Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-06
Editorial in Sundays Constitu-
ton Full of Misrepresenta-
tons of His Attitude Toward
Railroads.
NEVER PROMISED TO
REDUCE FREIGHT RATES
BY 100000, HE SAYS
Governor Smith Makes Public Letter
to Railroad Commission. in Which
He Urged, Some Time Ago Changes
in Rates to the Ports.

In statement, given to the press Mon
day, Governor Hoke Smith replies 10 an
editorial which appeared in the Atlanta
Constitution of Sunday, and makes some
very pointed statements in regard to what
he calls Mr.. Clark Howel's misrepresen-
tations of his attitude on railroad regu-
lation and rate reductions.
Governor Smith declares that he has
refrained from taking notice Of continued
attacks upon him from Mr.. Howell know
ing that the public would wen understand
their malice, in view of Mr.. Howell's I'M
successful race against him for governor.
Sundays editorial is so violent In its
Misrepresentation, however, says the
governor. that he is constrained to correct
some CT its false impressions.
Governor Smith declares that ne never
advocated or promised saving TO tho
state of 100000 from freight rate re-
auctions alone, and that no speech OK
his, taken in its entirety, can be twisted
into such a position. He recounts the
fight which has been waged for railroad
regulation in Georgia, and calls attention
to the great saving to the state in many
ways, which has resulted, making good
every promise he made to the people.
Governor Smith faps Editor Howell for
not even been mentioned in a whisper in
the railroad commission office, and makes
public letter to the commission in which
he, Governor Smith, recommends port
rate adjustments and other rate modi-
fcations which he deems in the interest
of the people. This letter represents his
position in regard to rate reductions.
| The governors statement follows in full:
Statement in Full
Since the primary last June, have not
sought a discussion of local political
/ questions
! 1 have ignored many misstatements
from Mr. Clark Howell, published ed.
torially in his paper, knowing that the
public well understood his relation TO
my first race, and believing that they
would see the malice which entered into
every editorial from him concerning my
/ official work.
| His editorial Of yesterday so utterly
misrepresented my position when ] was
candidate against him for governor,
| and also what has since taken place that
1 wish to remind the public Of the
facts.
| During my first race for governor I
/ called attention to the financial state
ments of the railroads of the state for
the fiscal year ending July LIST, 1905. 1
called attention to their tax returns.
called attention to the values placed up
on the roads by their officers in litiga-
ton brought by them to enjoin freight
reductions.
Accepting the true value of the proper
ties at some place about midway be-
| tween tax returns made to lessen the
payment of taxes, and estimates Of
/ value made to increase freight
rates, 1 urged that the railroads
were withdrawing from the state more
| than a fair amount of money based upon
the true value Of their properties.
| urged that this amount improperly with
drawn should be consumed in giving bet
ter service, in paying more to their em-
ployes, in paying more taxes, in reducing
the cost of passenger transportation and
in reducing the cost Of freight trans
| portation.
| I estimated the excessive amount with
| drawn from the state by the roads az
! from three to four millions Of dollars
annually I did not contend that this en-
tire sum should be used in freight re-
auctions.
| 1 discussed this question many times
during the campaign. A single sentences
from some speech might indicate that
claimed the entire excessive amount
withdrawn from the state should be APP
| piled to freight reductions, but no re-
port of any speech made was capabls
! of such an Interpretation.
/ Mr. HowelPs continued statement that
/ promised to reduce freight rates four
millions Of dollars annually is untrue and
it is inconceivable that he can be so duh
as not to know it
At the instance Of the Atlanta Freight
Bureau in the spring of 1906 a reduction
of interstate rates in Georgia was fore
ed. This reduction entered into the
| business of the roads after July 1sts
1905.
Mr.. Howell's Estimate
The amount of this reduction has been
estimated by Mr.. Howell in the Allan
| ia Constitution at two millions OF dol
| lars. I have estimated 1t annually at one
/ million.
Subsequent to my recent defeat the
railroad companies put back practically
| the old rates and beginning in the fall Of
1908 stopped the saving which had been
| of force since July, 1905. The railroad
| commission has condemned this action
| of the railroads. 1t has appealed TO the
/ Interstate Commerce commission to put
| back the reduced rates. The attorney
| for the railroad commission was engage
ed last week in seeking to obtain a res
| toration of these rates.
1 have cordially supported the efforts
to prevent this extortion and I hope the
decision of the Interstate Commerce
| commission will be favorable.
| The reduction in passenger rates is
/ saving the people approximately annual-
/ ly about one million of dollars.
am aware Of the fact that the order
i providing for this reduction was passed
a few days before my inauguration, but
it was reinforced by the legislation pass
| ed in the summer of 1907, and IT. was
| deferred in the courts in the fall of 1907.
| 1t was pre-eminently measure which
| advocated and the order of reduction did
| not go into effect until two months after
4 my Inauguration.
The taxes of the railroads and public
service companies in Georgia were in
creased in the fall of 1907 so they are
Continued on Page Three