The news & observer., 1897-02-19
FRIDAY, February 10, IS
THE PROPOSED INVESTIGATION
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gansTs OF THE I4HASEA
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The Senate yesterday, ON motion of
Senator Grant, who is understood to be
on the side of the Southern Railway in
the contest to mnul the lease, adopted
a resolution to investigate the making
of the 90 year lease. A committee was
appointed and we presume speedy hear
ias VIZ oe aasr+ alsfs5sgf5tsl,
IT is believed by many that the pur-
pose of this investigation is merely to
secure delay and to give opportunity
to pigeon-hole the Cook bin that passed
the House Even if that is not true the
people demand the saving of $4,000
q year for 80 years; they viii not be
content with a prolonged investigation
of side issues, They ask forfbread and
will mot accept stone.
1t is an open secret that Messrs. Over
man and Spruin strongly opposed the
making of the lease. Whatever was
done by any of the directors, however,
viii be brought to light by suit insti-
tuted for the purpose of annulling the
lease. The result of Senatorial inves-
tigation cannot possibly affect the posi-
Of tor. 1,n H.
The people, with practical unanmity have
demanded that the validity of the lease
be tested in the tribunal constituted by
law for that purpose They will be sat
isfed with nothing lessa.
A Senatorial investigation viii shoy
what everybody knows: 18lll..
/. That the lease was made six years
before the necessity of taking action
5 2. That it was hurried up in the face
of request from the president of the
Seaboard Airline stating that
bis road would like to bid
IL the directors could turn over the road
3. That no public notice of the purpose
OF the meeting at which the lease was
consummated was made
4. That no advertisement for bids was
inserted in any newspaper, or other effort
was made to. secure competition.
5. That the directors were threatened
that il, they did not accept the terms Of
fered, the Southern would parallel the
North Carolina road and destroy its
value in so far as it could be done.
These facts, about which there has
been no dispute or question, are sufficient
in themselves to Justify the annullment
of the lease. Admitting everything
Claimed by the directors. their action in
LEASING the road six years before the ex-
piration of the old lease, without seek
ing competition, for ninety nine years.
shows that it ought not to have been
made, and that it is wholly fndefensible.
The result of the investigation will not
affect these matters fktsf
The bill that passed the House pro-
.yides. for the only. Investigation that will
be Of any value IN undoing the 80 year
lease. That bill has been well drawn.
1t viii bring to tight every fact in. ron
rection with the lease, and (svhat is more
materiall it offers the only hope of an
nullment whereby the people car, be saw,
ed at least $4,000 per annum for nine
ty-nine*years. ssftttl ft9l FtYs1
The fnvestigations fy the Senate wflI
do no harm unless it is used to delay the
consideration of5theabil that passed the
House 1t ought not to stand I'm rtase'
way of the prompt consideration of the
bill providing for annullment, as no facts
that can be. disclosed win have even IA
remote bearing upon the necessity to
pass the House bill in order tosanndla the
lease.
THE people want the lease afnulled.
The people want $4,000 annually put
into the State Treasury instead OF into
the Golfers Of the Southern Railway.
There is no hope Of accomplishing these
results without passing the bill as it
passed the House. Those who seek to
cllange it, desire TO prevent judicial IN
vestigasioa booking TO annuilmeRt.