The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-06


| creased in value.
The reports of the officers made att
| the annual meetings of the stockholders,
the last of which was held in the month
| of September last. indicate that the,
earnings Of the road are better than
at any time in its history.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
In the month of September 1897. two
of the Railroad Commissioners were sus-
pended, and two other qualified persons
appointed in their stead. under the au-
thority Of law vesting this power in the
Governor by the Railroad Commission
Act of 1891 The documents, notices.
| correspondence and reasons for this sus-
pension will he submitted to the General
Assembly at this session.
An attempt has been made by the
Railroad Commission TO make material
reduction in telegraph rates. The West
ern Union Telegraph Company has re-
sisted this reduction and has obtained
an injunction in the United States Court
to prevent the reduced rates from going
into effect.
The Railroad Commission has also
made a reduction against one of the great
railroad systems of the State in the mat
| Ter VI pslSStiStI IdttSs ii9 l'V'Nti'ii
is also resisted by the railroad, which has
obtained an injunction against it in the
United States Court.
In both cases counsel have been en-
ployed to represent the interests of the
people of the State and to test the qucs-
| ton involved.
SPANISH WAR CLAIMS.
When war with Spain was declared
| the States were called upon for their re-
| spective quotas of vO nteers. The ma
| tional War Department agreed to pay all
| expenses of mobizing and mastering
| the troops into the service of the United
| States. This State gave its aid in rails
| it's quota and did it promptly. | was not
| willing to go into the State Treasury
| to pay expenses of this war. There We're
| no available funds in our treasury APP
preparations for this purpose. Besides.
| it looked hazardous to pay out money
which was needed for State purposes and
| take the chance of getting it back from
| the Government at Washington. Con-
gress. however. did promptly provide for
| refunding TO the States the disburse-
| ments they had made on this account.
The claims for this State were presented
at Washington for payment. Objection
was made there that they did not appear
to have been paid by the State and that
| they could not be considered under Act
| Of Congress until it appeared that they
had been paid by the State To avoid
this objection and to secure speedy pay
| ment for our claimants, it was decided to-
| make a colorado payment of them, by
| the Auditor drawing warrants on the
State Treasury and the Treasury hold
| ing the funds to secure the State, until
| the payment was made by the United
| States. After some small part of these
| claims were paid by the United States
| further payment was refused on the
ground that this State is indebted to the
| Union States as the holder of certain
| bonds issued some time previous to 1860.
| in and Of what was then known as the
! Western North Carolina Railroad. But
| for the caution exercised in this matter
| our treasury would have paid out some
| twenty-sx thousand dollars to carry on
| a war which, by the Constitution and
| laws, is exclusively matter of national
| concern and control.
/ advise that your honorable bodies
request our Senators and Representa-
| tives in Congress to use their best en-
| deavors to procure appropriations by
| Congress for the payment OF these claims
STATE GUARD.
| The incorporation of many of the COM
| panies OF the State Guard into the Vol
| untary Army of the United States, has
| made Il reorganization Of the State
| Guard necessary. This work of re-or-
| ganiZation has been already commenced,
] and is being prosecuted as rapidly as|
thoroughneSs will allow. Major Charles
| Il. Davis, of the United States army. is
| assisting in this reorganization at this
| time. and for the good Of this service, it,
| is hoped that the National War office
will permit us to continue to avail our
| selves of his knowledge and experience
| i'll military matters.
| | recommend that additional appropria-
| tons be made for this service An in
| crease in the funds to be made availa-
| bic for this service is necessary. if our
| military organizations are to be kept upl
| to the requirements of the times 1t is
| especially necessary that the salary of
| the Adjutant General should be in
creased to the sum of $1,000 per annum
| Heretofore, the gentlemen who have
| filled this office. have done so at con-
| siderable personal sacrifices to them
| selves. And, an additional reason why
| this officers salary should be increased
| is 1Ound IN the TACT, tnaI heretofore thei
| work of this office has been done by an
officer of the United States army. And,
in the future it is understood that the
services of n United States army officer
cannot he obtained. The State ought
to be willing to pay this officer a just
! compensation for the services he renders
to the public.
SOLDIERS HOME.
The Soldiers Home seems to have
been managed for the last two years
with faithful intelligence and economy,
and the inmates have been tenderly
cared for. so far as the management has
had funds and facilities with which to
provide for their wants.
1t is believed that there are quite a |
number of old soldiers in the State, who
have not been admitted to the Home
heretofore, who could be taken into the 7,
Institution and provided for, if there
were sufficient funds placed at the dis |
posal of the managers to justify them
in thus extending their work. |, there
FORE recommend an increase in the APP