The news & observer., 1897-02-27

1t costs 76 per cent so the reports of the
| rsfl14oad state. The balance OF
their ruads--775 miles long-does not
| cost but 5S per cent. TO operate. The
| exclamation of this lis as clear as the
| noon-day's sun. The Southern does not
give fair play TO the North Carolina Rail
road. They charge to that road what
ought to be charged to other raods, doc
| toring the books to the INJURY of the
| North Carolina Railroad. / defy any
man to explain that! The people of
| North Carolina have become fully sat
| isfied that this was a fraud. If this Leg
| islature does not open up q way to test
this lease, l warn you that in 1899
Legislature will come here that will open
! the doors Of the court houses to the peO-
pie.
There was parliamentary wrangle
as to whether the substitute of Grant
should be considered first or the minority
| report should have precedence. Upon this
there was a hot discussion, Abell and
| others demanding that the substitute be
voted ON first. The LIT. Gov. Reynolds
had already ruled that McCaskie's min
ority report was before the Senate. Dur
| ing the debate the chair made this rule
four distinct times. But the advocates
of the substitute led by Senator Abel
consumed more than half an hour de-
manding that the Lit. Governor reverse
his decision which he had announced
four separate times.
Reynolds couldn't stand against the ar
gument of Abel and others and he re-
yersed his ruling.
Mr. Scales: 81 have given this matter
much consideration without bias or the
help Of lobbyists This is no political
question. do not coonsder the fact that
the Democratic Governor made this lease
binding on me- 1t is left me to consider,
and as representative Of the people de-
eide what is best.
Il have not sat at the feet Of Russell
or Carr to learn my duty
After careful consideration and exam
inatton / do not believe there is the faint
of fraud on this transaction from begin
ming to end. Had / been a director, ]
WOULD NEVER HAVE CAST MY
VOTE FOR SUCH A LEASE. am op-
posed to it now cannot become a party
to it, The bill that came over from the
House gives the right to the Governor to
bring suit Probably the Governor should
have that right. There are however,
objectionable features in that bill. / do
not believe even railroad should be put
to all the disadvantage They ought
merely to be put on equal terms with all
others.
II believe the rates on railroads are
too high. / would vote to reduce the pas
/ senger and freight rates. | ann opposed
to certain provisions OF the bill, and am
opposed to the 99-year lease. Under no
circumstances would 1 endorse it.
tsEl,s, plNOtt in
meets my approval 1T needs some
amendments, and he offered amendments
that gave better security to the State.
"I'he greatest objection TO the lease is
| the term. Reducing the term to 30 years
is a happy solution of the difficulty con-
sidering the conditions that surround us.
THE substitute provides that the lease
to the Southern shall be validated by ac-
cepting it. 1t makes no provision for re-
requiring acceptance by the North Caro-
lima Railroad"
Mr.. Scales offered an amendment re-
q,liring the assent OF both the Southern
and the North Carolina Railroad to agree,
or failing to do so, authorizing the Gov
ernor to bring suit to annul the lease,
Mr. Butler: ''I'he substitute puts this
matter back exactly where it was before
He showed that the stockholders could
| forever prevent a meeting and refuse TO
| assent, as they had done when Governor
| Carr tried to get a meeting to compel them
| to put the road on the tax list.
THE House passed a bill that meets
Continued on Third Page.)