150 
SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
Mr. Lyman Phelps protested against this matter coming be¬ 
fore the society. 
Mr. Rooks thought it a proper subject for the society’s con¬ 
sideration. He also thought it perfectly right and proper for 
the society to petition congress for the passage of the bill re¬ 
ferred to, which would solve the problem of water transpor¬ 
tation, and he introduced a resolution having this object. 
Mr. Bielby was aware that some members were agreed as to 
the good policy of the passage of this bill, and he suggested 
that they form an organization while here, for the purpose of 
petitioning for its passage. Bat he objected to having politi¬ 
cal subjects coming before the society and becoming part of 
its minutes. He did not object to a petition of this character 
being made by an organized body and authorized party. He 
did not object to their asking our representatives to work for 
such a bill. But it was by no means the unanimous wish that 
the society take such action; it was a political matter, and he 
objected to this society being captured to be used for political 
purposes. 
Mr. Hind asked why, if railroad matters should not be men¬ 
tioned here, the society had a Standing Committee on Trans¬ 
portation. 
Mr. Bielby replied that we had a Committee on Transporta¬ 
tion for the purpose upon which the chairman had made his 
report. There was also a wide range of subjects that prop¬ 
erly came within the scope of such a committee without touch¬ 
ing the question of rates. In view of the lines upon which 
this question of rates was being agitated, it approached very 
closely to politics and led almost unavoidably to political dis¬ 
cussion, as was patent to all after what had been said. And, 
aside from this, it was purely a business matter, and as such, 
had no place in our discussions. It was a very proper subject 
for the action af an association organized for such purposes, 
but was out of place in a scientific body like this society. He 
did not so much object to the calm discussion of the transpor¬ 
tation question, but when it was proposed to petition congress 
to do something purely political, he did object, and insisted 
that the resolution was out of order. 
After considerable further discussion of the subject, Mr. C. 
A. Bacon said: What we want is individual action. We have 
heard the remarks of Mr. Healy, that it is oi no use to go to 
the transportation companies here in the state; he is not pos¬ 
itive that it would be of any use to go to Atlanta. We have 
heard the report of the gentlemen of their receipts obtained 
for oranges; we have all had such receipts for our oaanges, 
and I must say that several times this season I have been 
