Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-04
HE GOVERNORS MYSTERIOUS SILENCl


nervous desire to change the subject.
Like the traditional he did venture out of
days long enough scod The Journal but
having shadow concluded there stormy
weather ahead Immediately withdrew into his hole Since
the silence that pervade the executive office is as
dense a London fog
The governor says explain why he dis
regards legislative directing him to purchase the eri
Chattanooga therefore devoles The journal
to state for him.
So the people of Georgia entitled to
know governor disguise smother this important
without intelligent explanation For this reason we
propose to help him along by making known that the
public may understand why solemn legislative enactment has
been disregarded by the governor.
Here then the facts:
The previous administration thorough investigation
legislature the purchase of terminals or
shipping yards Chattanooga that the business OF the ROAD
will he Facilitated and at the expiration present the
property owned by heart of Chattanooga be
improved produce additional revenue equal or
almost equal that which the state now derives from the en
1t was shown that present switching in Chat
tanooga essential the railroad property but that
they disadvantage and yards further removed from
the of the city would be better That with swchlng
wards removed the city of Chattanooga would develop all round
property and would become enormously productive
Options of land amounting seventy
acres thirty tract forty another These tracts
lie directly ON the present property and Atlantic
railroad of the city, and were considered scent LOT
all railroad necessites\
There is a third and onehaf adon
these but the purchase of this tract was not included IN
the recommendation for the terminals
added by the senate committee an amendment
after by practically unanimous vote in
stred the governor buy amendment
purchase discretionary with the 1t was re-
ected by and conference committee appointed
This committee reported original resolution passed by the
house with additional provision the seventeen anil
oneaf provided the should deem wise to do So
seventy recommended by the previous gov
ernor and personally inspected the committee the resolution
directing purchase mandatory and positive 1t was dsc
Onay only the seventeen and onehaf acres which had not
been inspected
The governor approved He could have vetoed
it if he thought would be sufficient in the
treasury or thought property unsud for railroad pur
poses Having approved it, it his duty buy the land be-
He did not buy it. intend buy
it to give any his dsobedene of legislative
instructions The options held by the state have been allowed to
expire, and no effort has been made to revive them
GOVERNOR BROWN KNEW HE HAD NO DISCRETION AS
so ADVISED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FURTHER
MORE HE DID NOT AT ANY TINE CLAM THAT THE PROF. ROB-
EVEN IF HE HAD THE LEGISLATURE HAD ALREADY
PASsGR UPON E T aNn OF THE T
BUY WERE MANDATORY AND STAMPED WITH HIS OF
FICIAL APPROVAL.
had stated that he anxious to buy the land
evidently his mind underwent complete change and he began
at once seek an excuse for dobeyng the legislative
At first funds the treasury with which
this property He declared that the state
poor there be issue of bonds pay the school
teachers When the absurdy of both these claims pointed
and shown that the state not only had ample avail
funds then in the make the purchase, but
that if the governor was authorized to make tenn
poray loan to buy this property ne apparently abandoned that
Such loan would only have few weeks t best
until taxes would begin to in and known that with
in short time the state would have large surplus above its
governor abandoned the but adhered his deter
buy the lands In the meantime the options had
expired all probability could have been renewed He
made effort Them but he has this
good the slightest reopen
negotiations.
AS A RESULT OF HIS OBSTINATE INACTION. HIS WILL.
Full DETERMINATION TO NULLIFY AN ACT OF THE
LEGISLATURES BY DISOBEDIENCE HIS DISREGARD or
THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STATE, AND AN APPARENT
LACK OF DESIRE TO PROTECT THIS GREAT RAILROAD
PROPERTY, THE STATE HAS LOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ACQUIRE THESE TERMINALS, WHICH ARE so MUCH
NEEDED AND 1T is DOUBTFUL IF THERE WILL EVER BE
n
SUCH ADVANTAGEOUS TERMS.
respectfully asked by The Journal
did this property He refused reason
cannot because he utterly without for thus diso
beying the instructions of the legislature
What his accurately divine. We
speculate suspect with certainty
the the governor disobey
enactment of the legislature