davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
WHY GOVERNOR CARR GAVE
THE LEASE.

Many people have asked the question:
"Why did Governor Carr, who is per-
sonally honest, make this secret and in
furious lease for ninety-nine years?
Judge Avery answered the question
yesterday in a way that will satisfy ev-
cry man in the State. He said that Gov
ernor Carr had one controlling idea as his
administration policy, and was ready to
sacrifice everything else to it. 1t was to
put all the railroads ON the tax-list The
private stockholders, who opposed put
meet, left the State, and made it impossi-
bic for the States directors to pass tax
resolution. The Governors anxiety to
put this road ON the tax-hst was finally
apparently acquiesced in by the South
ern Railway officials in order to get the
Governor to assist them i'm their Napol-
comic scheme to rob the State for CEN
tury.
They told the Governor that if he would
uiIsthS ulS untCOOlS give OncuI u nEuGly
mine year lease, they would guarantee
that his pet little scheme of putting the
road ON the tax-list should be carried
out This was the seductive bait offer
ed to Governor Carr's administrative
vanity He swallowed the bait, and the
deed was done.
What is the result? The State coun-
ties and towns will get $4,000 per year
as taxes, every dollar of which could
have been gotten by simple legislative
statute by this Assembly. And what
does he give the Southern Railway? The
carrying out of his scheme costs the
people, at the lowest calculation $780,
900 per annum for ninety-nine years, ag-
gregating, with interest, for the whole
period S2s,OO0, 1000.
Governor Carr made a good trade-for
the Southern Railway. He made a
ruinous trade for the people, and he was
probably actuated by desire TO carry
out a consistent administrative policy.
On looking out for "the anise and the
cummin" he forgot and destroyed 'the
weightier matters of the law" He
STRAINED out a gnat and swallowed a
camel"
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
IT DOES HIM CREDIT.

In closing his argument yesterday after
noon, Capt. S. B. Alexander, president
of the North Carolina Railroad, in answer
to a question, said as AN officer of the
company he had no objection to having
the question of the validity of the lease
tested in the courts. He declared that
he had acted as his business Judgment
dictated in the whole transaction, and
had no disposition to avoid the fullest
investigation and judicial inquiry.
This reply does President Alexander
great credit. Nobody has ever questioned
his integrity. Let him now go step
further, and join the million and a half
of citizens of the State in demanding
that the road shall pay $120,000 more an
nually than the Southern lis willing to
pay. He says in July he had no better
offer. Now that there is better offer, let
the State be truer to the people than the
Southern Railway!
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

London, Feb. Cit is stated that on
the occasion of the celebration of the
Queens jubilee, the Marquis of Salisbury
will be raised to a dukedom, which honor
has several times been offered him and
declined
Berlin, Feb. Count Limburg- Sterum
has sent n challenge to Baron Marschall
Won Bieberstein, the Minister of For
eign Affairs, owing to the latters stric-
lures of the Counts criticisms Of the
governments attitude in the Won Lieut.
zow affair.
Washington, Feb. 6.-James p Ham
bletOn, who was well known to public
men in Reconstruction days. died here
yesterday. He was born in Virginia, re-
moved to Georgia. served in the Confed-
crate army with StOnewall Jackson, and
at one time was a contestant for a seat
in Congress.
London, Feb. 6.-Dr Nansen, the Arctic
explorer, is already launched in the vor-
tex of social engagements. He is over
his ears in invitations to receptions, din
ners, etc, and promises to be the lion of
the season, much as Henry NJ. Stanley
was on his return from Africa.
Washington, Feb 6.-The Atlantic
Coast Lime will put ON sale tickets at one
fare for the round trip between Wash
ington and Charleston, S. c., during the
naval manoeuvers of the UNITED States
fleet to be on sale from February 10th
to 10th inclusive with final limit Febru-
airy Goth.
London. Feb. 6.-The United States
Ambassador, Thomas + .Bayard, has ar
ranged to go to Italy for short visit
earlq in March. He delivered a speech
at the dinner of the SINNERS Company
on Thursday, and dwelt upon the fact
that there was no just difference be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
AN HISTORIC HEARING.

