The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1891-04-29
A LIVELY DEBATE.
TRINITY LITERARY SOCIETIES
SAY GOVERNMENTS SHOULD
NOT OWN RAILROADS..

aud the Hesperians Won bv ayo,o
of lO5 TO o47--Athietic Games and ],
Great Occasion.
Especial Cor. to State Chronicle
TRINITY COLLEGE. April 5.-The 3rd
annual debate between the Columbian
sud Hesperian Literary Societies was
held at Trinity College yesterday evening
IN the college chapel. The exercises began
at $50 p. m with song by the Trinity
College Glee Club-Hail Festal Dav
'Mr. d. R.Davis, of Beaufort, N.O.as
President of the Hesperian Society pre-
sided over the exercises. Numa r. Reid
OF Beidsvllle, N. o secretary of the Col |
umoian Society, was the secretary of the |
occasion.
The programme was as follows:
Columbian Oration-"Hero Worship" /"
X. l. Durham, of Greensboro N. G.
Hesperian Oration-Ruins, J. r Nc
Crary, OF Lexington, N. G.
Joint Debate-Q lery, Resolved that
the United States Government should
own aud control the telegraph lines aud
railways within Its BORDERS" All M.
tive, Frank Arm6eld and w l Crawford.
negative Q. Z. Turner aud l.. s. Massey.
The Columbians had the affirmative
and the Hesperians had the negative.
Mr.. Armheld's opening speech was
clear, strong aud we'll arranged. Me
charged the railroads with violating
charters and watering stock, and said
they were corrupting power. Some
thing must be done. Railroad Commits
sion was not success, but government
al control Is a success. He gave the
comparison between the German and
Austrian systems and the American sys-
ten. Former is cheaper because the
government controls it. Governmental
control is cheaper, because it prevents
parallel lines and litigation.
Mr.. Turner said that railroads some
times become an evil, but governmental
control was not the remedy. Atlirma-
tive argument followed up would make
the government owner of every interest
which could be made monopoly, until
Uacie Sam would be feeding all his nu-
mgtous nepheWS and neices with q
spoon. 1t would create too many new
Offices would make six times as many
as We now have Congress would nee
essarlly appropriate money to build rail
roads One section would not want to
build railroads for another. South
would not be developed. Sectional hatred
would be re-awakened.
NJ. Crawford said that commissions
are not success. They are or will be
come byibod by the railroad kings, ant
the people Will furnish The money 10 pay
the bribe The English system OF con
troll without ownership will not work IL
America. In few words, the presen
idea is to serve the capitalists at the ex
pense of the people; the affirmative ide;
is to serve the people with special priv
leges to none One of the stronges
points Of the evening Mr.. Crawford nov
brought in By declaring that the fac
that there were so large a number c
employees to be appointed would fore
the government to more generally adop
civil service reform, and thus giving
death blow to the spoils system
As for the telegraph, America an
China are the only nations who do nt
own their telegraph lines.
Mr.. Massey said that the evils al
due TO the abuse of the present system
opposed to the centralizjng effect OF tf
affirmative's idea. A difficulty lay b
fore us as to the way OF getting II
railroads. The government cann'
force the sale OF private pro
erty. The railroads would cost IL
aud half billions. 1t would ruin tt
National credit to borrow much.
would cost more to run railroads II Il
government owned them for there won
be more extravaganza Competlti'
gives the public better service. Na
had committee to investigate the su
ject for three years. 1t reported tn
governmental control is not advsab
Freight rates are higher in Germa
when the government control than
America Mr.. Massey then closed
stating that the remedy would be reg
lation; that the present system OF co
missions is comparatively new but is
ing made more effective all the time,
that il will eventually satisfy the
mands of the occasions.
Each of the debates had reply a
each ma spirited attack on his OPT
nent's arguments. Mr.. Cranforos rel
was especially strong.
The audience was requested TO dec
this question on thd merits of the
cussion. The vote stood: Affirmat
AZ; negative l05, thus giving 1t to
Hesperians
The orstions were good. Mr.. D
times, pathetic. Mr.. McOrary's
graceful, eloquent and very well
livered.
The music Of the Glee Club was G.
mended by all who heard it, espec'
the quartetve; last night, by Mes
Harper, Jones, J. w. Durham and
and the vocal solo, Loves Old 81
Songs," by Mr.. w. Jones.
We fiji tat we should make spe
mention of tho graceful and elee
manner in which Mr.. D. Il. Davis
sided over the exercises.
Many visiting young ladies
Greensboro, Salem, Winston, Faye
Vile, High Point, Lexington, Aioem
and Thomasville made the evening
pleasant to the students.
On account OF the RAIN the aoh
games we're postponed till Saturday a
noon.
Athletic Games.
The games, which were postponea
Friday, we're held on Saturday ever