The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-07-08
5be Jeffersonian


vigorousl y in the matter of adjusting claims
for overcharges, providing station accommo-
dations, &c. The Commission did what the
Legislature had refused to do,-put stop to
free passes.
But not a thing was done toward 'leveling
rates to the yielding of no more than a reason
able profit on the money invested" The Wis
consln idea was great e-catcher but it
slept peacefully after the election. Watered
stock continued to reap where it did not sow,
and we still lose that 81 100000. During the
whole of the year 1908, not chirp was heard
about those cheaper rates to and from the sea-
ports The immediate necessity" of which
the Macon Platform took notice in 1906, lost
it's place somehow, on the urgent list
And here's where Clarke Howell comes in,
again. A faithful memory, has Clarke, and
a most persistent perseverance. At the be-
ginning OF the year 1909, he began to ask
Smith why he had not even tried to redeem
the port-rate pledge Smith woke up like
man that had been sound asleep, and fired
letter at his Railroad Commission. This aUas
IN February, 1902 Up to that late hour of his
expiring administration, Governor Smith had
not done blessed thing to prove that he so
much as remembered the emphasis put on sea-
port rates, in his campaign and in his Macon
Platform. Clarke Howell's nagging worried
Smith. Well it might, for Smith was already
knee-deep in the race for the Senate and to
leave that weak spot in his Gubernatorial
record meant future tribulation. So, in April
1909, Governor Smith felt himself possessed
by sudden zeal on that dear old, half-for-
gotten subject of seaport rates which, in 1906,
had so urgently needed Immediate reduction
Alack and alas! The neatly packed Com
mission, which had been slumbering along
comfortably with the Governor, woke up in
different state Of mind from that of the Gov
ernor. The majority of the members declared
that the case which was brought before them
at the Governors instance had no other OBJ
ject in view than to give Atlanta jobbers an
advantage over those of every other city: con-
sequently, the Commission denied the petition
to reduce the rates from Savannah and Bruins
wick to Atlanta.
Whereupon, the Governor singled out one Of
the members of the Commission and sus-
pended him from office. The reason why the
two others who voted with McLendon were
not also ousted, seems to be that nobody ex-
pected them to vote any other way.
If Governor Smith had gone to work for
reduction of seaport rates early in his admin
istration, something might have been accom-
plished. He waited too long If we knew his
explanation of his failure, from August, 1907,
to February, 1909, to even write letter
in favor of reduction of port rates, we would
give the benefit of it to our readers. But, so
far as we know, neither Mr.. Smith nor his
paper have made the attempt to explain his
long neglect. The JEFFERsoN1AN thinks the
people of Georgia are just as much entitled to
have this cleared up, as they are to know all
about Mr.. McLendon's alleged transactions in
railway bonds.
In this connection it is worth remembering
that the Governor, who bounced McLendon
because that gentleman voted against the petit