The hearings that were begun yester-
day and will be continued tomorrow, on
the question whether the lease of the
North Carolina Railroad shall be an
nulled, will go down into history as one
of the most important debates in the
States history.
It is q matter of such far-rea ching inn
portance as to concern the people of the
commonwealth for a whole century.
Compared to it, all other proposed legisla-
ton is of little value, for most of the
balance deals only with the people of
this generation.
1t is not only important as to duration,
but as to value as we'll. On the money
side, the annulment of this lease and the
making Of another for a rental of $780,
900 per annum (for which an offer has
been made), will represent a gain of
$4,000 per annum or a total
gain of S29, ,756,975. in ninety-nine
years. The man who votes to
give these immense sums to the South
ern Railway votes virtually to take that
amount out of the pockets of the tax
payers and the private stockholders and
give it to the Southern Railway.
The presence of the ablest lawyers in
the State, lead by ex-Justices Avery and
Burwell on opposite sides, with an army
of ''Kow Koroners" brought here by the
Southern Railway to ''whoop up the
members and corral them against the i'm
terests of their constituents, invests the
hearings with the deepest interest.
Elsewhere we print a summary of the
arguments made yesterday and last night.
We shall next week undertake to answer
the arguments Of those who see nothing
wrong in giving the Southern Railway an
annual bonus of $4,000 year for
nine ty nine years.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Judge BurweH said last night the lease
made by the Republicans in 1871 was a
good thing for the State. The Demo
cratic Legislature of 1872 declared the
opposite. We agree, however, that the
lease made then is much better than the
one made in August, 1895. The Repub-
licans got 13 per cent upon the market
value of the stock; those who leased it in
1895, got only six per cent ON the market
value of the stock.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
GREEK NET GREEK.

1t was last might Greek meets
Greek when Ex-AsSociate JUS
tice Avery and Ex-Associate JUS
tice Burwell met in legal COM
bat. The pass was brief, but f.nty
enough to make a spark fly the electricity
of which all felt exhiliaratingly. These
able and learned men made speeches
worthy of their exalted regulations and
though the styles weres different, one
passed without disappointment from the
rugged grasp OF Avery to the incisve
points so suavely made by Judge Burwell.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
STATE NEWS.

Mr.. A. A. +. Seawel succeeds S. N.
Lilies and son as publisher of the Jones'
boro Progress. 1t will be Democratic.
The February term of Chatham Super
dor Court convenes at Pittsboro to-mor-
row. There are eighteen damage suits
ON the docket against the Lamgdon- FL ems
zey Coal Mining Company for $4,000
each. They are brought by the families
of employees who were killed i'm the ex-
plosion more than a year ago.
A few days ago Milliken Devereux,
an old colored man who was 80 years
old on the 4th Of January procured a
license in Halifax to marry Harriet
Whitaker, who is 3S years old. The
Scotland Neck Democrat says that he
helped to build the Wilmington and We'll
don and the Raleigh and CASTOR Rail
roads, and that his mother died few
years g. aged ITO years.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

We hear great deal from the claquers
of the Southern Railway that the lease of
the North Carolina Railroad to the South
ern Railway would destroy competition in
North Carolina. Three months ago these
very same men were schening to secure
control of the Seaboard Railroad, and the
Southern's insatiate greed is trying to
gobble up all the roads in the South to
prevent competition. They are not the
folks to talk about the blessings of COM
petition!
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
10000 PERSONS STARVING.

Shreveport, La, Feb. 6.-Thirty thou-
sand persons in the State are practically
starving to death. A relief committee
which has inspected the stricken parishes
east of Shreveport say this number of
people will have to be sustained during
the unfruitful season. The State has
already expended $4,000 in provisions
for the sufferers and calls for funds. A
meeting was held i'm Shreveport under
call OF the board of trade and $4,000
was subscribed.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

1t will be a sight worth going a thou
sand miles Ito see, i'm 1898, to watch the
expression ON the face of a member Of
this Legislature, who votes to sustain
the lease, when asked: "Why did you
vote to give the Southern Railway $780,
600 year that ought to go to relieve
the tax-payers? He will squirm and
twist and wriggle, but the people will say
to him: "You have been weighed i'm the
balances and found wanting. You be-
trayed us to enrich the Southern Rail-
way. Go to them if you want places or
honors. We will have none of you"
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
NO REASON no CHANGE IT'S
MIND.

