The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-01
JUDGE RUSSELL TO ATTACK THE
LEASE.

Judge Russell, Governor-elect, mas ue-
c1ared war on the lease Of the North
Carolina railroad During all the con-
troversy that agitated the press and the
people when the lease was contaminated,
he was quiet. In the recent campaign
he did not make known his position. 1t
is to be regretted that when some OF
us were making the fight to prevent the
lease the Judge did not render assistance.
But now that he is the Governor-elect,
the Judge tells the people what he thinks
and what he proposes to do about the
lease He criticizes the lease of the road
ON substantially the terms dictated by
the Southern Railway, and declares it
to be his purpose to advise the Legisla-
ture to adopt measures looking to the
cancellation Of this lease and for the
restoration of this property TO the PEG
pie"
If Judge Russell and his Attorney
General will earnestly work toward this
end. we have no doubt it can be accom-
plished. No action of State officials in
twenty years was taken in the face OF
such universal protest upon the part of
the press and the people of the State.
This paper, the Charlotte Observer, and
nearly all the papers in North Carolina
used every argument they could employ
to prevent a ninety year lease six
years before the present lease should
expire. at the present consideration.
There never was an argument that we
regarded as strong advanced for making
the lease so long in advance Of the eX-
pration Of the one made for thirty years
in 1872 At the time it was made we
demanded that it be deferred until bids
could be advertised for in the New York
papers, and until the General Assembly
could pass upon the propositions made.
And when, in the face of an overwhelm-
ing expression of adverse public senti-
ment. the road was leased, this paper
commended the Farmers Alliance for
their action looking to carrying it into
the courts. We regretted, and publicly
expressed our regret, that the Attorney
General did not feel warranted in bring
ing the suit in the form requested by
the Alliance We thought then and think
now that the question Of the power Of the
directors and stockholders to make the
lease ought to be judicially determined.
Judge Russell will soon be in a position
to have the question carried before the
Supreme Court, "A majority of which Is
composed of members of his own party.
If he and his Attorney-G General press the
question raised decision will soon be
reached. 1t may be questioned whether
Attorney General Walser Gf, as alleged,
he is an attorney for the Southern Rail
way) will be in an advantageous position
for bringing the suit to annul the lease
Judge Russell is so anxious to have can
celled.
We will not now express any doubt OF
Judge Russell's earnestness. The people
who have all along been in favor Of in
voking a judicial settlement, hoping that
the lease would be annuIled will be
glad to have those in authority secure
what they, in private capacity, have
been unable to accomplish.
If Judge Russell will follow the lead
Of the News and Observer on all matters
after his Inauguration, as he seems to
be doing in his ante-inaugural address,
his administration will be an agreeable
surprise