply to Mr.. Hardeman. Mr.. McLen-
don said the governor had never asked
him about this data-or If he did, he never
knew it.
In reply to Senator Slater, Mr.. McLen-
don said he had never offered the resist
ance of increased Interstate rates. but had
suggested a different method. He added
that he made all possible investigation OF
loss and damage cases, but said the COM
mission had little money for this purpose.
AS TO PORT RATES.
In the matter of port rates, Mr.. Nc
Lendon said that IL the Beck e. Gregg pc
| titions had Joined issues with Savannah
for a general reduction from ports to
points in Georgia, another phase would
have been put on the question.
He added that Ex-Governor Smith, in a
speech in Savannah. said that the state
should take no steps toward confiscating
railroad property, and should issue no
rules which would forbid roads reason
able profit, and believed that sane peo-
pie believed the investor in roads needed
protection as we'll as the roads.
He also referred to resolutions adopted
by a commercial gathering anent railroad
development in the south and legislation.
These statements were made in reply TO
Senator Slater's direct question as to
whether Governor Smith himself had not
receded somewhat from his platform.
In reply to Mr.. Wright. Mr.. McLendon
admitted that the only way for the COM
mission TO investigate rates OF out of
state roads was by joining with the in
terstate commerce commission.
DIDN'T FAVOR LITIGATION
Mr.. McLendon said he was not op-
posed to fighting the western rate in
crease, but opposed joining the A. P.
Morgan fight, declaring he thought this
was not made in good faith. He quail
fed this statement later, however.
Were you also opposed to the COM
mission instituting a grain case Of your
OWN" asked Mr.. Wright.
ITO be frank, didn't think we would
stand much chance" said Mr. McLen-
don. He added that a similar case was
then pending before the interstate COM
merce commission.
Mr.. McLendon admitted that the port
rate petition Of the Beck & Gregg Hard
ware company and the McCord-Stewart
company did mention other cities, but
said that all the evidence applied only
to Atlanta.
rs it not true" asked Mr.. Wright.
that Mr.. Gambler offered a motion max
ing the rates on coffee and iron a class
rate from Savannah to interior points
in the slater
He did"
He didn't think the governors speech
at Savannah meant that he was reced-
ing from his platform, but rather 1t
was his comment on changing condi-
lions.
Replying to Mr.. Wright concerning
the letter to the Albany board of trade,
Mr.. McLendon admitted that other COM
missioners had, like Mr.. Gray, advised
him not TO mail 1t.
He added that his expression. the
port rate gold brick" applied only TO
such a rate between Atlanta and Sa-
vannah for the benefit Of half dozen
Atlanta dealers rs he viewed the mat