The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-17
THE MATTER is DECIDED
COMMISSIONER ABBOTT GIVES
HIS OPINION.
GOING sTO ROUND KNOB TO MEET
Governor Russell Has Not Been Given An Up
nortunity to Review that Railroad Ar
gument as He Was Invited by
the Commission to Do.

the COMMISSION 10 Uu
The Railroad Commission has, am re-
liably informed, practically decided as to
the basis upon which railroad properly
in North Carolina will this year be as
sessed for taxation.
1t win be three per cent of the gross
receipts.
At least that is what Dr. Abbott says
it ought to be. Ohio Wilson, l hear,
thinks the tax rate ought to be five per
cent. But Maj. Wilson. they say, con-
siders that entirely too high. So three
DER cent it will doubtless be.
1t is now little over two per cent,
and nearly S225,O0o revenue is raised.
At three perectn nearly 100000 rev
enue viii be raised.
The announcement of this rate is not
official. Indeed it was not intended that
it should be known at all, except TO the
faithful few. For has not the Commits
sion invited Gov. Russell and several
other gentlemen to review the argument
of the railroad officials presented orally
the other day and set forth such facts an
rebuttal as they might desire? Did they
not employ a stenographer to take down
the argument for this very purpose-and
their own use in arriving at conclu-
sion? Has the stenographer written these
arguments for the use of these gentle
men-so that they may review them as
the Commission only On last Wednesday
invited them to do? If so they have not
been informed of the fact.
And yet if there is any truth in cur
rent rumor the matter has been decided.
OF course not officially, just a sort of
general understanding
The official decision will be reached
at Ohio Wilson's hotel at Round Knob
Monday For the Commission has de-
cided to meet there at that time Com
missioner Ohio Wilson has already gone
to prepare a place for them. Maj. Will
son and DR.. Abbott leave to-day to join
him. Secretary Brown goes with them.
Now this is what the school girl would
call real nice"-going way off up among
the mountains, where it is cool and quiet
to railroad hotel, to assess railroad
property for taxation.
There are no newspapers there, and
the dear people, cannot come near to
modest or make afraid. Then it is not
likely either, that Gov. Russell and the
other gentlemen invited to review the
railroad side of the question would care
to go that far to argue on a question
already practically settled. Indeed it
does not even appear that they have been
invited.
But the type-written argument, now
being prepared by the stenographer, and
which these gentlemen have been invited
to review, will, understand, be taken
along. To what use it will be put does
not appear. Possibly it will be used to
paper the walls Of the official Commits
sion Room I'm the Round Knob Hotel
where all Southern Railway passenger
trains, a-goin' and a-c0min', stop for
meals.
And just here it might be well to in
.quire what is the use of the Commission
having an office in Raleigh anyway.
There are two great railroad eating
houses in the State-one at Round Knob
and one at Weldon. Ohio Wilson having
the one at Round Knob, it has been
suggested that Dr. Abbott is clearly emit
tied to that at Weldon. Amy other ar
rangement would lay the railroads liza
BILE to a charge of unjust discrimination.
The Round Knob hotel, being in the
mountains, would make a splendid sum-
mer meeting place, and Weldon would
be an ideal winter resort. One is on the
Southern; the other is on the Seaboard,
and both are convenient to that species
of calamity bowler that travels about in
private palace cars.
But it is to Round Knob that the eyes
of the world will be turned next week