The news & observer., 1897-01-29
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Henry Miller's grip, at least ON one ral-
road bill. has lost some Of its power.
Yesterday afternoon the Judiciary COM
mitfee with only two dissenting votes,
decided to favorably report MIR. John ID.
Pearson's bill to prevent railroad conpa-
nies lessening competition. James I'll.
Young teol1. of Wake, who stlll occu-
n;as a seat to which he was not eject
cd. and Chaplin white Republican,, OF
Harnatt. opposed the favorable report,
hut all the balance were in favor OF an
immediate favorable report Some of the
Democrats had gone to the meeting deter
ynirel To have a report or to have 1T Of
6cially declared, what Mr.. McCreary stat
ed and Chairman Lusk acquiesced LII, ohat
. nron1ise had been made to Henry Mil
lar NOT To take ND the bill until February
11hh. Happily for all concerned, there
was no need for a fight. Mr.. Sutton, OF
rumberIand, proposed AN amendment
strengthening the bill, by providing ma
,chine1,y for it's enforcement, and Chair
unan I,usk expressed his approval of 1t,
and there was as pleasant unanlLnIty
i'm favor Of the bill as could be wished.
The committee seemed anxious TO show
that If was not bound by any promise
made to MIR. Miller, of the Southern Rall-
way, and glad to erase the writing on
the bill that it could not be consldered
until February 11th.
Jim Young said even il he favored the
bill he would not vote for 1T after the
structures on the committee by the News
and Observer.
Now let us have early action by the
House so that the bill will be law
before February 11th. The Importance
of the bill, and the fame given to 1T by
the promise made to Mr.. Miller, makes 1t
proper that it should be published in full.
1t is as follows:
A bill to he entitled an Act to prohibit
Railroad Companies from defeating or
lessening competition.
The General Assembly of North Caro-
lima do enact:
Section /. That it shall be unlawful
for any railroad company to purchase
or lease any competing line of railway or
to enter into any contract with a compet-
ing line of railway calculated to defeat
or lessen competition i'm this State.
Section 2 That any citizen of the State
of North Carolina who will provide for
securing the costs as prescribed m other
civil actions, shall be authorized ON behalf
of himself and other taxpayers, 10 in-
stitute an action, to have declared null
and void any agreements entered into
by amy railway companies in violation
of the foregoing section of this Act, or,
where the State is interested ais stock
holder in either of the corporations that
are parties to such agreements, whether
heretofore made or hereafter to be made,
either any citizen who will provide for
securing the costs aus aforesaid, or the
Governor of the State, shall be author
lied to prosecute ON behalf OF the people
any action for the purpose of having
such agreement declared void, and the
Governor of the State is hereby author
lied to pay out amy money, not otherwise
expressly appropriated the costs incur
red in the prosecution on behalf of the
State OF amy such action.
Section 3. That this act shall be in
force from and after its ratification.
In the. Senate yesterday morning, when
Mr. Abel rose to speak the third time on
the divorce BILL Mr.. Grant, of Wayne,
demanded the enforcement of the rule
that no member shall speak more than
twice on measure. The debate had