The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-02
helieve this covers the entire bill OF

| I believe this covers the entire Dill Oh
charges.
| Bnt as there are other matters
of rumor not in your letter, but calcu-
| lated to prejudice your mind, l consider
it bat simple justice to state the facts
as ID each one 1t is charged that when
the Scaboard system was endeavoring 10
give :he people cheap rates that | inter
fered: The following is n copy of orders
in the case-see report of the Commls-
sioners TO the Governor, page 213: 1T
appears from press reports that reduced
rates have been again ordered to be put
in effect from certain points outside OF
this State to certain points within-clear-
| " causing discrimination in violation
of the long and short haul clause of the
Act crca ting the Commission. Justice
to the focal business of the State re-
ouires of us to take prompt action. 1T
is thereforc ordered by this Commission
that all roads doing business within the
State of North Carolina shall reduce
their local tariffs of passenger and freight
iii the same proportion as has been done
by them Oh their through business
II was MY opinion then that our own
folks should at least have as good treat
ment as outsiders. ] drew the order and
would do so again under similar circum-
stances Ii is also charged on the streets
that the Scaboard system was unfairly
l. dealt with by me in the matter of their
Iproposed change of line at CASTOR. The
facts are. that the order as given was
drawn by Capt. McBee. General Super
lintendent Of the Seaboard Airline and
in his own writing now on file in this Of
flee. BY his request the Board adopted
il as their order. believing it to be fair
solution OF the matter. AT least the
Seaboard should be estopped from OBJ
| jectinc The charges as made against
me are in my opinion so frivilous, that
they would have passed unnoticed, had
they not been considered as of serious
Importance by one who holds the exalted
position that you do. 1t is also charged,
that my influence during the session of
the Legislature was exerted to prevent
reduction of rates. The last annual
report, submitted by the Commission,
with no difference of views by the Com
missioners, gave the rates of freight and
passengers considered by us as Just
and reasonable In support OF our
views comparison Of rates of all the
States in the Union, was made and pub
Eshed. We were sworn officers and
made this report with due regard to the
solemnity of our oaths. During the
session of the Legislature the members Of
the Commission were invited to appear
before the joint committee on Railroads
and give their views as to the business
of the rates now in force Two of us
responded, / for one and was given
most respectful hearing by the commit
tee. In my argument the report of the
Commission was sustained by facts and
figures Nothing since has been shown
to convince me that | was wrong. The
charge that it was argued by me before
the committee that to recommend a
change of rates would be a reflection upon
the Commission is not warranted by the
facts: nothing of the kind was ever al
lluded to by me-in this l am sure l will
be sustained by each member of the COM
mittee. In justice to myself will say
that | never entered the walls of the
Legislature during the sessions or ex-
pressed my views except when solicited
to do so by the committee.
These facts have been intended to be
given without feeling and in a most
respectful manner and trust they will be
so received by you.
In addition to the facts will say that
the State of North Carolina has a Con-
stitution which you and / have sworn to
support. This Constitution and the
laws as expounded guarantees protection
to its humblest citizen.
To a lawyer of your acknowledged
ability it may appear presumptive for me
to call to your attention Section and
3 Article G, Of the State Constitution,
which reads as follows:
every voter except as hereinafter pro-
vided, shall be eligible to office, &c.,
&c.
"The following classes of persons shall
be disqualified for offices-First, all per-
sons who shall deny the being of AL
mighty God. Second, all persons who