The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-23
NORTH CAROLINA

| years. Then all necessary would be
| the un!tcrmins and equpping Of these
drilled men. Here in Raleigh the Gov
errors Guard has arranged to make
its strength $50. The Naval Reserves
would be Increased to 500 and trans
| ferred TO the Navy Department and
mustered into the United States SER
vice. The land force would be muster
| cd with the United States service by
| the War Department. The section Of
| artillery at Charlotte would be made a
fun battery, with n strength OF about
2oo, thus making 5000 of the land force
besides the 500 of the naval force. The
organization Is complete in all par
ticulars and there would be no hitch
or delay. 49,
His attorney to-day told Barnes. the
Wilson man in jail here for rape. that
the Supreme Court will give him new
trial.
senator Butler says he will do his
pest to defeat II. G. Ewart for the
United States Judgeship, and declares
mat Ewart is unfit for office.
Louisburg has suffered 500 900 loss by
a fire.
Caharrus county will not sue tho
superintendent OF the penitentiary in
order to secure cOnvicts for public
road work. as he has compromised the
matter by agreeing to furnish twenty
I'VE in the next few days
ne smallpox scare now appears to
nave entirely ended In this State.
'eofec Iarkcr whose wife was taken
from him by her mother In Green's
boro, few hours after marriage, has
secured fabeas corpus writ to get
possession. Her mother claims the girl
Is not held in restraint. Judge Rob-
ihson Will hear the matter.
railroad Commissioner Abbott SAYS
IN regard to yesterdays action in re-
duclnE rates: II am not one of those
who lCck upon railroads az natural
enemies Of the people l believe, how
ever that the people have. and justly So
me power 10 regulate terms and condi-
tons upon which railroads should be
| operated. This power is vested in the
General Assembly. The General Assem-
bly, of North Carolina has, to certain
extent. delegated this power to the Rail-
road Commission. The Railroad Com
mission, upon assuming this power. also
necessarily assumes the responsibility
of dealing justly and fairly with the
railroads.
In the matter of reduction of passen-
&c" rates | first ask, Is there any com
paint that the present passenger rates
are excessive? Upon examining the
records of the North Carolina Railroad
Commission, find that there have been
since 10 organization between GOO and
go petitions and complaints no one of
which asks for a reduction in passenger
rates examine the platforms Of the
different political parties in the State
do not find plank in any one of them
asking for reduction in passenger rates
% ihat, so faT as I am informed, the
ltlllroad Commission is making this
investigation upon its own volition.
me railroads are ordered before the
COMMISSION to show cause why passen-
ger rates should not be reduced. IL the
railroads show that they are not max
ing an unrea sonable profit on the mas
senger traffic in the State, then we have
neither legal nor moral right to reduce
their passenger rates.
The evidence. so far as I know is
all in and shows conclusively. to nv
mind, that the local passenger traffic
In North Carolina is no, even profitabIe
al present rates.
My position further, is that If upon
careful investigation II is found that
tne earnings of the railroads In North
( Carolina can. i'm justice to them. be yc-
/ duc2d, that reduction should be made
so ~ to give the greatest good to the
| gre 2test number. This will not be ac-
! compiiShed by reduction in passenger
rates. Nearly ell those who travel by
rail do 50 for business or pleasure. That
number in North Cal olina is conpa.a-
lively small and nroportionately few
VIII he benefited by reduction in pa asan
ger rates. y reduction in freight rates.
however. would btncfit every man in Tho
State. for every man. be he merchant
mechanic, manufacturer, miner, farm!
! banker. broker or common laborer. pavs
/ the freight on what he and his family
eat drink and wear.
he enforcing of the resolution made
by Mr.. Pearson will decrease the rcve-
nues Of the railroads TO such an extent
mae i viii be absolutely impossible to
make any reduction in freight rates"