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* _
The Weekly Banner.
ESTABLISHED i332.
ATHENS, OA., FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 28, *1916.
•1 JO PER YEAR
FOB GOVERNOR Jfftfef
■I
WRITES OF l & 1.
IS AUTHORITY ON RAILROAD
SITUATION AND SPEAKS
FROM NEW ANGLE
ON SUBJECT
The Banner has received a copy of
the following lotter from Former
(lovernor Jos. M. Brown, who has
studied the "state road problem"
more thoroughly, perhaps, than al
most any other man in the state at
this time:
To the General Assembly and to
the People of Georgia: There como
times when the citizens of our stato
should confer with each other on a
basis where each, while contending
with all sincerity for the views ho
advances, accords like honesty of
purpose to those who present oppos
ing views. Such a time Is upon us
as wo discuss the disposition of the
Western and Atlantic Railroad,
whether by lease or sale, and the pro
posed constitutional amendment for
bidding the paralleling of it, also the
proposition to extend It to the sea.
I shall, therefore, In this communi
cation, wave aside all possible
charges that I am the "tool" of cer
tain "Interests,” or "corporations,"
just as I shall refrain from charging
that those who differ with me are
wiped out with part of the money and
that the remainder could be Invest
ed in municipal or other bonds,
which the Interest could be used for
educational purposes and the like.
But they lose sight of the fact that
the present bonds of the state are
Issued for stipulated periods and are
generally held as permanent Invest
ments. The only way, therefore,
whereby the state could get them be
fore their datos of expiration would
be to buy them. She would then
doubtedly have to give a premium
for them. That premium might be
come excessive.
And, In section 2557 of the codo of
Georgia, certain kluds of Insurance
companies aro required to deposit
with the state treasurer |25,000 face
value of United States bonds or Geor
gia state bonds. The former bonds
might command a higher price, hcncs
the insurance companies might in
sist on holding the Georgia bonds as
a deposit.
But, if the state could buy back all
of her bonds at prices agreeable to
her and thus extinguish her debt, she
-Would find that the surplus which
she had for Investment In other
bonds would soon leave her.
To begin with, she Is now serious
ly embarrassed by the results of ex
cessive appropriations during past
years, and has to draw on her school
and pension funds to keop her other
affairs going. It would probably take
the "tools” of other and rival "inter
ests,” etc. I know that I shall herein j !" gcl *.™ rc than » 1 - 000 - 000 to ea8e
advance arguments, some of which
are radically at variance with the
general trend of those of almost all
the public men who have thus far
spoken or written on the great sub
ject under review—in fact, I appre
hend that I am not going to entirely
please anybody—but, believing that
my Judgment is well based, I will un
dertake to make my roasons clear
for so believing.
And now, first, as to the question
of the sale of the road: I am and
bavo always been opposed to the sale.
As far back as June 8 or 9, 1889, 1
published in The Atlanta Constitu
tion a letter upon the subject of tho
then pending lease of the road. This
was reproduced in an amplified form
In a railroad newspaper, The Kenne-
saw Gazette, July 1, 1889, a bound
copy of which I have now before me.
In tho lattor part of the letter 1
said:
"In a previous paragraph I re
ferred to the lessees or others who
will be the successors of the present
company, bocauso I cannot believe
that the legislature of Georgia will
be so short-sighted as to sell the
road. In my opinion, the state should
not, under any circumstance, part
with the ownership of it, for, when
she does, her power to control it and
bring about the results I have re
ferred to is gone.”
The results referred to were the
protection for the people of Qeorgla
of the power to maintain competitive
rates.
The Purchase Prloe.
Mow, os to the matter of tho sale,
there la quite an exaggerated Idea in
the minds of many as to how much tt
could be sold for. It has been esti
mated as being worth from $15,000,-
000 to $200,000,000. But as the road
could be reproduced, terminals and
all, for probably less than $8,500,000,
why would any purchaser be willing
to pay the exaggerated price popu
larly fixed for It?
If the constitution did not for
bid the purchase of it by the South
ern Railway or the Central of Geor
gia Railway—and, as both of these
roads cross the state tine, I am not
sure that the constitution of Georgia
can forbid tt—it Is not reasonable to
suppose that the owners of either of
these roads paralleling It would give
$15,000,000 or more for this road.
Hither of those roads could double
track its own parallel line for one-
sixth of the above sum. And I do not
See why the U ft N.. or Its subsid
iary line, the Nashville, Chattanooga
ft St. Louts Railway would be willing
to pay any such price for it. They
could scarcely borrow the money for
this purpose for as little as 4Vi per
cent. The interest, therefore, would
be $675,000, or moro per apnum. I
think it quite possible that it could
be sold to the owners of one or ths
other of the two last named lines for
$10,000,000, but scarcely for more.
