The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-01
PROPOSED RAILROAD LEASE.

OF rates TO - anu - Al "hi
10 between 100000 and 100000 IN
North Carolina. The statement is pub
l;shed. and, so far as our observation
goes. without contradiction, that the
Governor and the officers of the South
ern Railway are considering 4 TRADE"
nv which THE State Will get 100000 per
wear for the Atlantic and North Caro-
lima railroad, provided, he can induce the
Railroad Commission to put back the
old 3A cent rate and replace that SlOo,-
600 to $500, 600 burden "a loss to the
people in ITSELF, the Governor Will va'l-
date the 80 year lease and contract TO
pardon the railroads for all the $1,000
penalties for which, they have been sued
for violation of the law against free
passes. The feast to which the people
are to be invited will be to pay $500
900 to 5000. 900, besides other big
bonuses. for the Southern to pay 4
rental Of $4,000 for the Atlantic and
North Carolina Railroad.
The late Ex-Governor Scales was n
favor of compelling the Southern Rail
way to lease the Atlantic and North
Carolina Railroad, as a condition prece-
dent to giving Il renewal of the lease
o. the North Carolina railroad. He be-
Iieved they would pay six per cent for
both systems and that operated rs one
system it would pay them we'll.
At this time, the people of North Caro-
lima would be indignant at the consum-
nation of the trade said to be under
consideration. 1t the Southern or any
other road desires to lease the Atlantic
and North Carolina, their propositions
ought to be Received and referred with
the recommendation of the directors to
the mex Legislature. We want no
leases by a set of directors without rat
ifcation by the General Assembly, and
we want no leases OF that or any other
State property to be paid for by such
considerations as bind the hands of the
Railroad Commission and the other con.
sideratiOns so far stipulated.
The lease Of the North Carolina rail
road was legal or Illegal. That question
is now in the courts for adjudication
If legal, all must acquiesce. If illegal
the legislative branch Of government
sition of it not only for the interest OF
the State, but for the private stock
holders as well. They should be treat
ed alike in all matters connected with
that nroparfr HNnn 1oara Of tho Nnrtj
Carolina Railroad has nothing, AM
should have nothing, to do with any
negotiations looking to leasing the At
lantic and North Carolina Railroad
They are independent matters. There
are private stockholders of the Atlantic
and North Carolina Railroad, whose in
terests be protected in any ar
rangement effected. 1t would be MANI
testify wrong to charge them with tn,
expenses in the lease litigation, as TIL,
suggested arrangement would do. Ih,
stockholders of that road as such NAV,
NO interest i'll that litigation. The.
ought not to be made to pay for it.
There IS Il difference of opinion, O
N'"A's "' :" VI lJloSCflSA
rates to- the figure fixed on the lcadin:
roads by the Commission. The publ,
VIII uphold the Commission i'm reason
able reductions. The reductions mad,
ought to stand if they will not deny t,
the owners of the road Il fair diyiden.
on the value of. the roads. The sugges
ton that, in order to secure a renta
of $4,000, these reductions ordered Sinai
be countermanded is such "dickering
and trading as ought not to be to
Grated a moment. The rates are to
high, or they are not. If too high. til
COMMISSIONS duty is to reduce rhel
without regard to any other TRANSACTION
in which the State may be interested
II the rates are not too high, no reduc
ton ought to be made and there shout
be no suggested reduction dependeI
upon Il lease of a single railroad. I1ni
is true even If the possible rental woul
exceed the aggregate of the reduction.
We are everlastingly tired OF IDEALS
and "dickers" and SWAPS" and Grades
by men acting as trustees for the Stat,
They We're not chosen to make trade
They We're elected to enforce the Law
A Governor has no business to be tr,
ing to project his administration beyor
its term by trades and deals" 1t
his business only to do his duty durir
his term and leave long contracts to ii
law-making department. Of the State.
they choose to make leases for thir
years or ninety nine years, they a
the representatives authorized to a
for the people. The Governor ought n
to assume duties not incumbent UP
him.
Let all facts be made public. If the
IS to be a lease, let the matter be