The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1915-06-25

/ Chattanooga or Atlanta could be leas-
ed to advantage without impairment
of the railroad itself, and all the prob
lens regarding the disposition of the
Western and Atlantic railroad could
be submitted for its wise and patriotic
solution
Parallelinq The w. & A. r. r.
In October, 1914, / learned that the
North Georgia Mineral railway, after
complying with the requirements of
tary of state for Charter to con-
struct railroad from the city of Att
lanta to Warford's Cross Road in Bar
tow county. This railroad was under=i
stood to be an adjunct OF the Leuisal
vile and Nashville railroad and pro
jected by those who were allies O
owners OF the Louisville and Nasf
Nashville railroad is the dominant fas
tor in the Nashville, Chattanooga and
st. Louis railroad, which is the lessee
of the Western and Atlantic railroad.
The grant of this charter and the
construction of the railroad would
practically mean paralleling OF the
Western and Atlantic railroad.
1t is possible that the secretary OF
state would have been required to
grant the charter as ministerial act:
The action was one that affected
the states property to such an extent
that | would have deemed it my duty
to call the legislature in extraordinary
session for the purpose of giving the
general assembly the opportunity OF
determining what course should be
taken in the premises.
This necessity was obviated by a
| consultation with the counsel for the
contemplated railroad. They consent
ed to make no request of the secretary
of state for charter until after the
legislature of 1915 had bean given an
| opportunity to take such &ction in the
| matter as it deemed advisable. | de-
| sire to commend at this time their
| courtesy and consideration in adopting
| the plan they followed in relieving the
| state of the burden of such eXtraor-
| binary session.
The question involves one of policy
and greatly affects the leases of the
| Western and Atlantic railroad.
Chattanooga Conditions
During the last several years, the
| delegation from Hamilton county,
| Tennessee, in which Chattanooga is
i located has introduced bills into the
| Tennessee legislature for the purpose
| of authorizing the condemnation of
right-of-Way over the Western and At
| lantic railroad for the construction of
a street.
The first time Judge Hart, then at
| torney general, represented the state
of Georgia before the Tennessee Iegis-
| lature. The bill passed the house of
representatives and was defeated by
| narrow margin in the senate.
| This spring a similar bill was intro
| duced. Hon. Warren Grice, attorney
| general, and Judge Hart were desig-
mated by me to represent the state of
| Georgia. This measure was pressed
| up to the hour of adjournment, and
| am glad to report was not enacted
| into law.
Company's Case
In 1918 the legislature directed by
resolution that the governor enter into
| contract with the Ducktown Sulphur,
| Copper and Iron company for payment
! OF damages suffered by Georgia citi-
zens, and such contract was to be
! similar to that made with the Tennes-
| see Copper company and in the event
the Ducktown Sulphur, Copper and
! Iron company failed to make such a
| contract, the governor was directed
| to take appropriate proceedings before
! the Supreme court of the United States
| to enjoin it's further operation
The DucktoWn Sulphur, Copper and
Iron company refused to make such
agreement. The Supreme court of the
United States declined to grant our
| motion to enjoin the company and
| ordered that testimony be taken. The
| evidence was voluminous and the le-
| gal problems were difficult.
have the pleasure of reporting
that by decree recently rendered, the
Federal Supreme court sustained our
contentious and limited the production
or harmful gases to a small per cent,
with right to ask further relief.
Prison Farm
have visited the prison farm at
| Milledgeville, and find it well managed
| in all departments.
l urgently recommend that you pass
a law lessening the number of con-
victs sent to the prison farm, and that
| by statute you enable the prison COM
| missioners, in their discretion, to
place upon the roads convicts commit.
| ted to the farm
With the large number of inmates
| located at the farm at present, it is
impossible to utilize their labor. Their
maintenance constitutes a source of
increasing expense. They remain in
| enforced idleness, and nothing is more
damaging than such condition.
lndeterminate Sentences
Under existing laws convicts are eli
| gible for parole after a certain length
of service. Whether this parole
should be granted depends upon the
nature of the offense, it's aggravating
circumstances, the previous history OF
the convict, his conduct during confine-
| ment, his youth and similar factors
controlling the discretion of the prison
commission and the executive.
Georgia Training School For Girls
Under the act of 1913 the Georgia
| Training School for Girls was estab.
lished. The appropriation has been
| expended in accordance with the pro.
visions of that act, and with rare ex.
| ecutive ability, the board of managers
have erected building peculiarly
adapted to the purposes contemplated
| by the act.
Heretofore the state has prasfn,1ed no
place adapted to the segTe ron of
hayward young girls from older Grim.
inals. The work demands the highest
sanity and the managers, unsurpassed
IN their personnel by the board of any
other state institution, has evidenced
the greatest common sense, both in
economical management and in the
effort to aid the unfortunate inmates.
Farewell
This message practically concludes
my official connection with the state
of Georgia / served it for Seventeen
years in the legislature, for a short
time as acting governor and for two
years as governor. / know no posi-.
ton in which a citizen, can render
greater service to his state than I'M,
the legislature. In that body his &C.