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The Atlanta Georgian.
GEORGIA
VOL. 1. NO. 116
ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1906.
PI? rr• 1/. * n Atlaat* TWO CRNTfli
rAX 1X*±j . on Trcln* VV'F CKNTsL
stensland, fugitive
WRECKER OF BANK,
given to prosecutor
Attorney Olsen and Journalist Keely Become
Custodians of Famous Prisoner—They
Give Receipt For Their Captive.
Chicago. Sept. 8.—The Chicago Tri
bune prints the following »peclal copy
righted cable:
-Tangier. Sept 8^—Acting under the
directions of President Roosevelt,
transmitted through the state depart
ment. Paul Stensland today was turned
aver to Harry Olsen and myself, we
being designated the officials of the
United States government to return the
fugitive Chicago banker to the United
States and Illinois.
-The transfer of the prisoner took
place In the office of tho American con
sul general, Hoffman Philip, we giving
the following receipt:
•■•We have this day taken over the
custodv of the person of Paul O. Stens-
lami front Consul General Philip, of the
United .States, according to presidential
warrant of September G. 1906, In which
we are designated as the agents of the
United States to keep In safe custody
said Paul <>. Stensland and bring him
bv the most direct* and convenient
means of transportation Into the United
States for delivery to the proper au-
thorltles of the state of Illinois, aa set
out In the cable of us,from Assistant
Secretary of state Bacon.
“ ‘Also received one check book on
the Comptorlt National d'Eacomptes
bank and one cablegram intercepted
by the United Statea Minister to Mo
rocco to Paul O. Stensland.
‘Also received two trunks and four
satchels, being the luggage of said
Paul O. Stensland, removed from the
German steamer Oldenburg by order of
the American legation at Tangier.
(Signed) ■■ ‘HARRY OLSEN.
“ ‘JAMES KEELY.
“ ‘Witness—Paul O. Stensland.
“ ‘Signed and delivered In my pres
ence.
“ HOFFMAN PHILIP,
“ ‘Consul General of the U. S,‘ “
With the signature of this document,
Paul Stensland practically Is In the
hands of the Illinois authorities, and
In the custody of the man who will try
him when Cook county Is reached. —
J, i HARWELL TO
OPPOSE PATTILLO
FOR POLICE BOARD
A factional light for the control of
the police board, which Is In essence
merely a recrudescence of the old Eng.
llsh-Brotherton row which held for
many years the attention of political
Atlanta, has taken a new turn.
Howard Pattlllo, councilman from
the Second ward. Is a candidate for
the police board. He has been for two
week* very active In his canvass for
votes among the old and new members
of council.
It was thought at first that he would
be opposed by Captain W. H. Brother-
ton himself, but that veteran has de
cided not to run. Ha feel* That possi
bly hla health is not strong enough. to
•land the strain of the political grind.
In hla stead, It Is understood, that
Mayor Pro Tern. J. H, Harwell will be
offered. Air. Harwell Is alderman from
the First ward, Is strongly aligned with
the anti-English forces and knows the
local political gam* from A to Is-
lard.
It looks as though the race to suc
ceed Orion Nunnally lies between
Messrs. Hnrwell and Pattlllo.
If It does. It Is a cinch that the
Bmthcrton-Engllsh fight Is still In the
ring.
RUSSELLSAGEHEIRS
7 FIGHT WILL,
SO SAYS 0S00RNE
New Yorki Sept. 8.—The. many ru
mors circulated recently that the rela
tives of Russell Sage were planning to
contest his will when It Is offered for
probate on September 21 were denied
by Lawyer C. IV. Osborne, one of the
executors, today.
‘‘Of course, I cannot atate positively
that there will be no contest,' 1 said
Mr. Osborne, “but from what I have
been able to learn I do not believe that
there will be one. In fcact, l have as
surances from a number of relatives
that they, will be content to accept the
sum named In the will. The heirs
have the privilege of contesting the
will at any time during the year fol
lowing the date after the will has been
probated. But l do not believe that
•here will be a contest..
