The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-10-19
M. e a. Rate ouestIon.

contract OF the western ana ALianuc
railroad wit preference to rates to
and from points in Georgia to Chat
tanooga, Tenn, may be settled with
out litigation.
AS the result Of the hearing held
by Governor Smith, during which the
question Of rates was thoroughly
threshed out, an agreement may be
reached whereby the rates complain
ed of may be satisfactorily adjudged.
The question at issue is whether or
not the state has authority to empow-
er the railroad commission to fix the
rates on the state road from Chatta-
nooga to Georgia points, even though
the act authorizing the lease pre-
sumes to confer that power and even
though the lease contract provides
that the lessee shall apply the Geors
gia classification to shipments in
stead of the southern classification,
which is higher in number Of I'M
stances.
The lessee denies this right. It is
denied that the law confers any pow
er on the commission to fix interstate
rates, and it is stated that if any at
tempt were made confer this power
lit would be interference with inter
state commerce and an encroachment
upon privilege guaranteed only to
the interstate commerce commission.
An Interesting Relic.
| An interesting relic of the early
prison system in Georgia is to be
found in massive key which turned
the lock in the old penitentiary used
by the state at Milledgeville before
the war and which was destroyed
when Sherman's army came through
Georgia.
The key is in possession Of r. y.
DAWSON, chairman of the state prison
commission, and was given to him by
gentleman in Milledgeyille, who has
had it since the war. The key is
made of iron, is nearly FOOT long
and weighs about four pounds. Mr..
Davison intends to have it gilded and
kept in the office Of the prison COM
mission at the capitol as a souvenir.
Mr.. Dawson states he has been in
formed that other interesting relics
Of earlier days in Georgia are to be
found in Milledgeville. These are the
two marble plates used by the state
in making Confederate money during
the war.
The chairman has been informed
that these plates are now doing serv-
ice as a sidewalk in front of Mil
ledgeville residence. He intends to
take steps to recover them and if pos
sible will bring them to the capitol
for preservation.
l'Will Name Sanitarium Board.
One of the difficult propositions
which will confront President of the
Senate John M. SIaton when he takes
the gubernatorial office for go days
following the resignation Of Governor
Smith will be the appointment of the
board of trustees of the state santa,
rum at Milledgeville.
There are ten members on the
board, and all their terms expire on
December 5, 1911. Governor Smith ex'
poets to resign some time in Novem.
Der, and while he has not mentioned
this board specifically he has let ii
be understood that he will make no
appointments to any office where the
terms begin after the date of his res.
! ignation from the gubernatorial office.
AS President Slaton must take the
office Immediately upon the resigna-
ton of the governor the appointment
of the board will fall upon him as
acting governor.
And the acting governor will have
some job on his hands. The position
of trustee of the sanitarium, while not
very remunerative, the salary being
only $3.50 per year and actual ex-
penses, is, nevertheless, an exceeding.
" popular one. Almost everybody
wishes one of the ten places and ev-
cry two years there is wild scram'
BILE to secure the appointment.
Although Governor Smith will not
make the appointments his office is
already being deluged with applica.
tons, which began coming in six
months ago. There are now between
seventy-five and one hundred such ap.
plicatiops on file in the governors Of
fee, and as the entry list will not
close for several weeks it is probable
the complete list of applicants will
total two hundred.