The news & observer., 1897-07-18
was murdered for it. Were they not

t0OlS!
.It is to be regretted that their
speeches were not more fully reported
in the newspapers. There is Brother
Fabius Ii. Busbee who, we are told,
shot some sharp Parthian arrows L
am sorry they were lost. | want to see
if his points are as pointed as they used
to be before he went to earning ms
wages ON a railroad organ by becoming
an occasional cO-editor with couple OF
cadaverous and covinous carpet baggers!
Then there is my friend, Maj. John
d. Shaw He says that | am the only
man in the State who Will assert that
the farmers are taxed upon the actual
value of their property. L do say that
thousands of them are taxed upon more
than the net earning value of their
farms. But who, except the retalners or
the money kings, ever boldly demanded
that a court should violate law and JUS
tice because some other tribunal had
done so. 1t seems that they all admit
that Railroad property is taxed at about
one-half or less than One-half its value.
Their whole contention seems to be that
they must be let off with onehalf their
tax because somebody else has got out
that way.
Il nen Jnefe come bTOtleTS burton anu
Buxton, who were hurt because | was
not there to argue with them. They had
something to say about my firing let
ter and then making for the seashore.
This hit was doubtless much enjoyed
by the magnifcoes in the lobby; but as
Il forceful and logical argument on rates
it was not so happy and complete as was
the point made by Elliott. But in order
!, Il 10
them that if they want an argument be-
fore the people on this question of rail
road rates and rapacity and taxation,
and time serves, i will divide time with
them before the men who support and
maintain these railroads from their mills
and mines, their fields and forests, their
furnaces and factories. will meet
them or any of the rest of the North
Carolina lawyers who appeared before
your Board except Col. Elliott. | am
afraid of him since he made that ponder
Gus point.
Zone of the Board says that on the
rate question he has been much Impress
ed by this argument that the rate from
Washington to New YOrk-227 miles
is $3.50. This is two and eight-tenths
cents mile From Charlotte to Colds
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 population.
They are allowed two and eight-tenths
cents a mile with so much more business,
and yet here comes the demand that our
roads be cut down to two cents. This is
persuasive to a man who wants to be per-
suaded. Now for the answer.
First. One-half cent a mile is a big
difference-an enormous tax upon our
people over and above that which is i'm
posed 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 permitted
but for the fact that the railroads con-
troll those States and rob the people at
their pleasure. New Jersey is borough
belonging to the nabObs of the trusts, the
syndcates. the railroad and money
cliques. The rates there will remain
just where the railroads choose to put
them. They will continue to eXtOrt 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 n
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 can buy a return tick
ct from Washington to New York at two
and two-tenths cents a mile. So that the
truth is that their rate is as low as that
which we are asking for"
Here the paper abruptly ended. For
at this point the Governor had learned
from the News and Observer of the Com
missions decision, and had decided that
further argument was more than wasted.
''It is surprising" he added, as |
took up the letter, that these railroad
lawyers cannot make a more plausible
showing for their side. They can do bet
ter if they will get down to real work
and quit their idle rant which, Shakes
peare would liken to a tale told by an
idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying
nothing"