“Owing to the fact that we are mak
ing no effort to caUect loans made by
Mr. Sage during his life, brokers are
making Immense profits, call money
having been as high as 40 per cent. But,
after a conference, we decided not to
accept more than the regulnr rate, 6
per cent. Where loans are returned
vohmtarylly we accept them and make
deposits In the various trust compa-
I ntes. 1 know nothing of Mrs. Sage's
plans for disposing of the money."
TAMM
Residents of City
Panic-Stricken From
. Ftar.
By MANUEL CALVO.
Special Cable-Copyright.
Havana, Cuba, Sept. 8.—Pino Guer
ra not only has refused the suggestion
of a truce, but with Asbert has begun
a forward movement all along the line
and both Pinqr del Rio and Havana
are threatened by the rebel forces.
Raiding parties of rebels h«ve ap
peared In the outskirts of the city, and
that they have created great conster
nation In the government Is evidenced
by the rush of men to the outskirts to
drive off the raiders. Asbert's entire
force Is now close to the city. It In
cludes his own band and those of Leon
as, Coatlllo and numbers more than
1,000 men.
Rebels Reported Victors.
It Is reported that Gusman with
1,500 or 2,000 men, Is marching toward
Havana from Santa Clara and that
Guerra haa divided his forces, sending
one contingent against Plnar del Rio
and with the main body, Including all
his mounted men, Is making a dash on
Havana to Join In what Is believed will
be a general attack on the capital.
Near Plnar del Rio a part of Guer
ra's forces and the government Torres
met In battle. It Is believed the rebels
have been victorious, but the telegraph
wires have been cut and little Informa
tion can be obtained from the sone of
the fighting.
3ridg*t Are Blown Up.
The rebels were also victorious In an
engagement at Clenfuegos. Two rail
road bridges between Plnar del Rlu and
San Lucia have been dynamited and a
passenger train carrying 250 men with
hordes and two machine guns, sent by
th* government !•■ Plnar del Rl
BASEBALL
Atlanta— 330 000 OOx —
L, Rock—101 000 000-
ATLANTA—
It
~sr
To
A
~E
Winters, rf
1
1
1
1
2
o
o
Crozier, If
1
6
0
S. Smith, c
1
2
5
3
0
Morse, ss
1
2
1
4
0»
Hoffman, 3b
0
o
0
4
2
0
1
2
o
2
o
Jim Fox, lb
0
12
0
1
Wallace, cf
1
3
2
0
0
John Fox, p
1
0
0
2
0
Sparks, p
0
0
0
4
0
Archer, 2b
0
0
0
0
0
Totals
6
12
27
17
1
LITTLE ROOK—
It
H
BO
A
E
Douglas, lb
0
0
8
1
0
Gilbert, cf
2
1
0
0
0
DeAnmond. rf
0
1
1
0
0
McCay, 2b
0
1
2
o
1
Bird. 3 b
0
3
2
2
1
mite, If
0
1
2
0
0
Johnson, ss
0
1
3
5
0
Zimmer, c ...
0
2
3
2
0
Allen, p
0
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Totals
2
11
23
13
2
Piedmont Park, Sept. 8.—The last
game of the season between the Trav
elers and the Firecrackers went thus?
First Inning,
Dougin hs hit In fruit of plate and
went out at first, giuti* walked. Da-
irmond singled, hdt nnoing Gilbert to
third. McCay sacrificed, pitcher to
first, scoring Gilbert. DeArmond want
to second. Bird hit safe and DeArmond
was thrown out at place. Tvto hits;
on* run.
Winters hit end walked. Crosier out,
short to first Winters to second. Smith
singled, Advancing Winters to third.
... * Smith stole second... I.lorno doubled,
n «_ r iA rto . thhd" n’Jfrln.'m bl* n to tbttaaW out At
de Goolpe. After twenty minutes of
firing the government train, which
was armoied, was forced to retreat amt
was run back to Palacios.
