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,
resident of the Southern Bell Tele-
,bore and Telegraph Company, that the
r~oyizion of the new city charter bar
rire stockholders and employees of pub
1,o utility corporations from serving as
,,,,ycflmen or trustees, would cause
4 ooo to 5000 employees and stockhold-
crs in such corporations to fight the
both the friends and the enemies Of the
e1arter has created great stir among
,eform movement today.
While Aldine Chambers, recognized
loader Of the forces that are lighting
,1e charter. declared several days ago
,nat one Of the strongest influences
behind the new charter movement was
tbe Georgia Railway and Power Com
ranv other politicians today predicted
The death OF the new charter because
or this company's opposition. The poll
,iclans want TO see it killed, no matter
how.
Charles T Hopkins and John Z. Nc
Cleland. 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
NJ Hopkins. The section of the char
ter further provides that no city official
Who acts on public utility matters shall
BE- allowed 70 be a stakeholder in such
corporations. If the section was taken
out, the charter would be dead issue,
and 1t should be.
"Tuis charter was drawn solely in the
interest Of the people Of Atlanta and II
must stay that way"
When the subcommittee Of seven
net 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.. Arkwrtght declared it was a 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.. Arkwrght 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
clty's revenue it was entitled to full
representative powers.
MI. Gentrys 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
McClelland that 1t was not the part OF
wisdom TO make such a statement. But
Mr. Gentry stuck to 1t.
Corporation Men Defended.
Mayor Woodward said the provision
would dsqualify 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
the interest of the public utility corpo-
raIlons and that the officials fostering
jill were agents Of the corporations.
councilman W. G. Humphrey. Presi-
cent Wilmer l.. Moore of the Chamber
OK commerce and John WEIGH were
'hchned to think that provision dis
F0ahtyin8 such men from voting on
matters affecting public utility corpora
IONS would be sufficient. Mayor
Woodward suggested that the whole
natter be referred to the committee
Of %.
Inc committee unanimously voted to
recommend the tentative charter to the
.oiNi1lttee of %, after changing some
,sIlt details. They declined to strike
section relating to public utility
w t poi dIiohS, but expect the fight again
oS Drought up in the committee of %.
.A,loerman John S. Gambler and Frank
l l1IeoInan are out of the city and were
~ present at the meeting. 1t is said
,na1 Lhey agree with Messrs. Hopkins
ana McClelland.
sMayor Woodward will call a meeting
VI lhe committee of 25 for Tuesday Aft
g 90 at o'clock. A special meeting
vi council will be held soon afterward
W. consider referring the charter to the