The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-18
ITN1TING TO SECURE LOWER
FREIGHT RATES.

Retvepn 1856 nd 1871 the euitoi VI 'NAS
naper. who was then editing the state
chronicle. week after week urged the
establishment of a railroad COMMISSION
to secure a reduction and an equalization
of freight and passenger rates. The man
limitations Of some great railroad kings
defeated and delayed the reform, once oy
the bare majority OF one in the Senate.
until 1890, when the Commission was e.
+ahlisbed. The first few years OF the
Commission was largely consumed with
questions relating to taxation, and an e1-
cellent beginning was made in putting all
railroad property on the tax list, IN re-
ducing telegraph charges, and in other
needed regulations. There remains much
to be done along these lines, because the
main lines nay taxes far below their real
value. and the people will look to the
Commission to raise the assessment IN
June.
The pressing duty of the Raaahoad
Commission now 10 to take up the aues-
ton OF freight and passenger rates on the
main lines and make just reductions we
have shown time and again why ana
how the passenger rates should be re-
dueed, and in a general way urged the
Commission to reduce the freight rates.
The action last week of two conven-
tons. representing the biggest shippers
and richest corporations in the State, is
an appeal which the Commission ought to
hear and grant. At Greensboro
a large meeting Of business men
and manufacturers, representing mil
lions OF capital, was held with
no object in view except to secure
better freight rates. At that meeting 1t
was shown that on cotton goods the rate
from Danville. Va, to New York IS 20
cents. while from Greensboro 1t is oil
cents. From Chicago TO Lynchburg, va,
Il ia q cents. while it is 3S cents to
Winston. The rate from Boston to Lynch
burg. Va. is As cents and it is 81 cents
to Greensboro. Such unjust discrimlna-
ton is nothing short Of robbery OF the
peorle. 1t is not strange that large ship
pers are moving now in united way 10
secure a reduction. The wonder is that
they have not sooner organized to secure
redress. The list of the manufacturing
concerns that organized this association
embrace the biggest and most progressive
concerns in the State.
Following close upon the heels OF the
organization at Greensboro, came the
meeting in Charlotte on Saturday Of cot
ton mill owners from North Carolina.
South Carolina and Georgia to take ac-
ton looking to tiding over the depression
in the cotton manufacturing business. At
ter deciding that, Mckinley times en-
forces a curtailment of one-fourth OF the
product, these successful and active man.
ufacturers also decided to appoint COM
mittee to cooperate with the Greensboro
Convention with view to remedying the
determinations which now injure their
business.
In the Charlotte meeting, Mr.. Caesar
Cone, president of the Cone Finishing
Mills. said that there was no other State
in the Union with such high freight rates
as North Carolina. Coming from a man
holding such high position in the manu-
featuring world, this statement is most
remarkable. In support Of his statement
Mr.. Cone read the following comparison
Of rates which he had prepared: