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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