The operator at Puerto de Goolpe re
ports that heavy detonations have beef
heard In the direction of Laa Ovas, and
It Is believed the bridge at that point
haa been blown up to prevent govern
ment troops'from reaching Plnar del
Rio. This would force troops to march
ten miles throufh the Insurgents’ coun
try to reach that city.
SECRETARY RICHARD CHEATHAM
IS BENEFICIARY OF WHITEWASH
BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Report Exonerating
Him Adopted by
Vote of 11 to 5.
Spefial to The Georgian.
Hut Springs, Ark., September
8—In secret session last night,
the executive committee of the
Southern Cotton Association, by
* vote of 11 to 5, “whitewashed”
th>‘ charges of dealing in cotton
futures preferred against Richard
Cheatham, secretary of the osso-
tiution. niid-to which Mr.'Cheat
ham several weeks ago confessed
'"‘for,, u special committee ap-
I jointed, by President Harvie Jor-
ihm to investigate the charges.
the special committee had de-
pounced the practice of dealing
cotton futures and had “ccn-
•urwl in the strongest possible
otius the action of Secretary
uoatham. The special coramit-
i “**'1 then referred the matter
" the executive committee of the
Relation for final action.
the whitewashing by the latter
•jowmittee, therefore, came in the
wire of a surprise, though it
a, i hf. ii apparent for twenty*
. “ r hours that a desperate ef-
•"T "ns being made by President
1 lmd Secretary Cheatham
th 1 loir . '| nme diatc friends in
for , ! ! SWL ’ iat ‘ on > w h° came here
II purpose, to bring about
, p'hsmttsal of the charges.
resident Jordan is known to
, *' l lp k’od upon members of the
romiit,.,, the desirability of ex-
„ atl »tr Secretary Cheatham,
j,! ’hat nny other course
up, " '1° regarded as reflecting
2 his administration and
i, •fi.iure the association.
'■'late this fact, there waa a
HERE ARE 7 WO REPORTS
IN THE CHEATHAM CASE;
CAN YOU RECONCILE THEM?
sociation for any officer or sum-
bor of tho oxocutivo committee or
otato officor to in any way deal In
futures, and any on# violating this
■ hall b* expelled from office. —
FINDING OF EXECUTIVE COM-
MITTEE OF 80UTHERN COT
TON ASSOCIATION IN CHEAT-
HAM'S CASE.
Basing IIh action on Secretary Cheatham's own admission, the original
committee of Investigation reported that the action of Cheatham “meets
with our strongest disapproval and condemnation," but refererd tho matter
to the executive committee for further action.
The executive committee, with the Investigating committee's report
before It, whitewashed the whole matter, but declared that in the future
such action as Cheatham's "shall constitute an offense against the associa
tion and that any officer guilty of violating this shall be expelled from office."
The Irreconcilable reports of the two committees follow:
EXECUTIVE"cOMMITTEE
MAKES CLEAN WHITEWASH
OF THE CHEATHAM MATTER
'•That while all form of specu
lation are disapproved of, yet the
committee Hnds that Mr. Cheat
ham was acting only for other par
ties and In view of the fact that
there Is nothing in the constitu
tion which makes a person Incom
petent to hold office because he
deals In futures, and because of
Mr. Cheatham’s efficiency and of
the fact that we believe the as
saults on Mr. Cheatham came from
the enemies of this association, we
dismiss th# charges as unworthy
of furthor eonsidorstlon, and de
nounce all charges made against
Mr. Cheatham, except what Is
hereinbefore stated, as false.
"That in the future it shal eon-
ORIGINAL COMMITTEE
STRONGLY CONDEMNED
SECRETARY CHEATHAM
"Mr. Cheatham, the secretary,
having admitted to your commit
tee such dealing In the name of
and for Michael O'Grady and P.
