The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-11

has ever before been engaged 1t has
| chiefly arisen through the action of
the Railroad and Corporation Commits
Sions. The questions presented to these
| Commissions, their decisions and the
consequent litigation, have been of
vital interest to the people, involving
great principles and large sums of
money. They have, of necessity, been
attended with expenses somewhat COM
menSurate with these interests.
The most important litigation during
the last two years has been that which
arose in the Passenger Rate Cases"
the Telegraph Rate Case, and the
| Railroad and Telegraph Injunction
Tax Cases.
The Railroad Commission reduced
passenger rates on the Wilmington and
| Weldon Railroad from three and one
fourth to two and three-fourths cents
per mile for first class, and from two
and three-fourths to two cents per
mile for second class passengers. This
applied to intra-state traffic only. This
reduction YVES intended as a test case,
the railroads being understood to deny
the power Of the Commission to make
such reductions. The Wilmington and
obtained an injunction from the United
States Circuit Court and several hear
ings We're rad in the cause. The Legisla-
ture of 1899 passed an act which SEEM
ingly abolished the Railroad Commits
sion. The North Carolina Cor
poration Commission, it's success
sor, restored the former rates.
1t subsequently increased the
assessment of railroad property
in the State. Serious litigation ensued,
and pending it's result, the Corporation
Commission deemed it wise not to con-
rates for the present. So the case was
terminated without prejudice to the flu
ture action Of the Board
This case, as test case, involved the
right of the State to reduce the pas
senger fares on every railroad in the
State, and thus presented questions
reaching far into the future. These
large and important interests fully JUS
tiied the employment of special coun-
sci in the premises. Their services
have been arouous and the compensa-
ton which they have received is deem
ed reasonable. A history of this liti-
cation may be found in the Railroad
~
1853 to 1884, inclusive.
In 1898 the Railroad Commission re-
duced the rate for messages over the
lines of the Western Union Telegraph
Company between points within this
State, from twenty-five to fifteen cents
for a message of ten words The COM
pany secured an injunction from the
Federal Court restraining the Commits
cir &C ha To I'M,
portance and difficulty of the case in
volving large interests, not for one
year only, but for the future made it
necessary to employ special counsel to
represent the State. The CONDENSATION
paid them is deemed reasonable.
When the Corporation Commission
entered upon the discharge of its du-
ties, it restored the former rate. and
in view of the tax litigation which
shortly thereafter followed, deemed If
proper for the present to take no furth
err action in this case. 1t is now nend-
ing undetermined.
In July, 1899, the Corporation Commits
sion increased the assessment for taxa
ton of the railroad properties in North
Carolina, $100O0,O00, and the property Of
the Western Union Telegraph COMPANY
from $750000 to 81 900 000
Eight railroad companies and tba
Western Union Telegraph Company at
once secured injunctions from the
United States Circuit Court, restraining
the collection of taxes upon the in
crease. Again in 1900 the same assess
ment was made, and the railroad and
telegraph companies again obtained
similar injunctions. These cases in
yolVed not only State county 80
municipal taxes, amounting for the two
years to nearly $4,000, but the right
to collect such taxes for the future
Years. 1t was necessary to employ spe-
cial counsel to represent the interest
OF the state and the counties and cities
concerned. The work involved in the
preparation and argument of these