The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

~ 40 w OO 4NS4OtVCN 6A4AR U4OAL
speeches were not more fully reported
in the newspapers. There is Brother
Fabius B. Busbee, who, we are told,
shot some sharp Parthian arrows I
am sorry they were lost. / want to
see It his points are as pointed as they
used to be before he went to earning
his wages on a railroad organ by be-
coming an occasional cc-editor with g
couple of cadaverous and c~ovinous car.
pet baggers7
Then there is my friend, Maj. John
D. Shaw. He says that I am the only
man in the State who will assert that
the farmers are taxed upon the actual
value of their property. 1 do say that
thousands of them are taxed upon more
than the net earning value of their
farms> Bus who, except the retainers
or the money kings, ever boldly de-
manded that a court should violate
law and justice because some other
tribunal had done SO. It seems that
they all admit that railroad property
is taxed at about n half or less than
n half its value. Their whole con-
tention seems to be that they must be
let off with n half their tax because
somebody else has got out that way.
''Then there come Brothers Burton
n Buxton, who were hurt because I
was not there to argue with them.
They had something to say about my
firing a letter and then making for the
s9ashore. This hit was doubtless much
enjoyed by the m~egnifcoes in the
lobby but as a forcefuI and logical ar
GumeDt on rates it was not so happy
and complete as was the point made by
Elliott. But in order TO pacifY these
brethren, I now say to them that if
they want an argument before the peo-
pie on this question of railroad rates
and rapacity and taxation, and time
servers, I will divide time with them
before the men who support and main
tain these railroads from their mills
and mines, their fields and forests.
their furnaces and factories. I will
meet them Or any OF the rest Of the
North Carolina lawyers who appeared
before your board except Col. Elliott.
I am afraid of him since he made that
ponderous point.
"One of the board says that on the
rate question he has been much i'm
pressed by this argument that the rate
from Washington to New York-22Y
mlles-is Sc so. This is two and eight
tenths cents a mile. From Charlotte
TO GOldsborO-223 miIes-it is three and
one-quarter cents a mile. So that our
rate is only about one half cent a mile
more than that Of the great lines with
their vast business and crowded popu-
lation. They are allowed two and
eight tenths cents a mile with so much
more business, and yet here comes the
demand that cur roads be cut down to
two cents. This is persuasive to a man
who wants to be persuaded. Now for
the answer.
First, One half cent g mile is a big
dif8rcnce--n enormous tax upon our
! people over ard above that which is
imposed by Northern railroads upon
these Northern people.
Second. The two and eight tenths
cents imposed by these Northern roads
is excessive, and would not be permit
ted but for the fact that the railroads
control those States and rob the people
at their pleasure. New Jersey is a
borough belonging to the nabobg Of the
the trusts, the syndicates, the railroad
and money cliques. The rates there
will remain just where the railroads
choose to put them. They will con-
tinue to ex9ort from the people vast
revenues to pay interest on watered
bonds and stocks.
Third. The statement that the rate
up there is two and eight tenths cents
a mile, like about all other allegations
and statistics of these railroad lawyers.
has just about enough truth in it TO
make it a deception, You cen buy a
return ticket from Washington to New
York at two and two tenths cents q
mile. SO that the truth is that their
rate is rs low as that which we are ask
ing for"
At this point the paper ends, happily
for the corns Of some of the poor
Calamity bowling" lawyers.
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