The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-04

Senator Ashburn asked Senator But
Ter IL the stockholders and directors hal
the right two years ago to lease tn.
road. and the answer was the private
stockholders had the right TO do as they
pleased. but the directors should have
submitted the matter TO the legislature
Counsel Of the Southern railway adj
mitted the North Carolina railroad tn
ne the most valuable piece OF property
in the south: If they pass the substf-
tute they ratify the lease and give th<
road TO the Southern for n generation
and at the end Of that time the South
ern would run the road down before
turning the road over to the state.
At 2:Io O'Clock enato Abel moved
to adjourn.
Senator McCaskey amended by NOV
ing not To adjourn until the matter was
settled. and demanded the roll cali.
which was sustained-ayes. %. noes
y This was regarded as a victory for
| the men.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The senate reassembled at san
| o'clock.
Senator Parker. of Alamance, said the
directors acted wisely. and as for the
term Of ninety-nine years. did an ex-
ceedingly wise thing In leasing the ROAD
when they received . per cent rental
on the capital stock. A wise LANDLORDS
looks out for a tenan before the lease
expires Then why should not the state
look for n good and responsible party
or corporation To lease its roads tn He
did not believe there was another piece
of property In North Carolina that -
earning I. per cent. for such a long
term OF years, II the directors had tn
power To make the lease then there b.
nothing that can set IL aside. and n
they did not have the power. then the
lease Is not legal. valid and binding. hu1
he commended they had the power. he
cause they were regularly and Legally
appointed. Then there Is no use for shr
passage of the original bin or the sub
stitute, because IL the lease Is not bind
ing a suit can at any time be Institutes
to annul the lease. II IL at present q
valuable property but with anoshex
line through the state. as no doubt tn
Southern would supply the missing link
would not the states property be A.
most ruined. II this body Is in such
frame OF mind as not TO listen to reason
then II cannot do justice to the intere1
OF the state.
Senator Butler offered an amendmens
to the substitute. provided the rental
shall not be less than 10 per cent. -
the valuation OF 81, 900. 600. Speaking to
his amendment. Senator Butler said u
should be adopted as a r~esponssbke
corporation had made al ofIer to the
governor at 10 per cent. He said the
committee, OF which he was a member.
did not have a chance TO IN Hon-
man, but ne had no doubt that the Of
fer was bona fide.
Senator Abell asked Senator Butler n
he did not know that Hoffman had bcea
summoned, but declined to come.
Senator Butler answered that the
committee would not give Hoffman
TIME to get here.
Senator Smathers said Senator But
ler's stand on the bill was cheap poll
tics.
Senator Ashburn asked were tn
nrncSlant nnl x~AntN ~
power to lease the road. II they werc.
the legislature has no lower to annni
the lease. Is it just to try to annul
the lease when the Southern has spent
so much on betterments He thought
it better to have two competing lines
than to have one. The populists wanted
to make political 'buncombe' out OF
this lease matter. They are said to- be
opposed to all trusts and combines. but
they favor annulling the lease ana
thereby creating a monopoly In rail-
roads by giving this road to the Sea-
board Air line.
Senator Butler moved the previous
question on his 10 per cent. amendment.
which vas ordered. The amendment
was lost-ayes, "a; noes, rs. He offered
an amendment to make the interest 3
per cent; lost-ayes, %; noes. 27. He
again offered an amendment making it
s per cent, and a roll call was again
demanded, resulting, ayes, %. noes, 25-
lieutenant hbNtTIbT KEY VOICE
No" breaking the tie.
Senator Grant moved the previous
question, which was ordered.
Senator McCaskey demanded the roil
call-ordered.
Senator Abel, in explaining his vote
said he had always opposed the ninety
nine year lease, and he hoped he had
something to do with bringing about
the substitute.
Senator Atwater said II was not the
1 RVcf tipn 10 lal -a-, tl.A.
up in this chamber with railroad lob
byists fighting them. If this legislature
didn't pass the bill he would appeal to
the next Legislature in 1899. The great
masses OF the people In this state Op-
posed the ninety-nine year lease. and
he took great pleasure in casting his
vote in the interest OF the great mass
Of people.
The substitute OF the majority OF the
committee was adopted-ayes. rs; noezl
"A. The substitute passed its second
and third readings. and the clincher
was put on the vote. The bill WIS
ordered engrossed and sent to thu
house at 6 o'clock.
Four populists-Barker. Eearnhardt.
Odum and Wakefeld-voted for the
substitute. Governor Russell thought up
to almost last night that the substitute
would be defeated.
NIGHT SESSION.
The senate passed bills establishing
dispensaries for Bladen county an
Waxhaw. Rutherfordton and LittIet0n-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Not many bills were introduced
| Among them were the following:
BY Mr.. James. to provide for the pur-
chase Of the battle ground VI MooreID
creek.
BY Mr.. DuYy, TO amend tie charter
Of Jacksonville.
Bv Mr.. Hancock, to create the Office
OF prosecuting attorney for the East
ern CT minal circuit court. 10 get same.
pay as solicitors, TO be appointed by the
gouA' nor and to serve four years.
BY Mr.. Lusk, to allow county com
missioners to elect an auditor.
The house went into committee Of