A. Lee. cornea within this rule, and
such action on hla part, while an
officer of this association, meats
our strongest disopproval and con-
damnation. Your committee fur-
ther and# no reasonable excuse for
or reason for the use of, by him,
of the word "secretary" after his
name, signed to checks In these
transactions, but believe it to have
been misleading and a wrong
against th# assoeistion, whose sec
retary he was, and this meets the
same disapproval and condemna
tion a* above: applying this sums
rule to Mr. A. A. Fairchild, an em
ployee of this association, for he
was unquestionably no more, no
less, we make the same finding its
to him."—FINDING OF COMMIT-
TEE MAKING ORIGINAL IN-
VE8TIGATION IN CHEATHAM
CA8E.
first .dorse scored. Jordan walked.
! Fox tanned. Two hits: thrte runs.
Seound Inning.
White singled. Caught asleep at the
switch. Johnson singled. Zimmer sin
gled, advancing Johnson. Allen fouled
ouL Douglass popped out Three hits)
no runt.
Wallace beat out a bunt. John Fox
bunted *.c pitcher; safe on error. Win
ters popped out Crosier beet out a
htt tc short. Smith singled, scoring
Wallace. Horse singled, scoring Fox.
Hoffman filed' out. Croxter scored on
throw-ln. Jordan bit out to first.Four
hits; thrte runs.
Third Inning.
Gilbert singled. Went to second on
error. DeArmond filed out. McCay
walked. Bird singled, scoring Gilbert.
Whit* hit In front of plat* and out.
Johnson fanned. ,Two hits; on* run.
Jim Fox foultd out. Wallace doqbled,
John Fox filed out. Winters out, pitch
er to first On* hit; no run*.
Fourth Inning.
Spark* put In to pitch for Atlanta.
Zlminer fanned. Allen filed out. Doug-
laas out, abort to first No hits; no
runs.
Crosier filed out. Smith out short to
first Morse walked. Hoffman out,
short to first No hits; no runs.
Fifth Inning.
Gilbert filed out DeArmond out,
short to first McCay filed out No hits;
no runs.
Jordan singled. Jim Fox tingled. The
ball hit Jordan, who was ceiled out
Fox went out attempting to steal sec
ond. Wallace doubled; out trying to
■teal third. Two hits; no run*.
- Sixth Ir.nlng.
Bird beat out a hit to short. Whlto
out, pitcher to first. Bird out trying
to steal third. Johnson walked. Zimmer
hit to second and Johnson out. One hit;
no runs. —- *
Fox out pitcher to first. Winters dou
bled. Crosier hit to third and safe on
error. Smith line drived out to short
doubled to second, catching Croslen
One hit; no runs.
Seventh Inning.
Allen out, pitcher to first. Douglass
nut. short to first. Gilbert fanned. No
hits; ns runs.
Morse fanned. Hoffmnn cut. short to
first, olrdsn Hied out No hite; no
runs.
Eighth Inning.
DeArmond out. short to first. McCay
singled. McCay stolo second. Bird
walked. White hit to pitcher: McCoy
forced nut at third. Johnson filed out.
Jim Fox singled. Stole second. Wal
lses fanned. Bpnrks out, third to first
Winters walked. Crosier filed out.
Ninth Inning.
Zimmer singled. Allen singled. Doug,
loss out, third to first. Gilbert hit to
short and ut at first; double.
i
Second Game— —
Birmingham.... 200 £
New Orleans... Q0C S" —g
Wilhelm and Matthews; Phillips oat
Rapp. UmpIre^Pfenulnser. f
Montgomery .., 020 MS £J£ ~J ■ ■
Shreveport fgD COO ££; —J “ ;
Malarkey and Gultteres; Ftsher and Graf-
fin*. Umpire—Ctmpau.
Second Game—
Nashville ...... —JJ J]
Memphis 0~ “ “ J J 1
Sorrell and Walla: Buss* iiml Ow*nt. Um
plre»—Shinier and )Valo*cott.
First Game—
Nashville 000 000 Odd 00 —6 0 2
Memphis 000 000 000 01 -1 < 1
J. I)II*SSn sad Wells; Sugg* sud Owens.
Umpires—Shiner tad Waloscott.
Flrat Garits— '
Ml 100 Ms -* T I
...... oooootooo -* is i
L ___ . stthews; Witt aud 8trat>
inika- Pfsnsloger.
