The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-08-10
Atlanta, Ga. Aug. 1, 1911.

Editor Weekly Jeffersonian,
Thomson, Ga.
Dear Sir: In your last ISSUE on the front page
you have an editorial whose caption is this
question:
What about it, Judge Hines? What about it,
Governor Snith?'
AS you ask question: take it for Sranted
you want reply; but whether you expected me
to answer your question not, l wish to answer
it, as you have been msinformed to the facts,
and some of your readers might construe my
silence into admission that your statement of
the facts in this editorial is correct
Let me set you right about the facts. You say:
"He" (meaning Hon. G. S. McLendon), ordered
sweeping changes, which if they had been put in
operation, would have saved the people of Geor-
gia millions of dollars "
| deny that any order passed y the Railroad
Commission of Georgia. while McLendon was
member, has been enjoined and is not in opera
ton for that reason.
1 would be glad for you to name the sweeping
changes which he ordered. Give us details
Again you say LET him enforce McLendOn's
orders for freight reduction.''
deny that Mr.. McLendon voted for any orders
for freight reduction, while he was a member of
the Railroad Commission of Georgia
l again ask you to specify these "McLendon
orders' TO which you refer. I deny their exs-
Let me refresh your memory and that of your
readers. In 1909, the Beck and Gregg Hardware
Company made application to the Commission for
reduced port rates special iron commodities;
and the ACCOMPLISHMENT Company for reduced
rates on coffee from Georgia ports to Alfalfa, On
the hearing, Commissioner Gambler moved that
these articles take class without percentage and
made these rates applicable from the ports to all
interior Georgia points.
The passage Of the Gambler motion would have
resulted in material reductions on these articles
OF every day use from the ports to all jobbing
points in the State Mr.. McLendon voted against
this motion; and, he being in the majority, this
motion was lost. Then Mr.. McLendon voted that
these petitions be denied, and again being in the
majority, these petitions denied
l have seen the statement attributed to Mr.
McLendon that he only voted against granting
reduced port rates to certain Atlanta jobbers
while the same would have been refused TO lob
bers in other Georgia towns. This statement
wherever emanantng, is untrue and misleading
The adoption of the Gambler motion would have
put all Georgia jobbers on the same footing
relatively; and all Georgia jobbers would have
enjoyed these reduced rates.
was appointed Special Attorney for the Rail-
road Commission of Georgia August 23rd
1907 In few days thereafter, separate suits
were filed by the Georgia Railroad, the Atlanta
& West Point the Seatoard Air Line, the Atlantic
Coast Line, and the Central of Georgia to enjon
the orders of the Commission, reducing passen-
ger fares in Georgia.
Ex-senator Spooner was employed by the Cen
trail in it's case, and not in any suit enjoin re-
duction in freight rates, you seem to think.
After hard fought battle, Judge Newman held,
that the passenger rates should be permitted to
go into effect in order that practical test might
be made, to determine whether the reduced pas
senger rates were cOnfscatory; and refused the
injunction, with leave to the Central to apply at
the end of six months for an injunction, if these
reduced passenger rates proved disastrous to that
company This application never made; and
the people of Georgia enjoying these reduced
passenger rates.
All the other suits for injunction against these
reduced passenger rates were afterwards dis
missed | repeat, that Injunction is pend
Ing against any order passed by the Commission
since l was appointed it's attorney.
In 1906 the Commission passed Circular GIG,
putting the Central of Georgia in Glass G.; and
permitted it to charge fifteen per cent above the
standard tariff This Company filed bill in the