Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-04
Preserve Franchise Amend
ment and Primary Law,
Says He in Inaugural Ad-
dress Before Assembly

4&E &00A TIE DMND OF ONCE nc 1ANAG LoA
an hour, and made many Recommended
tons to the assembly. His address was
heard with close attention. It follows:
Mr. President and Gentlemen OF the
General Assembly:
sympathize with the earnest desire
which I know you feel to make your
present session contribute all possible
10 the welfare and permanent progress
OF the people OF our state.
1he last gubernatoriai campaign in
volved FIRST OF au the preservation OF leg
islation passed In 1907 and 1905. This leg
isla2ion marked an epoch In our history.
FRANCHISE AND ELECTION LAWS.
or the laws then passed first In import
; ance Ii our franchise amendment TO the
constitution This amendment win per
uaane=sly protect the state against dan
gers almost indsscribable. Its value Is
far-r~aching, not alone At the ballot box
but In the solution Of ths race problem
At the same time laws were passed COW
exang the registration Of voters. regulat-
ing primaries and seeking 10 make our
elections pure
I commend these laws to your sup
port With experience. no doubt. they
can be improved BY amendment, but no
change should be made In them which
viii lessen their efficiency. Our elections
must be kept upon the highest possible
plane, free from every undue Influence
In this connection. i suggest that the
managers OF our statewide primaries
should be paid as managers OF our reg
ular elections are paid
The statewide primary virtually settles
who shall hold offices IN Georgia The
regular election serves but small pur-
post except to confirm the result OF the
primary The public and not the condi-
dates should bear the expense
A an additional mode OF Improving our
election laws. / suggest that no longer
any occasion exists for our October cleo
tons They can well be abandoned and
At cur November elections. when con-
gressmen are selected. we can select our
state ticket.
This would save bringing the people
twice TO the polls for regular elections,
the same year and almost certainly In
sure q larger vote IN the regular cleo
tons.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Our new railroad commission law,
adopted IN 1907. has made IL possible for
the commission 20 render broader and
more valuable service to the public. IL
placed under the supervision OF the com
mission express companies. street ran
road companies, dock and wharf COM
panaem transfer and companies. teie-
phone and telegraph companies. gas.
electric light and power companies. In
deed. practically all public service COM
pankes In Georgia are now subject TO the
wupervfslon OF the railroad commission
Public service companies are 70 q large
axtent essentially monopolfes. They exer-
rsw@ urfvalawea under charters and spe-
caal grants from the state IN the inter
ct. not alone OF their stockholders but
OF the entire public. These corporations
created BY the state. owe duties to the
pubic. and supervision By commission
similar to that which we have created
IN Georgia Ia the only means Of COM
p@EIfnw fhsse companies 20 recognize the
rights Of the public.
POWER COMPANIES.
Ii ne ulustrm&s by power companies
the Importance Of bringing these addt-
ssonaa corporations under state super
wssaon II now seems probable that the
water powers OF Georgia viii drift into
tna hands OF . few corporations Their
MA In essential 20 the general prosperity
an6 Growth OF the state. II the indus
tries and the public ct large In Georgia
are To recefve their legitimate share OF
hanen4 from these developments. II must
come through the exercise by the state OF
its power to compel these companies 10
rfwe reasonable service at reasonable
rates to the public. BY placing them IN
der the supervision OF the railroad com
mission the public can be guarded
AGAINST the arbitrary conduct OF these
Quasi public corporationsf
The people OF Georgia pay to the rail-
roads and public service companies over
.ssoo ao.0oo q year This sum Is constant
~ Increasing. There IL enough for the
commissioners 10 do IL they devote their
entire time to the service. believe the
true policy should be 10 increase the pay
Of the railroad commissioners and re-
ouire their entire time
IN fts-work the railroad commission
largely represents the legislature. I
urge ! policy which would seek not TO
hamper the commission IN the discharge
az ia duties. but TO stimulate Il wisely
and Justly 10 guard the rights OF the
public while 81 the same time II recog-
razss also the rights of the corporations
under It's supervised. The corporations
when dissatisfied with the action OF the
commission 50 into the courts with their
conpaafues4 II would seem not improper
that the legislature should as the occa-
sfon requires express itself with refer
euce TO prcblsma involving public policy
connected with the work OF the commits
sion-
PORT FREIGHT RATES.
I belasve the freight rates 20 and from
the ports OF Georgia to all interior
points IN Georgia should be carefully
revised BY the railroad commission
The Importance OF this question grows
out Of the fact that practically all the
railroads Of the state which reach from
the ports 70 interior points In Georgia
have for years been controlled BY those
interested In railroads stretching north
ard west outside Of she state.
Take the case Of the Central railroad.
FOR many years Il wzs controlled by
the sowhern Railway company. which
I'D long lines reaching into the west
rsnu into xhe north II was 20 the in
terest, therefore. Of those controlling our
Georgia railroads 10 have such rates
fixed to and from the ports Of Georgia
as would prevent as far as possible the
shipment Of freight to ard from points
IN Georgia through our ports. and force
ii 20 be shipped over their long rail-
lines from and TO the north and west.
As water transportation Is so much
cheaper than rail transportation, our
freight when hauled largely BY water
and only q short distance by rail should
Re carried at prices much less than
those charged for long ran hauls north
and west.
Under normal conditions the great
bulk of the non-perishabIe freight ship
ped into Georgia and out OF Georgia
should 20 BY Georgia ports al rates with
which the long rail lines north and west
could not compete.