Those who advocate the sale gen
erally advance the Idea that the pres
ent state debt could be entirely
this strain
What could bo more appealing than
the argument that this money bo ap
propriated lor the public schools and
pension increasing, say, the common
school fund $500,000 or more per an
num above the present appropria
lions, and increasing pensions until
the surplus was exhausted. The man
who believes that this could be
stemmed by the legislature or by
the people at the polls does not
know them. I unhesitatingly venture
the assertion that within five years,
if not within throe, the surplus would
entirely disappear.
Would Not Vote Sale,
But, as I feel, assured that not 20
per cent of the people of Georgia
could be induced to vote to sell tho
road, I will not hero enumerate oth
er strong roasons in my mind against
the sale.
Now, as to leasing the road, I have
tor many years expressed my convlc
lion that the state should not let it
to any tenant for a period longer
than thirty years.
Thirty years cover practically the
working limit of a generation. Every
generation faces conditions which dif
fer from those of othor generations.
The first lease of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad was for only twen
ty years, beginning December 27,
1870, and ending December 27, 1890.
The second lease began at the latter
named date and will end December
27, 1919,
Now, let us look back. Thirty years
before 1870, viz.: in 1840, almost the
entire transportation In Georgia was
by horses, mules, oxen or boats. Sup
pose this road had been already built,
and had have been leased then, when
by far the greater portion of the
state was a wilderness. The figures
It would lately have commanded then
might have been unreasonably low In
1860-1870.
Again, in 1890, there were no au
tomobiles and practically no electric
power plants In the United States.
Now they play an enormous part In
our social and business economy.
Who can forecast what will be the
economic conditions In 1949? There
fore, a lease covering fifty or more
years at figures very flattering now
might after thirty years be so small
as to appear s business absurdity.
Yet, by leasing It for fifty or more
years, we would tn that event abso
lutely handicap the next generation
by the small amount of the rental,
and possibly even more by hedging It
with conditions which would bo coun
ter to the needs of the next goners
lion. Let us assume that they wit.
be as smart aq we arc, that thoy can
face their conditions more Intelli
gently than we can forecast them,
and leave them free to protect them
selves in the power to secure com
petition and proper rental figures. I
submit that tt is not an answer to
this argument to say that we can fix
the rental on an ascending scale, for
that scale might be much below the
and would not at all touch the con
ditions as to Insuring competition,
These conditions might in that pe
riod be so radically changed from
those we confront as to mako the
rental a minor feature.
Let the state, then, take back the
road at the end of each period of
thirty years and adjust the succeed
Ing tease to the changed conditions
financial, economic and competitive,
which the needs of the people within
that period require. In this way the
state and her people will certainly
Bhare the superior benefits of the op
erations of this road instead of pos
sibly yielding them to the lessees.
And who knows but that thirty years
hence conditions may be such as to
reverse our beliefs and make It to
her interest that the state operate It
Double Tracking,
Another point comes in Just here,
viz.: tho double tracking of the road
It certainly ought to be double track
ed at as early a date as can be made
practicable. In one or two of my
messages to the general assembly,
while I was governor, I urged this
point. And I am still of the opinion
then expressed, viz.: that, os the
state is herself Interested tn keeping
her railroad abreast of any other in
the powers for transportation, she
ought to bear a part In the double
tracking expense. But how can this
be done? Easily enough.
The rental should be raised with
the next lease. A minimum figure
certainly ought to be named in the
leasing act, else an unprovable agree
ment might be entered into between
certain parties which might find tho
highest bid about $25,000 per month
Bear in mind that when the road
was leased In 1890 there were only
two bids—one for $35,000 and one
for $35,001. That these bids were
made by mutual understanding there
Is practically no doubt.
should say the minimum
ought to be fixed at $50,000 per
month. But make it a condition that
the leasing company should, before
the end of seven years, double track
It from Atlanta to Chattanooga, and
provide that during tho first five
years of the new lea|e the state
would accept as the monthly rental
sum equal to $15,000 less than the
amount agreed upon as the standard
rental, the said $15,004 to be put Into
the expense of double tracking, and
that the new leasing company should
put a stated monthly amount, say,
at least $10,000 tn addition to tho
above figures, and during the two
years after the five above referred to
should, at its own expense, com
plete tho double tracking, if it had
not dono so by the end of tho five
years.
