The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-14
THE PRESS STANDS AGAINST
THE LEASE

extracts from some OF the leading Demo
cratic papers of the State on the question
of annuling the lease of the North Caro-
lima Railroad for ninety-nine years. We
could fill two or three pages with such
extracts. There are not half n dozen
Democratic papers in the State that de-
clare against the proposition for annul-
ment, and with one or two exceptions
they declare their hostility to the ninety
nine year lease as an original proposition.
Even the Salisbury Truth published in
the town where the Southern Railway is
investing large sums of money in erect
ing shops, says call admit that this lease
was not just what it should have been
BOTH AS TO THE TIME AND MAN
NER, and for these reasons we believe
different contract should be made, but
the Southern justly deserves any pref
erence, if there be any" If the Legisla-
ture should take this candid advice, it
would do all it can to lease to the lowest
bidder, giving the Southern the prefer
ence if two bids should be equal.
We regret that we have not space to
print extracts from all the papers that
have spoken. During the past ten days
we have given extracts from more than
Dozen representing all sections Of the
State from Macon county to Pasquo-
tank Below we give a few more ex-
tracts from papers received yesterday.
The Statesville Landmark, in a lead
ing editorial, said
1.-THE Landmark believed at the
time and still believes that it was a
great mistake to lease the road TO the
Southern for 80 years at the price
agreed upon. If the lease can be an
nulled honorably and with profit to
the people of the State, it should be
done"
The Franklin Press, the only newspa-
per published in Macon county, has a
strong editorial upon the lease, from
which we quote:
1.-THE Legislature is making an at
tempt to annul the Infamous ninety
nine year lease of the North Carolina
Railroad. The attempt opens up
rare opportunity for the use of
Doodle. and purchasable members of
the Legislature have an opportunity
TO make their jack VIII they do
il? If the railroad
men will put up the Doodle, the lease
will stand"
From three quarter column editorial
in the Sanford Express we make the fol
lowing extract:
This is one of the most valuable
pieces of property owned by the
State, and if properly managed would
turn into the State Treasury hand
some sum of money every year. The
revenue that the State ought to get
out Of this road would do much to-
wards lengthening the terms of our
public schools.
1.-THE Seaboard Air Line has offered
to lease the North Carolina Railroad
in the event that the present lease is
annulled and pay annually $780,
600 more than the Southern Railway
is now paying for it. 1t seems to us
that this alone is sufficient reason
why the present lease should be an
nulled. To let the lease stand means
that the Southern Railway will place
in it's Golfers annually for 80 years
$4,000 which justly belongs to the
State"
The Elizabeth City Economist, edited
by the veteran Editor, r. B. Creecy, the
leading Democratic paper for dozen
counties in Northeastern North Caro-
lima, has two editorials on the question,
and speaks parable when it says:
1.-The indications are that it win be
a close vote with chances in favor of
annuIing the lease. If there be no
constitutional impeachment in the way
the 80 year lease will be hoisted as
high as a kite. No legislator will be
rash enough to throw away the
property of the State in so wild and
reckless a manner"
The Roanoke Beacon voices the SEN
timent of the people in the Albemarle
section when it says:
1.-The 99-year lease of the North
Carolina Railroad has been taking
up the time OF our legislators for
week or more. An effort is being
made to annul the 99-year lease as it
is evident that the same is wrong,
and that the lease was granted CON
trary to the law"
The Kinston Free Press, one of the
most influential papers in the State, and
certainly the best semi-weekly in the
East, in its issue of yesterday speaks
out clearly in these words:
''The lease ought to be annulled,
and if it is not done it is probable that
few who vote against the bill will ever
be returned to the Legislature. NO
MEMBER WHO VOTES IN FA-
VOR OF THE RAILROAD AND
AGAINST THE PEOPLES IN
TERESTS SHOULD EVER
AGAIN BE ALLOWED TO HOLD
ANY POSITION BY THE VOTES
OF NORTH CAROLINIANS.''
We have not space to print all the ex-
tracts of like tenor. These expressions.