Every day that has passed since the
lease was made has strengthened public
opinion in the belief that ft was great
blunder-''a crime of a century" as we
characterized it at the time. !.
The Winston Sentinel has not flop
ped" 1T stands firm against giving
away the States property, to a great cor
poration, thus robbing the taxpayers OF
the State of $4,000 annually for ninety
nine years. The Sentinel says:
''At the time the lease of the North
Carolina railroad was made, the Sem
tinel, in common with nearly all the
newspapers of the State, expressed
opposition to lease to run for so long
a period as ninety-nine years. We
also opposed a lease for any period
so far in advance of the expiration
of the present lease. We also thought
it unbusiness like to close a contract
without ascertaining whether or not
a better trade could be made. Now
we are strengthened in these opin-
ions by bid of $4,000 more per
year than will be received if the
ninety7nine year lease should stand"
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

The public is just waking up to the fact,
which is now is barely attempted to be
concealed, that North Carolina is one of
the worst corporation ridden States in the
whole Union. The people of the State
feel the shame and resent it. The cor
poration lobby has for years blocked, and
delayed, and defeated legislation. Now
they openly seek to dictate it. 1t is time
the evil was openly denounced and
fought.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Judge Burwell said that the North
Carolina Railroad was the best piece Of
railroad property in the South He is
right. If so, it is shame to surrender
this property for ninety-nine years to a
syndicate that will pay $120,000 annually
less than the Southern is willing to pay.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

The squabbling over whether the Sea-
board road did this or the Southern did
that, does not concern the people. The
only question the people ask is this
Which one of these roads will pay the
most? They want the one that will pay
the highest rental to have the road. 1t
is the good of the people, not the squab-
bles about roads that interest the people.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
AN ADMISSION THAT DESTROYS
CLAIM FOR PRESENT LEASE. !,

During his speech last might, Mr.. JAS.
S. Manning, attorney of the North Caro-
lima Railroad, seeking to show that the
lease was a good thing said that while
the stock was worth $1.05 when the
lease was made, the stock went UP to
$1.35 after the lease had been signed.
Mr. Sutton asked him. IF the stock
went up ON a rental at seven per cent,
would it not go still higher if rental
should be made at rental of ten per
cent?"
Mr. Manning replied: II should think
it would. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that it would go a great deal higher"
He spoke truly. In addition to adding
$4,000 more annually to the State and
stockholders by annulling the lease, the
stock would go up at least to $3.50.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
SIX YEAR OLD BOY DROWNED.

Winston, n. c., Feb. GA six year old
son of George Bolin, while crossing Salem
creek on foot log to-day fell off ara
was drowned. The stream is swollsw
by recent rains and the body has net
been recovered.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Capt. Day asked President Alexander
yesterday if Governor Carr had not writ
ten letter to General Wheeler, which
was published in the Congressional Re
cord, saying that he leased it before his
term expired ito keep 1T out of the hands
of rascals"
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
SUNDAY,
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