RACE RESULTS.
long, hard fight in the committee,
whose session was secret, with the
result that Cheatham won out by
a vote of 11 to 5.
The Cheatham matter waa flrat re
ferred to a aub-eommittee of the ex
ecutive committee, composed of L. B.
Irwin. E. W. Smith and L. E. Love.
This commute made the following re
port, which, after a fight, was adopt
ed by the vote given above:
' Whitewash Resolution.
"That white oil forms of specula
tion are disapproved of. yet the com
mutes finds that Mr. Cheatham .was
acting only for other parties and in
view of the fact that there Is noth
ing in the constitution which makes a
person Incompetent to hold office be
cause he deals In futures, and ’be
cause of Mr. Cheatham’s efficiency
and of the fact that we believe the
Continued on Pag* Two.
8HEEPSHEAD BAY.
Sheepshend Bay, L. I., Sept. 1.—
Here are the results of today's races:
FIRST RACE—Elliott, 10 to 1, won;
They're Off, even, second; Eldorado, 4
tot. third. Time 1:07.
THIRD RACE—Demund, 12 to
won; Ballot, 4 to I, second; Dina Kens,
S to 1, third. Time, 1:28 4-5.
FOURTH RACE—Bedouin, 6 to 5,
won; Fine Cloth, 2 to 5, second; The
Picket, out, third. Tlmb, 2:21 2-5.
FIFTH RACE—Water Grass, 12 to
1, won; Deutschland, 2 to 1, second
Sllckaway, 7 to 5, third. Time 1:12 2-5.
LOUISVILLE.
Loulavlle, Ky., Sept. 2.—The races
here this afternoon resulted as follows:
FIRST RACE—Black Mantilla. 7 to
won; J. W. Onell. 8 to 1, second;
Haughty, 8 to 6, third.
SECOND RACE—Lens. 7 to 10, won;
Salnrida, 2 to 2. second; Timothy Wen.
to 1. third.
THIRD RACE—Mnmte Algolt, even,
won; WhlppoorwIIL 7 to 10, second;
Cashier, 4 to 5, third.
FOURTH RACE—Coruscate, 7 to 2.
won; Old Stone, 4 to 1, second; Har-
mnkls, 2 to 1, third.
WINDSOR.
Windsor, Ont., Sept. 8.—Here are the
results of the races here this afternoon:
FIRST RACE—Garrett Wilson. 2 to
1, won; Bryan, out, second; Joe Coyn,
2 to 1. third. Tlmq, 1:20 2-5.
SECOND RACE—Bods, 1 to 2. won:
Crip, even, second; Gracious, 4 to 5,
third. Time. 1:01 4-6.
THIRD RACE—Palmer, 4 to 1, won:
Sartorresartus, 4 to 5, second; Trend
The Mere, 3 to 1, third.
FOURTH RACE—Gold Mate, 2 to 1,
won; Solon Shingle, 2 to 6, second;
Alma Dufour, 10 to 2, third.
OTHER GAMES.
AMERICAN.
Washington . . .080 000 002 —6 0 1
Boston . . ..... 010 010 000 —2 6 2
Batteries: Kltson and Wakefield;
Glass and Armbruster.
NATIONAL.
First Game—
New York 000 000 000— 0 2 2
Brooklyn 113 0*0 10*— *00
Batteries: McGInnlty and Bowerman;
Eaton and Ritter.
Boston 010 011 001 —4 12 0
Philadelphia . . 000 000 000.—0 1 0
Batteries: Young and Needham;
Moser and Donovan.
Montreal 2 5 2
Rnrheater 2 I 2
Batteries: Stanley and IKttredge;
Hughe* and Deran.
Baltimore 2 2 1
Providence 6 12 0
Batteries: Mason and Hearne; Mc-
Cloakey and Barton.
First Game—
Newark 1 2 2
Jersey City 4 2 1
Batteries: Carrick and Shea; Moran
and Vandergrift.
