Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-14
WAR On CHARTER
CENTERS ABOUT
CORPORATIONS
Refusal of Committee to Elm
mate Utilities Clause ArouSeS
Strong Opposition.

T6e declaration of W. T. Gentry,
,.csi1ent of the Southern Bell Tele-
ybone and Telegraph Company, that the
,.rovtsion of the new city charter bar
-inr stockholders and employees Of pub
r.. -,+fI'tv corporations from serving as
.orrcilmen or trustees, would cause
o00 to 5000 employees and stockhold-
srs in such corporations to fight the
both the friends and the enemies of the
charter has created a great stir among
reform movement today.
While Aldine Chambers, recognized
leader Of the forces that are fighting
tee charter, declared several days ago
that one of the strongest influences
bahfnd the new charter movement was
the Georgia Railway and Power Com
ranv. other politicians today predicted
the death Of the new charter because
If this companys opposition. The poll
+ic'ans want to see it killed, no matter
how.
Charles r Hopkins and John L. Nc
CleUand. two of the men who drafted
the charter. announced that they would
withdraw from the committee If the
aDti-pubic utility section was stricken.
Hopkins Stands Firm.
The members of council and the
trustees Jointly pass upon franchises
for public utility corporations, said
Mr.. Hopkins The section Of the char
ter further provides that no city official
who acts on public utility matters shall
be allowed 10 be q stockholder in such
cogporations If the section was taken
out the charter would be a dead issue,
and 1t should be-
This charter was drawn solely in the
interest Of the people of Atlanta and 1t
must stay that way"
When the sub committee Of seven
met yesterday afternoon to consider the
etntative charter, Preston S. Arkwright,
president Of the Georgia Railway and
Power Company, and Mr.. Gentry ap-
peared before it and urged that this
feature Of the charter be eliminated.
Insult, Says Arkwright.
Mr.. Arkwright declared it was a gra-
tuitous insult and put the stockholders
aud employees Of the company in the
class OF convicted criminals idiots and
insane persons-the classes eliminated
from holding office by the state consti-
tuition.
Mr.. ArNWright said his company did
not care anything about the matter;
that it had practically no business with
The council. as all authority over it had
been conferred on the state railroad
commission; but he said the individuals
Of the company did care, and that as
the company paid one-eighth OF the
city.s revenue it was entitled to full
representative powers.
M. Gentry's statement, intimating
that the stockholders and employees of
the public utility corporations would
combine to defeat the charter, brought
The reioinder from Messrs. Hopkins and
McClelland that it was not the part VI
wisdom to make such statement But
Mr. Gentry stuck to it.
Corporation Men Defended.
Mayor Woodward said the provision
would disqualify some mighty good
men Chairman McClelland replied that
II II was taken out, the people of At
anita could not be convinced in ten
years that the new charter was not in
ne interest Of the public utility corpo-
faIons and that the officials fostering
d, We're agents OF the corporations.
councilman w. 6. Humphrey, Presi-
dent Wilmer L. Moore of the Chamber
'' Commerce and John Welch were
inclined to think that a provision dis
4ualfying such men from voting on
matters affecting public utility corpora
IONS would be sufficient. Mayor
woodward suggested that the whole
matter be referred to the committee
Of %.
Inc committee unanimously voted to
recommend the tentative charter to the
committee of %. after changing some
"5Ihor details. They declined to strike
,"e section relating to public utility
,oI poIauonS, but expect the fight again
W. ne Drought up in the committee of 90.
AIuerman John S. Gambler and Frank
'Ieoulah are out of the city and We're
~ present at the meeting. 1t is said
nat Jhey agree with Messrs. Hopkins
@na McClelland.
mayor Woodward will call a meeting
~. me committee of % for Tuesday aft
1ss"oon at o'clock. special meeting
W. council will be held soon afterward
W consider referring the charter to the
Mr. Mrs; Annie Harris.