When we have reached a point where
we find 8 per cent Of the wealth In the
hands OF q majority Of the people pay
ing at least a Thousand times as much
taxes as 20 per cent Of the wealth. IN the
bands Of some four thousand men, Ut is
time to say stop, even if we have to go
in for the time with men who want to go
further than we care to go.-Colusa Sun.
Rev. Sank Tamonious Miss Ep-
worth, you are working for the good
cause this winter" Miss Epworth
League-Yes, 1 want to do a lot
Of work this winter, so that l can
enjoy my holidays next summer" Rev.
Sank Timonious- but my dear
young lady, Satan never takes a holiday,
not even i'm summer, you know" Miss
Epworth League-'I know; but then,
Satan is used to the heat" t."-Baltimore
News.
The city of Glasgow, Scotland, we are
told, will On the first of the new year
suspend the collection of local taxes, and
undertake to meet all municipal expenses
from the excess profits derived in the
public operation of municipal street rail
ways, gas works and other public enter
prises, which still yield to the people as
good and cheaper rates than when they
were managed by private parties for
private profits.
In answering correspondent, the New
York World quotes from the census to
show that 5000 families own over $12,-
OOO,OOO, ,OO0-over twelve thousand mil
lion dollars-of the wealth Of the United
States. The combined assessed wealth,
real and personal, of the twelve greatest
States of the West and South, as shown
by the census Of 1890, foots up between
$4,000, 100000 and $1,000, 200, 900,
while the combined wealth of 5000 plu-
tocratic families foots up over $12,OOO,-
OOO,OOO--nearly twice as much.
An old Lombard legend tells the story
of chieftain who asked the hand of a
neighbor's daughter. Upon its being re-
fused him he declared war killed the
chief who had declined the honor of be-
ing his father-in-law, and married the
girl after all. Not satisfied with this
much, he had the skull of his wife's ia
ther mounted in gold as drinking cup,
and one day while under the influence OF
wine, ordered his spouse 10 dppedT peioIc
tn assembled guests at his house and
drink to his health out of the horrible
bowl She did so, but ever afterwards
was her husbands secret but most deadly
enemy. She joined in conspiracy which
eventually resulted in the king, her hus-
bands assassination.
Hanna proposes to retire the green
backs by issuing 3 per cent bonds with
which to take them up. There are about
$3.50, 100000 in greenbacks outstanding.
Three per cent a year on the bonds to
take them up would saddle debt of
$1,500,000 annually upon the people. In
round numbers the greenbacks have been
outstanding thirty-fye years, SO that in
the next thirty-fve years the people
would be called upon to pay in interest
more than the original amount Of the is
sues-for what? Win some one kindly
tell us who will be benefited by this bur-
den of bonded Indebtedness, except the
Shylocks who have already robbed the
people of millions by unnecessary bond
issues? Kern County Californian.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Judge Avery in his argument yesterday
afternoon voiced public sentiment when
he said that ex-Attorney General Os-
borne, able and incorruptible as he is,
made grievous mistake when he refus-
ed to bring suit TO set aside the secret
ninety-nine year lease. Mr.. Osborne
made serious blunder. If so able
man as the ex-Attorney General failed
us in a crucial day, it is most important
now, when Southern Railway attorney
is Attorney General, that the power to
bring suit to set aside this Or like
transactions should be lodged in the
Chief Executive of the State.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

"Mr. Hoffman, of the Seaboard Air
Line, couldn't bid because we had moth
ing to deliver" said President Alexan-
der. Then he convicted the Board of a
great wrong i'm making the lease so long
before the expiration Of the present lease.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets.
All druggists refund the money II 1t
fails to cure. 2tc.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWING


recommends the use of the greatest of all
tonics, "Malt-N Murine" and guarantees
the merits claimed for it. For sale by all
druggists.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

The Warrenton Record advises the
Legislature to double the school tax.
There is much sense i'm the following OBJ
servation:
People, good people, never complain of
the school tax being excessive and never
will until there is frst-class school in
every district in the State for nine months
in the year. 1t is the heavy burdensome
taxes for luxurious support of horde of
officers that the people, good people, OBJ
ject to. 1t is truth that people are
continually moving into the towns that
tax themselves heavily in order to run
first class graded schools"
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Catarrh is constitutional disease and
requires a constitutional remedy like
Hoods Sarsaparilla, which purifes the
blood.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

'sThey are trying to get the road into
politics" said Capt. S. B. Alexander yes
terday II the road isn't more i'm poll
tics now than it could be in any other
way, it is dufficult to imagine how it could
be managed. 1T is used now to control
conventions and Legislatures. The
pass factory runs on full time and its of
ficers spend more time in managing poll
tics than in attending to railroad busi-
ness. No, no, Captain, you can't scare
the people that way!
p. S.-If there is amy man who has
good cause to know that THE Southern
Railway has used the road for political
ends, that same man is Capt. Alexander.
He has felt their blows
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

The News and Observers telephones:
Business office .127
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

'The railroads ought not to be permit
ted to earn vast sums" said Capt. AL
exander yesterday, and then straight
way he proceeded to argue that the peo-
pie ought to give $4,000 every year
into the hands of the Southern Railway
instead of to the taxpayers of the State.
That will give them millions of dollars
and make them rich. And the funny
thing is that in making the Southern
rich, the President didn't see the para
dox.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Capt Alexander asked i'm his argu-
ment yesterday if seven per cent was
not a reasonable rate, and said that in
asmuch as the State had a six per cent
law, it was not right to charge so much
more for the rent of the North Carolina
Railroad. 1t is surprising to hear
an intelligent man make such a
statement. There is no law in
North Carolina that limits rental,
and it is rental for property and
not interest on money that is to be con-
sidered in the question of the lease.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07
FIRST OF ALL-THE NEWS"
NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS.

