The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-13
CAN'T STAND MORE TAX
AND A REDUCTION OF RATES
WOULD RUIN THEM.
A GREAT DISPLAY OF PATRIOTISM
But They Can't Answer the Arguments Put
Forth in Favor of an Increase in
Taxation and Reduction
of Rates.

Professional beggars and tramps ought
to have been present at the meeting of
the Railroad Commission yesterday to
hear the discussion Of the tax and rate
question.
They would have gotten some valua-
BILE points. A high-salaried official or
paid attorney of a great railroad corpor-
alton can beat them putting up pitiful
plea of bankruptcy, misery and starva-
ton and give them two in the game. At
least some of those before the Commits
sion yesterday did.
l never knew before, or even imagin-
ed, how desperately poor these corpor-
ations were. 1t was enough to make
ones heart sad within him to hear told
in pleading tones the pitiful
tale Of the poverty of these
roads, how they have been for
years just keeping their heads above wa
ter, how the prejudice against them has
grown and how they have been oppressed
and robbed by damage suits and heavy
taxes. A narrowing tale it was.
Then to add to the horror
of the situation the story they
told of their patriotism-love of
the South and of old North
Carolina. It is truly wonderful how
much some of these fellows, who have
been in the State hardly half a dozen
times, have fallen in love with us. 1t
was not so much that a reduction in
rates or an increase in taxation would
FOL Of has,
regretted: it was that it would drive cap
ital from the State, paralyze industries
generally, and set the old commonwealth
back a quarter of a century. They la
mented this all day long, wept crocodile
tears and would no doubt have put on
sack-cloth and ashes had such articles
of apparel been as fashionable now as
in the days of old.
1t is always such considerations as
these that trouble the souls of grasping
corporations, reaching out for the victim
even now all but within their clutches.
The argument yesterday took in the whole
gamut-all the variations were played
for all they were worth.
The Commission met at II o'clock in
the State library. Quite large num-
Der of people were present-some fifty,
including the members of the Commits
sion. Among them were:
For the Southern Railway-Col.
A. B. Andrews, first vice president and
at present the acting president; w.
w. Finley, second vice-president; T. S.
Cannon, third vice-president; w. A.
Turk, general passenger agent; j. M.
Culp, traffic manager; G. S. Hobbs, au-
ditor; w. +. Henderson, general counsel,
and T. II. Busbee, assistant counsel.
For the Seaboard Air-Line-V. q. Nc
Bee, general superintendent; Judge
Leigh r, Watts, general counsel, and
John D. Shaw, w. III. Day and Jos.
B. Batchelor, assistant counsel.
For the Atlantic Coast Line-Warren
G. Elliott, president; T. M. Emerson,
traffic manager, and Robt. O. Burton,
attorney.
For the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley
j. w. Fry. general manager; w. e.
Kyle, general freight and passenger
agent; George M. Rose, attorney.
For the Norfolk and Western-Joseph
/. Van Dorm, general counsel, and Maj.
VIM. A. Guthrie, associate counsel.
For the Atlantic and North Carolina
Railroad-Robert Hancock, president.
For the Aberdeen and West End-A.
T. Page, president, and Henry A. Page.
For the Carthage Railroad-W. @.
Petty, president.
The attendance of such a large num-
ber of well known railway luminaries is
the result of an order issued by the Com
mission on July 2, and printed in this
paper, directing all railroads and other
transportation companies in the State
to appear before the Commission to-day
and show cause why the valuation of
their property should not be very ma
terially increased.
In response to an invitation extended
at that meeting, in resolution introduc-
ed by Commissioner Abbott, letters from
Governor Russell, Justice Walter Clark
and Mr.. Josephus Daniels were submit
ted. None of the gentlemen were pre-
sent. Gov. RusselPs letter was printed
exclusively in the News and Observer
Sunday morning. Judge Clark's and Mr..
Josephus Daniels appear to-day.
After the reading Of these letters by
Clerk Brown the argument by the rail-
road men began. 1t consisted Of four
things:
/. A calamity wall by the whole band.
2. Ridicule OF the letters laid before
the Commission in response to its invl-
tation.
3. Long dissertations on the benefits to
country from railroads running through
it.
4. An absolute failure to answer the
arguments set forth in the letters laid