The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-13
SCHEME TO GET N. c.
RAILROAD FELL
THROUGH
Started with Southern Rail-
ways Efforts to Make
Russell Chief Justice.
IA STORY IN 4 CHAPTERS.
Followed by Russell's Message to the
Legislature and Father Worth's
Confidential Letter.
NOT INTENDED TO GET IN NEWSPAPERS
IA STORY IN 4 CHAPTERS.
Then Comes the Bill by Attorney H. Busbee
Of The Southern 10 Allow the Holders
Of the Regulated Bonds 10
Assert Their Claims

l
| The scheme to control the North Caro-
! lima railroad. which reached its climax
I, before the Supreme court in Washington
yesterday, began in this city in the early
! days Of the last general assembly.
With every movement of this deep laid
plan, which began when the attempt was
made to foist Daniel L. Russell as Chief
Justice upon the Supreme court. the
, Southern railway and its lobbyists and
organs are identified.
1t is story in four chapters and briefly
, told is thus wise:
Chapter /. The Southern Railways
efforts, through its organ the Morning
Post Of Raleigh, TO make Russell Chief
Justice fthe Supreme court.
Chapter 2. Russells message to the
Legislature favoring the redemption Of
the old bonds that are now used as the
leverage TO affect the SALE
Chapter 8. The confidential letter of
bonds, which it was not intended ito
get in the newspapers.
Chapter A. The act presented to the
Legislature by Mr.. F. II. Busbee, attor-
ney for the Southern Railway providing
for the redemption of these old bonds
This chain of inseparable circum-
stances and the scheming that went on
at that time, which had for it's object
the requirement of the North Carolina
road by the Southern. was placed in the
full glare of public light by the News and
Observer. The result was that the we'll
laid plans fell through.
Now the effort to take the North Car
DINA railroad has been carried to the
Supreme court, where the Southern rail
way may be expected to be put up its
usual fight.
The scheme for the redemption of these
repudiated bonds was first unfolded and
very insidiously at that by Governor
Russell. whom the Southern railway or
gan, the Morning Post attempted to
foist on the people as Chief Justice Of the
Supreme court. The Southern railway
planned nightly when it sprung Russell
as a candidate for Chief Justice and the
net work of the scheme is now being
unfolded by degrees. Just few days be-
fore he was to retire, Russell, in
special message to the general assem-
bly, outlined the plan for the redemption
of these bonds. Russell pictured the
great market value of the North Carolina
railroad bonds the possible worthlessness
! of them if the lien in the shape of these
old bonds should not be discharged, and
the States needs for funds for schools,
colleges and charities. OF course Rus
sell did not come out fiat footed and tell
the Legislature to redeem these worth
! less bonds. The Southern railway
wouldn't let him do that. Here is the
| manner in which Russell sprung the
, scheme for the redemption of these old
bonds.
ut is to be observed that if the Legis-
lature decides to make available for the
common schools and the colleges and
charities this valuable stock of the State
Its 10000 shares of stock in the North
Carolina Railroad Company-or any part
of it, there is no way to do it, except by
discharging the liens upon it, because
with these encumbrances outstanding.
purchasers could not be found who would
pay for a share of this stock the same
price as that which they would pay for
a share of private stock
This is chapter No. two in the story:
Russell, who was the candidate of the
Southern Railwy and pushed by it's organ,
the Morning Post, for Chief Justice. pic
tured to the Legislature the probable
worthlessness of the bonds unless it
| "joined in the scheme. This was Rus
sell. the man whom the Southern sought
with frenzed earnestness to make Chief
! Justice. Should the Legislature fail to
| redeem the defunct bonds the Southern
| would still have Russell.
| This brings us up to Chapter No. 2,
| when we find a State officer sending out
letter to certain parties as the pre-
liminary step by those who wish to buy
/ the States 'eouity of redemption in
f, the North Carolina Railroad. This re-
markable letter concludes with this
statement: REGARD THIS AS con-
FIDENTIAL AND PRIVATE AS 1T IS
NOT DESIRABLE TO HAVE IT IN THE
NEWSPAPERS"
/ This letter. which was sent out from
the capitol and not intended to get in the
/ newspapers" was published in the News
and Observer, January 18th, and aroused
indignation throughout the State. 1t was
! from the same source that made Rus
from the same source that Russell to
! send his message to the Legislature
The letter gave the scheme for the re-
demption Of these defunct bonds to the
extent of column and a half of space
in this paper.
/ Here is what the News and Observer
said that very day:
When the Southern Railway. and it's
organ, the Morning Post, published by the
Southern Railway were moving heaven
and earth to foist Daniel l.. Russell on
the people as Chief Justice of the SUI
preme court. the News and Observer said
that behind this was scheme or schemes
that would develop later in which the
Southern railroad had big interest 1t
was contended that it had deal on hand
by which it wished to purchase the North
Carolina Railroad. Some of the rail-