The leasing company could be
given consent to finish the double
tracking within a short period. If it
so desired, with the assurance that
monthly deduction of $15,000
ould be permitted for five years.
The double tracking, with new
bridges, etc., would cost possibly
more than $2,000,000, hence the state
would pay less than halt of It, but
when she got the road back she
would own all of It. And yst sho
would not appropriate from her treas
ury for this purpose a dqilar which
had gone Into It. This plan might
prevent some legislative complica
tions.
I will merely add that it seems to
me self-evident that the new leasing
company, which may hold .the road
during the term of only one lease,
could not afford to pay the state a
liberal rental, and, besides, expend
from its treasury a sum,equal to st
least three or more years of rental
double track tho road, which
would afterward be entirely the
state’s. A requirement that tt do
the double tracking at its own ex
pense would undoubtedly reduce the
amount bid for the rentaL whereas
the plan I suggest would only affect
the state’s income for five years and
would probably Insure the double
tracking, and thereby maintain the
western and Atlantic’s pov-er at s
first-class road, and with it the pres
tige of Its owner—the state.
In my next letter I will take up the
proposod amendment to the constitu
tion forbidding the paralleling of the
estern and Atlantic Railroad, and
present my views about It. They may
worth something to the people
who are called upon to vote on this
amendment in the November election.
JOSEPH M. BROWN.
Cherokee Mills, R. F. D. No. 4, Can
ton, Ga„ July 24, 1916.
Madame Lustrai received a myste
rious-looking little parcel In an en
velope this week—mailed at Parts.
The envelope contained a tiny doll-
muff, done In knitted thread, with
cord and tassels, and lace fringed,
and then decorated with a bit of rib
bon In the colors of Belgium. The
knitted work was pink and the lace
Never Made Mistake in Reports
In Fifty Years Railroad Service
MACHINERY 10 BE INSTALLED
FOR RIGH SCHOOL’S “SHOPS"
Two pieces of machinery have been .ger in catching persons near the saw
authorized by the city board of edu
cation for the manual arts department
of the high school—to be installed In
time for the fall term. A saw bench
and a speed lathe.
These two pieces of splendid ma
chinery will add infinitely to the pos
sibilities of the work in the wood
working shops. The saw bench or
saw table of the modern, type, capa
ble of all kinds of atjhptment and
manipulation, operated by power from
Us own individual motor, with no
belts In sight to be’* sourew-of dan-
S7
3etgic
while it Is In motion. Every safety
appliance has been added and the
piece of machinery is a model for
school work.
The lathe will be also operated by
an Individual motor—with no belts or
other possibilities of danger to opera
tons or observers. It will be the latest
model and capable of infinite variety
of uses in turning.
The addition of these machines will
mean much for the now department
which Is to teach practical carpenf^f,
cabinet making, and ail kinds of wood
work.
Little Belgian Girl Sends Her
Thanks to the Athens People
white, with baby-blue for the cords
Attached to the muff was a neat lit
tle card, with the six-year-old girl’s
tiny photo pasted neatly upon It, her
name and age, and residence. The
little token was a beautiful expres
sion of gratitude for the relief sent
by the people of Athens some months
ago.
More than half a century of active
service for the Georgia Railroad and
the Southern Express Company with
out there ever baying appeared In his
reports to either company’s head of
fice an error which could be charged
to him, as his fault—is the record of
Mr. Anderson Little who is dead at
his home at Crawford, the Junction
point of the Georgia Railroad and the
Lexington Branch. He was ninety-
four years of age and had been mar
ried thrice, rearing three sets of
children.
Boiight Three Quarts of Corn But
Doesn ’t Know Stranger Who Sold It
Three officers of the law, one a
county special’’ criminal bailiff, an
other a regular G. M. district consta
ble, and tho third a city detective;
and three quart bottles filled with
yellowing corn whiskey of the old-
time blockade fragrance and bead—
and one very colored woman, a de
cent respectable woman, at that,
formed tho group in the sheriff’s of
fice yesterday afternoon.
A little later the group adjourned
to Judge Carlisle Cobb's office and
warrant charging violation of the
prohibition ( law was sworn out
against the woman, Susie Shaw—
and she will answer to the higher
courts.
