The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-07-30

Again. in the same interview, Governor Smith
says:
I'm matters of taxation the railroads and pub
lie service companies in Georgia bear less part
of the public burdens than they do in New York
and in the New England States In the city Of
Atlanta the property of the average private citi-
zen is assessed at nearer actual value than prop
ery of the railroads and public service companies
throughout the State
Pertinent again it is, unquestionaby, to ask
why this is true? Why if the power exists, as it
admittedly does has not equalization been here
established and why should the Governor exult
in the statement that the railroads are favored
the ''avefage citizen of Atlanta in the mat
ter of taxation.
We may have our own opinion as to why these
campaign pledges have not been fulfilled, and as
to the unwsdom of their naturalization, but that
is neither here nor there.
The fact is, and it cannot be denied that this
administration is approaching the close of it's
existence with a record which dscloses higher
instead If lower freight rates.
1t is going out without the port rate PROPOSE
ton, foremost campaign issue, even having been
dragged into the commission by the back door or
mentioned in subdued whisper
1t is approaching dissolution without dollar
of that $4,000, 900 having been returned to the
people, but with perhaps a million or two dollars
added to it.
There have been no charter revsions, and no
serious talk of them-and no auction bids, except
that of the bankrupt sale.
The people entitled, in all fairness, to know
direct from headquarters why these things are so.
One of two things is their just due-perform-
ance confession.
1t matters not that the political execution has
already taken place; that silence thick as
London fog while the gibbet was being pre-
pared.
1t is not necessary to enter into the question
Of justice or injustice in those pledges.
1t still remains that there things promised
and not performed.
There still remain the power and the time for
such performance-two months and half!
Will the administration, in the interim preced-
ing it's political obsequies, take advantage of the
w
admit, the facts have proven, that the whole
thing was political bunco game?
Duty to the public demands the other.
Those who promised all these things and then
took to the tall timbers must either explain or
forever hereafter hold their peace
That was what you may call a cracker jack
editorial.
The Constitution accused the Governor Of
not having made the slightest effort to keep
his campaign pledges.
The Port Rate promise, which was to give
all the people lower freights on all stuff
shipped to and from Brunswick and Savan-
nah, had not even been dragged before the
Smithifed Railroad ''by the back-door, or
mentioned in subdued whisper"
Smith had been Governor for nearly two
years. Only few weeks remained for him
to redeem pledges.
Burning with patriots just Indignation,
Clark Howell beloved
"REDEE'N THOSE PRONISES!'
Governor Smith saw that Clark had him
where Waller had the hen.
He, Smith, must do something. Further
more, he must do it right away.
Consequently, he ransacked his law-ofice
and found the twice-rejected Petition which
the Hardware jobbers of Atlanta had filed
with the Railroad Commission.
In this matter, LAWYER Hoke Smith had
been employed by the Beck Gregg Company
and others. Their human purpose was very