The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-13
UNION DEPOT BILL
PASSED THE SENATE
Opponents Used Many Tactics
to Defeat 1t.
THE TEST VOTE IS TO Fl
Adopted as Committee Reported With an
Amendment Making it Stronger---l! Now
Goes TO ths House for Concurrence in
the Amendments Made 10 Il.


The Fuller Bill. providing for Union
Depots passed the Senate yesterday.
1t was after a hotly fought battle. in
which argument, oratory, appeals to
stand against alleged clamors and preju-
dice ard efforts to pass amendment emas-
culating the bill all were used without
avail.
The majority on what may be consid-
cred test vote was not large one, the
vote being on roll call 25 against q, but
it has been stated by some who voted for
this amendment that they did not think
it would hurt the bill and that they
voted for the bill on it's final reading.
The bill, as adopted, is as follows:
ITO require when practicable, and
when the necessities Of the case, Ia the
judgment of the Corporation Commission,
require, any two or more railroads, which
now or may hereafter enter any city or
town to have one common or Union Pas
senger Depot for the security accommo-
dation and convenience Of the travelling
public, and to unite in the joint under
taking and expense Of erecting con-
structing and maintaining such Union
Passenger Depot commensurate with the
business and revenues Of such railroad
companies or corporations, On such terms,
regulations, provisions and conditions as
the said Commission shall prescribe. Pro-
vided, that such railroad company or
corporation be allowed the right of ap-
peal as in cases of rulings and orders as
to rates of freight and fare. That the
railroads so ordered to construct a I'm
ion Depot shall have the powers to con-
denim land for said purpose as in case of
locating and constructing ! line of rail-
road. Provided that nothing in this act
shall be construed to authorize the t'om-
missioners to require the construction of
said Union Depots should railroad COM
panies, at the time of application for said
order, have separate depots, which, in the
opinion of the Corporation Commission,
are adequate and convenient and offer
suitable accommodations for the travel
ing public
This complete bill was adopted on a
viva voce vote. the preponderance of
voices being largely for it.
Just before its adoption on the third
reading, Senator Henderson, Of Rowan
who had fought each advance to adop-
tion with an amendment, following
lengthy attack on the entire bill by SEN
ator Woodard. of Wilson, presented an
amendment, providing that no Union De-
pot should be built on any land until by
condemnation proceedings or otherwise Il
good title in fee simple should be OBJ
tanned. This was a direct shot at the
Durham depot controversy as TO Peabody
street and was defeated.
The test vote on the bill was on an
amendment submitted by Senator Hen
derson Immediately after the bill was
presented and after the amendments sub
mitted by the committee had been adopt
ed that no railroad company shall be re-
quired to build or unite with another rail
road company in the erection of Union
Depot on any land to which good and
valid title in fee simple can not be OBJ
tanned Around this amendment the bat
tie ragged and on it the ayes and noes
were called, the amendment being de-
feated by 25 noes to q ayes, as follows:
FOR THE AMENDMENT: Bellamy,
Burton, Cathey, Conley, Crisp, Durham,
Gillian, Glenn, Henderson, Hicks of
Granville, Hoey, Holton, Hunter, Lon
don Marshall Milton, Reinhardt, Rich
ardson, Spruill, Webb and Woodard-21.
AGAINST THE AMENDMENTS:
Aaron, Allison, Beasley, Blow, Goodwin,
Griffith. Hicks of Duplin, Justice, Lamb,
Mann, McBryde, Mclaughlin, Mcmillan,
Mitchell, Norris Pharr, Pollock, Pritch-
ard Spence, Thayer, Vann, Walker, War
rem, Wellborn and Whites.
NOT VOTING: Baldwin. Brown and
Travis
ABSENT: Ballenger. On indefinite
leave of absence because of sickness in
his family.
For the amendment all of the votes of
the Republicans were cast, except that
of Wellborn. who stated afterwards that
he was opposed to the bill, but believed
that it ought to be defeated by a direct
attack and not by amendments. He had
not voted on roll call, but was called up
by Senator Woodard, who asked that he
vote. 1t was with surprise that his voice
was heard in mo" thus voting direct
ly against Senator Woodard
THE DETAILS OF THE CONTEST.
The bill was reported and the
amendments of the committee, these be-
ing to add the necessities of the case"
to the requirement of when practicable ;"
giving power to the railroad to condemn
land FOR Union Depot, and the third
amendment, proposed by Senator Beas-
ley, which did not authorize the Com
mission to order the construction of I'M
ion DeDots where the railroads had de-
pots which were, in the opinion of the
Commission, adequate and offer suitable
accommodation for the travelling public.
Senator Justice said that he had hoped
that Senator Beasley after consideration