Flrat Game—
Toronto ..2 6 4
Buffalo 2 7 1
Batteries: McCafferty and Slattsry;
Currie and UcAllleter.
HARVIE JORDAN DAY
AT GORDON COUNTY FAIR.
Special to Tbs Georgian.
Unlhoun, Go.. Kepi, t.—Wednesday. Oclo-
tier 3. hat In-eti fixed is Harvie Jordan
day at the Gordon dmotv fair. The Farm-
era’ liistlmt# of the forty-third state aeua-
torial district, cotnprlafnx the counties of
Gordon. Whitfield and Murray, srlU be
held on that data.
JAS. L. KE Y REPLIES
TO W. H. PATTERSON
ON GAS FRANCHISE
Sixth Ward Alderman Sets His Fellow Coun
cilman Down With a Plain Tale to His
Disadvantage—Charges Him With
Being Interested in Gas Co.
By JAS. L. KEY.
To the Editor of The Georgian:
In yesterday's Issue of The Georgian my friend end fellow councilman,
W. If. Patterson, favored you with his views on the subject of me. and on
the subject of The Georgian, and on the subject of the franchise held by
the Atlanta Goa Light Company.
Thta favor appears to have been called forth by one of your editorials
appearing In Wednesday's Issue, and In which soma reference waa made to
Mr.. Patterson's attitude on the pending Investigation of the gas franchise
question.
He says that he does not wish to engage In a controversy with the
writer of the editorial and that he guesses that this editorial was either
written or dictated by myself. He says that he knows that the production
Is mine, because "It contains numerous expressions” which I am accustomed
to use when trying to awoken him and othera to a sense of their duty In
dealing with these questions.
Allow me to do you the Justice, Mr. Editor, to state that I did not dictate
the editorial, nor write It, nor Inspire It. As to the charge of author
ship In any way, I must deny the "soft Impeachment," however much I
should like to confess my guilt. I never saw nor heard of the editorial un
til the paper waa Issued, and It waa being read by thousands of others
along with myself.
If the authorship of the article In question was mine, I would gladly
acknowledge It, and would contribute more as often aa they could be print
ed, until the people of thla city were fully aroused and were ready to sot as •
free and Independent people In bringing to account this giant monopoly
that he Is so ready to apologixo for and defend.
Mr. Patterson sees much In me to condemn, because, as a member of
the city council, I am trying to act In a manner to win the good opinion of
the people who elected me and who both he and I profess to serve. He
seems to think that It Is naughty for me to try to win the "plaudits,*' aa
he puts It, of my fellow cltlsens. He sajrs that In his case he first satisfies
hla own conscience and then If there ore any "plaudits" laying around he
would like to have some of them, too.
In my case he Inclines to the opinion that "plaudits," or the good opin
ion of my fellow clttxens, are the first consideration and hints that In seek
ing them I am violating my own solemn convictions. In this charge against
me he needlessly offends the good sense and discernment of our people. No
man who violates conscience or surrenders honest convictions can ever
hope to win "plaudits" from these people. Tho people are not as big fools
os he thinks they nre. They know who has honest convictions, and further
more, they know who Is standing up to those convictions, and outside of a
stockholders' meeting of the Georgia Railway and Electrist Company Mr.
Patterson couldn’t be convicted of either proposition.
But In this matter of the gas franchise, Mr. Patterson lays th* whole
subject on bis "conscience," and Is guided accordingly, so he says. I would
like to oak him what he docs with his conscience when he assumes to act
os an exact arbiter between the gas company and the people whom he Is
sworn to serve, when at the same time he Is part owner of the gas' com
pany? Every moment that he has served aa a member of thla special com
mittee to pass on the gas company he has had safely lodged down In his
Jennn n block of the stock of the Georgia Railway and Electric Company,
and this latter company owns the gas company.
No wonder that he apologizes for and defenda tho corxpany, although
It takes rather an elastic conscience to do It. In good conscience he ought
to have declined !o serve. He would be disqualified as a judge or juror.
Even as a witness, his Interest could be provon to show his bias. If his
conscience did not keep him from serving, his sense of decency and pro
priety should have prevented him.