The woman lives near the home of
Mr. Crawford in Barbcrvllio. She
had been suspected by the officers
and her place searched—three full
quarts being found and some other
emptied bottles. Asked where she
got the whiskey, when she denied
having sold any but admitted buying
a small quantity, she said—and stuck
to the statement In the face of the
certainty of being placed behind the
bars and going before the big court—
that she had bought the white liquor
from a white mun who bad driven to
her door In an automobile, knocked
on the door, remarked that “nobody
would hurt her,” and offered her
three quarts of good corn whiskey—
which she accepted and paid for. She
declared that she had never seen the
man before nor since, that she did
not know him, even by hearsay as to
name or residence, and that she had
certainly never bought from him be
fore.
There were tracks, officers said, of
an automobile in the soft earth in
front of her house.
ALLIES REPORT BEST OSH
MB III MANY LONG BATS
GERMAN SUB-BOAT CLEARS FOR
DASH THROUGH CAPE8 AND
PAST GUARD8.
United 8tates Vessels Tske Stand
Near Allied Cruisers for Neu
trality Duty.
(By Associated Press.)
Baltimore, July 26.—The German
merchant submarine, Deutschland, to
day cleared for "Bremen or any oth
er port in Germany," and alt day
there was activity aboard the subma
rine.
At any hour she may leave on s
dash thrdugh the Virginia capes and
the guard of Allied cruisers outside
the three mile limit.
At the request of Captain Koenig
the submarine’s manlfost was with
held from publication for the pres
ent.
German Consul Luderltz said to
night that the Deutschland will not
sail for a week, but declined to ex
plain. '
REPORTS OF ARRIVAL
DEUTSCHLAND’8 TWIN.
Norfolk^ July 26.—Almost simul
taneously with the clearance of the
Deutschland, the United States cruis
er, North Carolina, and three torpe-
boat destroyers, under orders
from Washington to do neutrality du
ty, took their stands near the Allied
cruisers waiting for the Deutschland,
one of which paid an unannounced
visit to the lower Chesapeake bay
Monday night.
There are various reports regard
ing the expected arrival of the Ger
man submarine, Bremen, hut nothing
definite.
BRITISH TAKE POZIERES AND
RUSSIANS CAPTURE PO
SITION OF IMPOR
TANCE TO THE
TURKS
0 HEAR DORSEY
CROWD IN AUTOMOBILES TO GO
TO LEXINGTON SATURDAY
FROM THIS CITY.
Standing Reward for Catching
Legislator Wearing a Necktie
If It Is all the same to you, Mr.
eatherman, instead of making it
degrees for one day, we’ll take It
small change—about 47 for two
figures Justified forty years hence, days.
Atlanta, Ga.. July 28.—The fellow
that walks up to a soda fountain with
friend and matches the friend to
see which buys the drinks will he lia
ble to pay a fine or serve a term In
the chalngang, or both, and the friend
will be equally as liable, If the legis
lature of Georgia passes a bill intro
duced In the house of representatives
yesterday by Mr. Beck of Carroll
county.
Mr. Beck doesn’t believe tn gamb
ling In any form, even down to the
petty Indulgences like matching for
drinks, pitching ’’crackaloo,” throwing
heads and tails, etc.
Likewise he doesn’t believe tn neck
ties. There is a standing reward in
the house for the person who will
catch btm wearing a tie. He does
consent to put a collar around his
neck as a compromise with conven
tion, but that’s his limit. He wears
no man’s collar.
By way of proving the latter, Mr.
Beck of Carroll, having difficulty get
ting recognition from the speaker dur
ing his first week In the houee, walk
ed down to a position in front of the
clerk's desk In the center aisle and
commenced to expound his views In a
stentorian voice.
“I came here to be recognized, and
I don't propose to be shut off,” be
roared; and since that time the speak
er has been able to see him with hit
(the speaker's) eyes shut.
The gentleman from Carroll 1:
regular bear-cat on points of order.
He steeps with a rule book under his
pillow and calls the speaker down
most every day.
RILEY LEFT ESTATE
WORTH ABOUT $200,000
Indianapolis, Ind„ July 26.—James
Whitcomb Riley made a fortune from
the sale of his poems, and. despite
many large gifts made during his life
time, his estate is said now to be
worth between $200,000 and $250,000.
After the funeral, it was said that no
will had been found. Henry Eitel,
brothor-ln-law, explained that Riley
had made all the bequests be partic
ularly wanted to make during his life
time. The poet's gifts to charity had
reached a big sum yearly.
MANY PLANNING TO GO
TO ATLATA ON EXCURSION
The excursion to bo operated over
the S. A. L. Saturday will attract
many to the capital city for that day.
Especially will there be large num
bers of the summer school student
body to take advantage of the trip—
and the low rate of one dollar for the
round trip.
