Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-08-24

The Railway Company's Prop
OsitiOn- Major Martin Proposes
Fairness, but not Five-Cent Fair
ness-The Revolutions Offered
by Capt. T. w. Patton.
1t was genuine success!
The cit in this case being the mass
meeting which was held in the court
mouse on Saturday night.
The meeting was called for the purpose
of getting popular expression on the
recent action OF the Ashevile street rail
way company in putting in operation a
ten-cent fare system.
Promptly at 8 O'Clock the court house
bell began ringing, notifying all within
hearing Of its tones that meeting OF
great importance to the city and its
citizens was about to be held.
Then the crowd began pouring in.
By twos, by fours, Dy tens and twen.
ties the people swarmed in, until every
seat in the jury box, and inside the rail
i0g, and on the benches was occupied
Not only this, but the aisle was packed
by men who were willing to take stand
ing room only il by doing SO they could
have voice i'll the important work tC
be done.
And it was, taken as whole, as in
teligent a body OF men as has ever as
semblcd i'll mass meeting i'll this city
There were laboring men, merchants
lawyers and citizens generally present
all having come out to lend their prcscnc,
and, il necessary, their voices. to tn,
cause which had led up to the meeting
Everything passed off in good order
every person being actuated by a spirit
Of fairness and the recognition of til,
rights OF the railway company as well a'
those OF the people.
In fact, it was meeting of representa-
tive citizens, who proposed to go at mat
ters in a buslness-like way, that thcr,
should be no mistaking the course the!
might finally adopt.
Regan Right.
The people did themselves honor in th
outset by calling to the chair Col. A. I
Davidson. No better selection could pos
sibly have been made. The representa-
tives OF the press were appointed sccre
taries.
Col. Davidson in assuming the char
stated that the meeting had been calleC
by the people TO consider the increase il
the rate OF fare on the Ines OF the Ashe
vile street railway company. The oil
fare was five cents, whereas now 1t wa
ten cents If passenger desired to go tar
ther than to the square. The people q
this city had made popular protes
against this increase, and had come to
gether to agree upon some plan and tax
such steps looking to return to the oil
fare AS they might see fit. 1t was pei
fectly legitimate for the people to com
together in massmecting and protcs
against anything that was considered a
outrage and injustice to the citizens c
the town. A full, Tree and fair discussio
should be had Col. Davidson in closin
hoped that all present would obsery
order and dccorum.
Col. McBraycr TaIks.
! When the chairman took his seat theI
were loud calls for Col. Reuben McBraye
In response to these calls Col McBrayt
said this was question which had tw
sides. The railway company has right
as well as the people. Yet, while the raj
p way had been great hel p to the city, Il
city had likewise been verv great he
to me railway company. He advised
meeting OF both interested parties, loo
ing to an amicable settlement of Il
. question. Before the fare was increase
one OF the company mtimated in his pre-
ence that the increase was to be mad
Col. McBrayer had said then that Il
fare should not be raised unless it W;
absolutely necessary. The best thing
be done, he thought, was to appoint
committee OF wise and discreet men, wi
should meet with the officers OF the ra
way company and try to effect peacei
settlement. The committee should all
have the power to call on the board
aldermen if it was deemed necessary.
wanted to see no encroachments on t
rights OF the people. (Cheers,)
President Martin's Letter.
Solicitor Eug. d. Carter followed c,
McBrayer. He said that he had cor
out to the meeting upon invitation, a
was pleased to see the people imbu
~ with such spirit of fairness. He oct
pied simply the position of a plain ci
zen, and wanted Justice and fairness do
both sides Before coming to the me
ing he had gone to see President Mart
and had been given by him stateme
to be read to the meeting. He beliey
ID every proposition made by Maj. Mar
was fair. If he had not thought so,
would not have agreed to read the sta
ment He found no disposition on
part of the company to encroach up
the rights of the people. Mr.. Car
then read the following letter:
"To the chairman and gentlemen Of
!E ma S meeting,
- Believing that the citizens of As
willie wish to act fairly and legally
, whatever action thev see fit to take
"A reference to the fares charged on the As
&c vile street railway, and that they rea
that any action that tends to Unjust
81. towards the property of corporatio
will really iniure our city more than
present policy of increasing the fares;
Nv. Believing that if the facts of the p
,ut ent financial condition OF this compt
were fully known to this meeting, tina
n, would see that the increase in the Ia
=. was an absolute financial necessity;
o' Knowing that THE AsHEvlLLE c
,y, ZEN is not disposed to act fairly tow
The company, from the fact that I