The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-07-20


denial of the alleged colloquy be-
tween Schley and himself was not
intended to convey the idea that no
such colloquy occurred. And now
comes Mr.. William Campbell, gener-
al freight agent of the Chicago and
Eastern Illinois railway, who was
recently cslled before the Inter State
Commerce Commission as a witness
in the Southern Rate case.
The statement had been credited
to Mr.. Campbell that rates in the
South were entirely toohigb, but
when asked by the Com mission what
he thought of the rates in the South he
said he considered them low enough |
and they should not be reduced.
The following is clipped from the re-
port of the proceedings, just follow
ing Mr.. Campbell's statement that
rates were low enough.
At this Mr.. Bryan produced a
letter written by Mr.. Campbell in
March, 1898. to the Charleston
Bureau of Freight and Transporta-
ton, in which he characterized the
rates charged by the roads south of
the Ohio as exhorbitant and inimlcal
to the business interests of the South.
The letter said in part.
LAS a matter of fact. l believe
you will agree with me that the rates
charged south the river, as rule, are
exhorbitant and act as barrier to
the inter change of products between
the West and South. Undoubtedly,
if the Southern roads would open up
and show the same spirit to produc-
tive industries as is shown by our
road and the roads of the North
west, the spirit Of industry would be
stimulated and the Southern roads
in the end would be benefited.
Here was Mr.. Campbell's written
statement to oppose his oral, and
thus cornered, he fastened to ex-
plain, la Hodgson that this letter
conveyed a wrong impression. But
could a statement be more explicit
than his written one that the rates
charged South of the River (Ohio)
as a rule are exhorbitant and act as
barrier to the interchange of pro-
ducts" And certainly, though Mr..
Campbell has seen fit to change his
views, history substantiates his writ
: ten, instead of his oral statement.
Take one item for instance compe-
tent testimony before the recent In
dustrial Commission was the effect
that the watermelon industry of the
South was almost entirely destroyed
by high railroad rates, which, to
quote Mr.. Campbell acted as bar
: rier to the interchange of these pro
ducts. And coming nearer home
the truckers of Eastern North Caro-
lima can testify to the truth of Mr.
!. Campbell's written opinion.
The truth is Mr.. Campbells opinion
2 Of last March is correct-railroai
, rates in the South are exhorbitant.
Appropos the action of the Corpo
ration Commission in increasing tn,
= taxable value of railroad propert,
in the State. Nothing we can sa,
~ will better demonstrate the fact tina
= the Commission failed to do its who'll
. duty, than is said in an editoria
which appeared in the Raleigh New
and Observer of February 26, 1893
" Now bear in mind that the old as
% sessment was thirty-three milllo
" and that the new assessment is forty
=, two million and read what the New
- and Observer had to say when tn
y revenue bill, including the tax upo
gross incomes of railroads was be
fore the last legislature.
r Said the News and Observer 8
ve that time:
n "The sworn sta sements Of the raj
id roads in North Carolina put the t.
tai cost of the railroads at $87,974
lib. As the big systems are wort
es much more than the cost, this is
TX low basis of the actual value of th
ID railroad property in the State.
Judge Connor's suggestion that til
bt correct assessment would be q SUI
id equal to an earning of six per cen
nt should be adopted, the assessmel
would be $66, l8O,75O. If the asses
ment was based on q net profit of
rd per cent the assessment would be q
ill valuation of 81, O35 ,537. If Y
70. discard the earning basis and ado
- the plan that prevails in assassin
~. the property of individuals, the a
u sessment would be $65, 979, 1874 il
Of stead of 1868, 1868 loan asses
sts ment all out of proportion to IL
If sworn value of the property. Is
=. not the duty of the legislature to d
lis clare that the discrimination in
or vor of exempting much of the pro
SITS erty of railroads shall cease w
to not every business man in the Sta
,.+ who pays taxes on an assessment
A'' three fourths of the value of b
property be glad to see the legisl
he ture taking steps to put the railroa
ut. on the same basis I Will not tho
~. who have not kept posted be asto
> ished that during all these yea
they have been paying tax on the
property at three-fourths its valu
BILE while the railroads have escaped
h about one third of its sworn value
NO We would not advocate, and there
Ire not . Democrat in this legislatu
ny who would vote for any system
be taxing railroads which he bellev
,ad would be Durdensome or oppressiv
This whole agitation and discussi,