A side trip to the "eighth wonder
of the world,” Stone Mountain, where
the noted sculptor is to carve a he
roic monument to tho Confederate
soldiers, will he an added attraction.
From the front of the Shackelford
Building, where are located the Dor
sey headquarters of this county and
section, a long line of automobiles
will start Saturday morning at 9
clock promptly, to take a large
number of Hugh Dorsey men to Lex
ington to hear their favorite candi
date for governor speak to the Ogle
thorpe county voters at 10 o’clock In
the county court house.
The Dorsey Club here Is very ac
tive In campaigning for their man
and many will go to Lexington.
Mr. Dorsey will return from Lex
ington by way of Athens to go on £o
Watklniville, where he will mix with
the Oconee county voters.
PROTEST READY
(By Associated Press.)
London, July 26.—Ths British Wed
nesday captured the important town
of Pozieres on the Somme front
The Russian Causcues armies oc
cupied Erzingan, Turkey’s great posi
tion in Armenia, and In the region of
the Slonvka river the Russians report
taking 4,000 men and five guns from
the Germans.
T his Is the most encouraging day’s
work from the Allied viewpoint in'
many days.
The British at Pozieres apparently
are resting before attacking the Ger
mans who block their way to Ba-
paume, and Wednesday saw only Iso
lated artillery duels and scattered in
fantry attacks along the entire Brtt-
ltsh front In Franco.
South of Somme the French record
ed another success in the taking of a
fortified bouse with some prisoners.
Except In Champagne, where both
sides are engaged In violent artlllerv
duels, the French front Is relatively
calm.
In portions of the Russian front
other than Slonvka, Germany and
Russia are at variance, both (Idea
claiming local gains, while Germany
announces that the Russians lost
heavily In the unsuccessful attack
near Baranovichi.
There Is nothing tn the Russtan re
port to show whether the Turks re
moved their supposedly vast quanti
ties of military stores from Erzingan.
The Austro-Itallan front Is attract
ing little attention, bat the fighting
continues at various points and Italy
reports gAod progress In the Dolo
mites region.
WAS “SIRRED”
AND DETECTIVE TRIED TO TAKE
HIS OWN LIFE BY THE PIS
TOL ROUTE.
(By Associated Press.)
New York, July 26.—“Snubs,” to
which he and family hare been sub
jected because of his testimony
against Roman Catholic clergymen In
the recent wire-tapping Investigation,
was the reason given today In a state
ment by John Kennel, a detective who
shot and tried to kill himself today.
Kennel who said ha was a good
Catholic himself, declared he did not
fear the resultr of a second test of bin
efficiency as a telephone eavesdrop
per.
Kennel had listened In an a clergy
man’s telephone and when he tried
yesterday to show Justice Greenbaum
how It was done, Greenbaum held the
test to be a failure.
PRESIDENT AND STATE DEPART
MENT WILL FORWARD OB
JECTION TO BRITAIN.
Washington, July 26.—President
Wilson and the state department
have practically completed the pro
test against the British blacklist
certain American firms, and It was
said today that It probably will be
forwarded In a few days.
The state department officials said
that the blacklist Injures American
firms and Is tn violation of Interna
tional law, while the British are un
derstood to claim that It will benefit
purely American firms, and also that
the United Statee has upheld the
same principle, particularly in the
War Between the States.
WOULD RAISE AGE-
LIMIT OF RECRUITS
AMENDMENT TO ARMY BILL TO
PASS TODAY, CONTEMPLAT
ING SEVERAL CHANGES.
Officer’s Name
Is Now Cleared
San Antonio, Texas, July 26.—An
official report to General Funston on
the killing of Lieutenant Colonel M.
Butler last week by Harry span-
nell, completely clears the name ol
the dead officer and shows that But-
knew Spannell was Jealous of
Mrs. Spannell and took care never
to be with her unless others were
present.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, July 26.—The senate
today agreed to an amendment In the
army bill which would Increase the
pay of regulars and militia on border
duty, twenty per cent for men and ten
per cent for offlceri, by requiring that
border duty be paid for on the same
basis as service on foreign solL
Other amendments agreed to would
appropriate $250,000 for wooden floors
and screens in border troop tents,
would allow soldiers to vote In the
presidential election, and would raise
the age limit for accepting recruits
from eighteen to twenty-one. Under
the latter boys under twenty-one
would not be retained unless they
get parents’ or guardians' written
consent
The bill Is expected to pais tomor
row.
Somebody wants to know If it’s the
percentage of the commission that Is
causing all this negotiation on the
highway bUL