Even now he should decline to vote on any queatlon where his own In
terests are Involved.
1 might add that the people are thinking about It and talking about It,
and outside of the stockholders of the Georgia Railway and Electrie Com
pany he Is not going to be annoyed with any "plaudits" on account of hla
course.
A word as to the gas franchise. For a long time I have been of ths
opinion that the gas company was exceeding Its charter rlgbta and waa
making a claim of a perpetual franchise, which It was not entitled to.
When 1 came upon the aldermanlc board I Introduced a resolution asking
the city attOrney to Investigate and report aa to these franchises and
the claims of the company. The resolution was passed, the city attorney In
vestigated and made his report. This report was In effect that the gas com
pany did not have any right at all to many of tho franchises which It
Is using; that the company was exceeding Its charter rlghta In the char
acter of the business conducted, and he further reported a certain state of
facts which might bt construed to mean that the franchises all had ex
pired, or might soon expire. This report came back to council, and a spe
cial committee, of which I have the honor to be chairman and Mr. Patter
son a member, was appointed to take the same under consideration and
report bark such action as they thought proper, looking to tho assertion of
the rights of the city and aecurlng fair and Just charges and reasonable
conditions of service from the gas company.
The conclusions of the city attorney were contested, of course, by the
gss company. They say he Is wrong. This committee. Including Mr. Pat
terson, doesn't know whether he Is right or not. But we do know that If th*
city attorney Is right, the city can reclaim a great many valuable rights
which are now held adverse to her; that ahe could then easily secure for
her cltlsens a reduction In the price of gaa and a course of dealing that
Is not so arbitrary as at present. I proposed that the queetlon Involved be
submitted to the courte for determination. It la the only way that I know
of that a matter of that kind can be decided. Bnt a majority of the com
mittee determined that they would decide these abstruse legal propositions
themselves. Mr. Patterson Is one of the majority. They decided It In fa
vor of the gas company and against the opinion of the city attorney I do
not say that ths city attorney Is always right. I have taken the liberty of
differing from him at times. But I do Insist that when his formal opinion
on such weighty matters Is called for, and Is given on the side of the city,
that It la the duty of the council to stand up to him until he can have an
opportunity of presenting his contentions to the courts.
In his card Mr. Patterson Informs us that for certain good reasons “the
city granted a perpetual franchise" to the gas company. Hlo clear Insight
Into the facts adds great weight to hla opinion on the law of tho case.
The city hae never granted any franchise at all to this compnny. The
franchise was granted by the legislature In 1865. On the face of It. It Is
claimed to be a perpetual franchise. The rights and privileges of untold
millions of generations of people will thus be disposed of at a time when
Atlanta was but a village. I contend that no set of men have a moral
right to thus lay an embargo on unborn generations of people, and 1 very
much doubt their legal right to do so. One thing Is sure, If there Is any
Nay that can be found to set aside such a grant the people of Atlanta will
be Justified In resorting to It.
Referring again to Mr. Patterson's card, he says in speaking of a “Bos
ton millionaire'' who la the principal owner of the gas company and street
railway company, that “If the ownership of nil the municipal utilities was
vested In one person, I do not know a man who would administer them
with greater fairness nor with a higher conception of his duty to the publlo
than would Mr. Cooledge.'* The gentleman referred to seems to have mad#
a good Impression’on Mr. Patterson. He seems to have been "struck" with
him. Maybe he Is the long-sought for man who "struck Billy Patterson."
It seems that he not only Inclines to private ownership of public utilities,
but that he favors sole ownership and sole ownership of all utilities, pro
vided the services of this other gentleman can be had In the capacity of
owner. This would ; eem to throw a load of light on another one of Mr. Pat
terson's positions on the utility question. Less than a year ago the city
was fairly stunned at the proposition of Mr. Patterson that the city place
Its waterworks system In Ibe hands of private parties Maybe be had la
mln«l this same "democratic and Unassuming" Boston gentleman.
Who can telL or rather who v "I tout