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.

The declaration of w. 7. Gentry,
rras'dept Of the Southern Bell Tele-
sbora and Telegraph Company, that the
r,royision of the new city charter bar
-t,g stockholders and employees Of pub
Il, I,tiIftv corporations from serving as
courcilInen or trustees, would cause
o00 to 5000 employees and stockhOld
ers in such corporations to fight the
bo+h 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
+be charter, declared several days ago
that one of the strongest influences
hehind the new charter movement was
tha Georgia Railway and Power Com
,anv other politicians today predicted
he death of the new charter because
Of this companys opposition. The poll
4icians want to see it killed. no matter
how
Charles T. Hopkins and John L. Nc
CIeIland, two Of the men who drafted
the charter. announced that they would
withdraw from the committee If the
anti public 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 to be a stakeholder in such
corporations. If the section was taken
out, the charter would be a dead issue
and it should be.
This charter was drawn solely in the
interest of the people of Atlanta and 1t
must stay that way"
When the subcommittee 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 gra-
tuitous insult and put the stockholders
and 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. ArllWright said his company did
not care anything about the matter;
that it had practically no business with
the council, as all authority over 1t 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
cItys revenue it was entitled to full
representative powers.
Mr. Gentry's statement, intimating
That the stockholders and employees of
the public utility corporations would
combine to defeat the charter, brought
the rejoinder from Messrs. Hopkins and
NeClelland that 1t was not the part OIL
wisdom to make such a statement But
Mr.. Gentry stuck to 1t.
Corporation Men Defended.
Mayor Woodward said the provision
would disqualify some mighty good
men. Chairman McClelland replied that
II it was taken out, the people of At
~NNiN AAOL VIC convinced III Ten
years that the new charter was not in
me interest OF the public utility corpo-
fatlons and that the officials fostering
il We're agents OF the corporations
councilman w. G. Humphrey. Prest-
dent Wilmer L. Moore of the Chamber
Oh commerce and John WEIGH were
'"'''ued to think that a provision dig
qualifying 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
+.LLl"of details. They declined to strike
.ne section relating to public utility
81 poTauons, but expect the fight again
" We brought up In the committee Of 25.
AIuerman John S. Gambler and Frank
"IeoIhan are out of the city and were
~ present at the meeting. 1t is said
~nII they agree with Messrs. Hopkins
"Hu McClelland
Mayor Woodward will call a meeting
me committee of % for Tuesday aft
.."ooh at ) o'clock. A special meeting
council will be held soon afterward
outsider referring the charter to the
NJ Mrs. Annie Harris.
al tbo aHiIIe Harris, % years OLD, died