Communications and items OF news
intended for publication in the News and
Observer should not be addiessed to In
diyidual members of the staff. but SIM
ply to the News and Observer.
All communications must be accompa-
MED by the authors real name. No ex-
eentions will be made to this rule.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

Entered at the postofice at Raleigh,
N. c., as second-class matter.
The news & observer., 1897-02-07

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE.
One year, >............... ......' 9i.oo
Six months .................. 500
Always payable strictly in advance.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-13
ST GAINESVILLE.

ST. GAINESVILLE. o.. June 2.-The
county commissioners held their quarterly
session here this week They let the con-
tract for wiring the court house for cleo
trio lighs to Jas. r. Cow for $3.50.
John NJ. Beckett, of Columbus, is visit
ing friends here.
Miss Maud Humphrey Is attending ousl-
ness college at GAINESVILLE.
Miss Gertrude Darrah is visiting her
friend. Miss Virginia Motter. Of fancy
town. Nd.
The X. of P. picnic held here Thursday
on the fair grounds was quite success
full affair. the forenoon being taken up with
speeches. etc. After dinner games and
amusements. such as slow mule. bicycle
races. base ball, climbing the creased pole
and rife club shooting amused the crowd.
The X. of P. band furnished the music.
In the evening a dance was given IN the
X. of P. Hall by the Knights.
Miss Eunice Blanchard, of Santa Paula,
Cal. is the guest of Miss Bertha Hunt.
Mrs. Judge Smith and daughter. Miss
Francis. have returned home after pleas
ant visit 10 GAINESVILLE friends.
D. W. Darrah is visiting in Bellaire.
Mrs. L. E. Emerson has returned home
from Toledo. where she was delegate to
the State Sunday School convention.
Hon. A. o. Barnes, of Cadiz, was here
this week attending court
Wood Harrison. who is attending the
school of pharmacy at Scio. was home this
week on a short vacation. Wood is now
a full-hedged pharmacist. having passed
the examination by the State Board. which
met last week at Columbus.
.Ebe Vancuren, of Strasburg, O., IS the
guest of friends here.
Mrs. VIM Goudy and daughter Maude,
Of Bridgeport, are the guests Of friends
here.
John c. Mitchell. Of Findlay @. was the
guest of friends here the past week.
Miss Carrie Lee Danford. who has been
visiting her father in Washington, has re-
turned home.
Mrs. T. Wilson. of GAINESVILLE, IS the
guest Of her sister. Mrs. S. S. Foreman.
Miss Mary Irwin. of Wheeling, was the
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-13
A rOrGH CUSTOMER

Yesterday morning a man from
Ohio. giving the name Of ], o. Fart,
stole several small articles in the Sec
ond ward market house, and when Mar
ket Master Davis demonstrated Ozark
knocked him down. Officer Joe Nc
Causland was near in citizens dress,
being off duty and arrested Fart. The
latter made a fierce resistance. and
was knocked down by the officer. At
this iuncture a bystander remonstrat-
ed with the officer and suggested that
he let Fart up. This bad advice was
followed. when Fart resisted again,
and had to be again knocked down.
When an officer is doing the best he can
with a tough prisoner, it is good policy
IN LEI him alone.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-13
FATALLY INJURED.
A South Side Man Has Leg Cut on in an
Accident Yesterday on the Ohio River

A South Side Man Has IA Leg Cut on in an
Accident Yesterday on the Ohio River
Road
Yesterday news was brought to the
city that Edward Baldwin, we'll
known and popular brakeman on he
Ohio River road, had sustained fatal in
juries in an accident early yesterday
morning at Harris Ferry, a station
thirteen miles below Parkersburg.
Baldwin left on a north-bound local
freight from Huntington early yester-
day morning. While he train was go
ing by Harris Ferry station he made
a ms-step in going over the cars, and
fell down between. Several cars passed
over his body, entirely ssvering his
right leg and badly MASKING his right
arm. He was taken to Point Pleasant
and is hardly expected to live. He is
about 80 years of age, and has a wife
and children living in Parkersburg.
When in this city he boarded regularly
at Jacob Steuernagel's, at No. S625 Eon
street.