The news & observer., 1897-01-30
TO ANNUL THE NINETY-NlNE
YEAR LEASE.

1t is to be hoped that thus measure
that concerns the people of three gener-
ations. (for the life of the lease is ninety-
mine years. VIII receive the careful con-
sideration of the peoples representatives,
and that they win set it aside, so far as
they cam, so that all the increment grow
ing from the industry of the people from
Goldsboro to Charlotte for the coming
century shall not go into the hands Of
corporation for a paltry interest on the
States investment.
No political consideration ought 10
weigh in its settlement. Certain South
ern Railway attorneys are already beg
ging Democrats, appealing to their partl-
samship TO favor the continuance of the
lease because Governor Russell desires
its repeal and the lease was made by
Democratic Governor. This paper has
not changed its opinion of Governor Rus
sell since his inauguration, and no man
ON Its staff has ''toadied" to him because
of his election We will not permit him,
however, to drive us from the support
of q measure that is for the interests of
the whole people and that we advocated
as early as August, 1895. On the con-
trau.y, we welcome Governor Russell as q
laborer in the contest against powerful
the heritage Of the people to a rich syn
dicate He is the first prominent Re
publican in high position who has not
been creature Of corporations since
1866. Those who are fighting TO anaul
this lease hope that honest men of all
parties will stand with them in the bat
tie that is ON, and on to the death.
There are other Southern Railway at
torneys or agents who say: 1T was not
wise to make the lease for so long a
term, but now that it is made, it is best
not to disturb it," The answer to this is
that, If it was wrong, it ought to be
righted. No legislator cam dodge behind
the WRONG of others. If those who made the
lease blundered shall the servants of the
people, who are to be robbed for ninety
mine years for the benefit of rich cor
poration, hesitate to correct lblunder so
far reaching or of such long duration:
In 1872 when the lease was made by the
Republicans for only thirty years, the
Democrats attacked it, charging fraud
and bribery. Shall we in 1897, when
lease for more than three times the
length of that lease and for only a frac-
tion more of rental, acquiesce in it be-
cause we do not aIlege fraud or bribery?
Shall we sit still, when the remedy is at
hand, and see the State rob THE school
children ninety mime years that the cof-
fers Of rich corporation shall overflow?
THAT is the question that is presented to
this General Assembly.
Other Southern Railway attorneys
(and the town is full OF them) declare
that the lease having been executed cam
not be anulled, and that an attempt to
do so will prove abortive. These same
attorneys, or others Like them, told US
when the fight was on to compel the Sea
board and Atlantic Coast Lines TO surren-
der their claims of exemption from taxa
ton, that 1T would be useless task. Dis
cepted fees from corporations 10 try to
dissuade the people from fighting to make
THE railroads do right. But their pah-for
advice, given aus if purely Cor the public
good, was rejected with scorn, and after
long litigation the courts decided in favor
of the people. 1t will be so now if the
Legislature does its duty. No corporation
was ever so firmly intrenched i'm special
privilege that 1T could not be ousted if the
legislative, judicial and executive depart
ments of government were united in
fighting against claimed exemptions, or
privileges, or leases There are legal
| remedies for the present evil. lit only re-
quires brave Legislature TO start the
machinery to free the people from lease
that will prove more injurious as the
years go by.
In to-morrow's News AND Observer we
shall trace the HISTORY of the lease, show
how it was made in the face of the clam
or Of every newspaper except three or
hour in the State, how this paper
and Others fought it step by step from its
inception TO it's coGsummation, and give
additionaa reasons why it should be am
aulled
NJ B-uook out for the r. p atter-