Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-24
W1ter-POZVer Control
Bill Fav0rabZy Reported
By Committee Of House

At the conclusion Of one of the
most spirited public hearings on pro-
posed legislation held thus far dur
ing the 1920 session of the general
assembly, the house committee on
constitutional amendments Wednes-
day afternoon voted to report IA
Vorably two bills sponsored by the
Municipal League of Georgia.
These measures propose to amend
the state constitution SO as to create
state hydro-electric commission,
which shall have control of water
power development, with authority
to incur debt necessary to purchase,
construct and operate plants for the
development of electric current from
water power. The bills also propose
to allow municipalities, or other poll
teal divisions, to incur debt in eX-
limit of per cent for the purpose
of acquiring water powers by nego-
tiations or condemnation, of develop
ing and operating power plants.
The committee voted, 10 to Z, for
a favorable report on both bills. AS
tie measures are constitutional
amendments, a two-thirds majority
necessary for their approval before
they can be submitted to the people
for ratification.
The speakers for the measures
were Marion M. Jackson and Repre-
sentative Covington, of Coiiquitt
bills, while the speakers for the OPP
position were H. M. Atkinson, chair
man of the board of directors of the
Georgia Railway and Power COM
pany; Attorney Joe Hill Hall, of
Macon, and Roby Robinson, we'll
known Atlanta bond and stock dealer.
Each side was given one hour for
argument.
The opening argument for the
measures was made by Marion Jack
son, a member of the Municipal
League of Georgia. He declared that
the ownership of water powers by
municipalities has worked out to the
advantage of the public in every in
stance where it has been attempted,
calling attention to the situation In
Ontario, Can, where, he said, the
hydro-electric commission is now de-
Veloping hundreds of thousands of
horse power at a remarkably low
rate.
Cleveland Situation Co1Rpared
MI Jackson compared the Situa-
ton in Atlanta with that in Cleve-
land, where, he alleged, a 3-cent per
llilowatt rate as against cents per
kiloWatl in this city. Rates in Seat
tie, Wash, said MIR. Jackson, are half
those in Columbus and Savannah,
where the water powers have been
developed by the same company. EX-
panding his views, Mr.. Jackson de-
clared that between 1,S50,O00 and
$4,000 horsepower is now going TO
waste in Georgia for lack of facilities
to develop the waterpoWerS of the
state and he urged the committee to
approve the two measures, which, he
asserted, would mean the emareipa-
ton of Georgia cities.
Concluding his argument, Mr.. Jack
l,xy1 pN
electric situation in Georgia to the
days of the carpet-baggers, saying
that the capital engaged in water
power development in Georgia today
comes from the same section of the
country that sent the carpet-baggers
days.
Opening the argument against the
bills, Harry M. Atkinson, chairman
of the board Of directors of the
Georgia Railway and Power COM
pany, deplored the remarks of Mr.
Jackson concerning the carpet-bag-
gers, asserting that no capital is
ment of waterpowers and that OF
necessity the capitalists of the east
had to be called on to furnish flnan-
cial resources. Mr.. Atkinson charac-
teriZed the purpose of the two bills
as socialistic and spoke facetiously
VI l1lS 10y DCl"CClI L4lC pl 1AlSl-
pies they involve and those enun-
ciated by the recent convention of the
third party" in Chicago.
Citing the railroad situation as 81
fair example of what public owner
ship Of public utilities means, Mr..
Atkinson declared that the policy OF
the Municipal League is to "confis-
cate and wreck property and then
recoup by taxation of the public"
Tn conclusion Atkinson re-
counted the achievements of the
Georgia Railway & Power company
in developing Waterpower in Geor-
gia, but stated that his interest in
that company was merely incidental
to his concern over the threatened
catastrophe to be expected as the re-
suit of such legislation as the two
bills under consideration.
Effect on Credit
Roby Robinson, speaking as deal
err in bonds and municipal securities,
declared that the credit of Georgia
municipalities would be ruined II the
proposed bills were passed, taking off
the constitutional limit for the in
curing of debt. He asserted that
the credit of Georgia cities and
towns is now the highest in any sec
ton of the country, due to the con-
debt. He insisted that very few
municipalities in this state now have
any considerable margin on which to
issue bonds.
Amplification of this phase of the
argument was offered by Joe Hill
Hall, veteran legislator and attorney.
He urged the committee not to place
the stamp of approval on bills that
would destroy the credit of Georgia
cities and towns and plunge the state
into a SocialiStic scheme that was
sponsored by 'dreamers and theor-
lists"
Marion Jackson, taking the floor