The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-15
Sixtv-First Anniversary OF Lit
erary Societies.
OF WAKE FOREST COLLEGE
Celebrated Yesterday With Ora
tory and Debate.
GOVERNMENT r. R. OWNERSHIP
The Question Decided in Favor of the
Affirmative After a Sharp De-
bate by Vote of 1873
10 57

cial. )-There are no more enjoyable
and entertaining occasions in North
Carolina than the anniversaries of
Wake Forest College.
To-day is the Sixty-frst Anniversary
of this honored institution, and at half
past two o'clock, while Durham's
splendid band was making its sweetest
music, the polite and gallant marshals
escorted to the rostrum the dignifed
officers and debaters.
The large Memorial Hall was filled
with a cultured and appreciatiye au-
dience.
After the minutes of the last ami
versary were read and approved, the
secretary read the subject for discus
sion:
Resolved, That the Government
should own and control our railway
and telegraph systems"
He announced Mr.. Willis G. Briggs,
of Raleigh. as the first speaker for the
affirmative.
Mr.. Briggs showed that the railways
were public highways. and that it was
a greater mistake to turn over this
important governmental function to
private persons than TO surrender
political government to kings and
mobiles to be conducted for their own
>glorification. He pointed out the in-
justice of the present toll system.
Determinations between localities have
built up cities TO the detriment of the
villages and towns. He argued that
competition in the railway business
not only increases the local stations,
but also produces determinations be-
tween individuals. Nearly all the
monopolies in our country were called
into existence and sustained in their
tyranny by the deliberate discrimina-
ton of the railroads. He referred to
the corrupt and dangerous influence in
our politics of the railroads and cited
incidents. The dangers arising from
pools and combines were shown. Con-
troll by legislation is entirely made
guate. The Interstate Commerce
Commission has failed to prevent dis
ordinations and other abuses of the
railways. He claimed that govern
ment ownership would not perpetuate
party power. The government should
own the telegraph because it is essen
TALLY an element of the postal service.
Every other civilized nation owns and
operates their telegraph lines. Is it
not glorius distinction for the great
United States, the mighty Cypress
islands, and the powerful and inhuen-
tial Hawaii to stand shoulder to should
or in maintaining a policy which even
standardization has Indignantly re-
pudiated He closed with a brief sum-
mary of his points.
The first speaker for the negative
was Mr.. g. NJ. Bray, who brought for
ward the following points:
First, The development Of our coun-
try, while the railroads have been in
the hands Of individuals.
Second, The unconstitutionality of
government control, and proved the ut
ter uselessress of State control nv the
competition Of capital and parallel rail-
road lines themselves.
Third, The defects Of the Postal
system we're clearly pointed out, and
some reasons given by the government
would not be likely 10 manage the tele-
graph system as we'll as the Postal
system.
Fourthly, The question, Are tele-
graph rates too high2" was answered
by comparing the telegraph rates and
the telegraph system of this country
with the telegraph rates and the tele-
graph systems OF Europe
IN conclusion he said that were the
government to assume control Of the
railroad and telegraph systems, there
would be only two alternatives: First,
The government must confiscate all
the railroads and telegraphs of the
country; or, secondly, IL must buy
them.
The second speaker for the affirmative
was Mr. Albert B. Cannady, Of Gran
Vile county. He said the railoards
of the United States are stocked and
bonded at more than twice their
value. Thus the people are taxed in
freight and passenger charges TO pay
dividends upon over five billion dollars
of watered stock. No greater fraud
exists in the country Under govern
ment ownership there would be no
stock To water and the people
would thus be relieved of this grieyous
burden and public scandal.
Railroads discriminate between in
dividuals and between localities. The
STANDARD Oil Company and many other
trusts owe their present wealth and
power 10 Id1AIOdd 1thFOl At1N F5OF"
eminent railway would treat all alike
Just as the government postoffice does:
The great railway strike in Chicago
of two years ago, which rested in
twelve men killed and loss OF over
seven million dollars Of property
should be enough to teach the people
the evils OF private ownership. No i'm
terest has a greater tendency to mono
poly than the railroad interest. Ninety
per cent of the stations Of the United
States are confined to one line OF
road and hence are compelled to pay
for transportation whatever the com
pan.es may be disposed TO charge.
Thus competition in the railroad bust
ness amounts to comparatively moth
ing.
La no country where tried has gov
ernment ownership failed of signal
success. Germany has doubled wages
and realizes a revenue of one hundred
aad twenty-one million dollars pei
,s.sgy 20 fha Governments. Hungary aur