The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-17
SHALL THE PEOPLE HAVE UNION
DEfOrS WHERE NEEDED?

a delegation of leading business men
from Durham. representing the unani-
nous sentiment of that city, appeared
before the House Railroad committee
yesterday in behalf of the Fuller bill,
which gives the authority to compel the
erection of union depots to the Corpora
ton Commission. Mr. Bggs, who op-
cned the argument for the bill, showed in
an able speech clearly the constitution
glity and necessity and wisdom of the bill.
He did not enter into the Durham stu
alton, fer under the bill Durham could
not get a union depot unless it could
show the Corporation Commission that
its business and its needs warranted it.
He put his argument solely upon the
broad ground of the wisdom of entrust-
ing this power to a responsible body -
grant relief whenever it was needed.
When Mr.. Henry Miller came to speak
for the Southern Railway in opposition
TO the bill, instead of doing SO be enter
ed upon a discussion of the litigation
city of Durham-matters that have no
connection whatever with the pending
bill. Outside of presenting these foreign
matters. Mr.. Miller related a tale of woe
about the persecution to which the poor
railroads were subjected. He said that
between the Railroad Commission, the
Tax Commission, and Organized Labor
the trinity OF ills-thc railroads arc
between the upper and neither mill
stones, and have a terribly hard time.
As he depicted now the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers made the rail
roads pay increased wages, how the tax
commissions increased the tax rate, how
the Corporation Commissions refused to
let the railroads increase the freight
and passenger rates, his hearers were
so moved that they were tempted to take
UP a collection to help out the poor an
needy railroads which are so greatly OPP
pressed according to Mr.. Miller.
To show how Mr.. Miller looksat the rail
road question, his reply in answer
TO a question by Mr.. V. s. Bryant, who
made a singularly clear able and strong
argument in favor of the bill. needs but
to be quoted Mr.. Bryant gave an es-
innate of the amount paid the Southern
Railway for the freight and passenger
business in Durham Mr.. Miller said
he did not know the amount. Mr.. Bryant
said Durham people had made an effort
TO obtain tire information and failed,
vhereuaon Mr. Miller said to Mr.. Bry-
ant: 'sTf ! were TO ask your clerk how
much monev you made last year. you
would rightly think me impairment
Therefore the people of Durham are i'm
pertinent in asking the freight and pas
scnger receipts from quasi-public corpor-
ations in Durham. more antiquated
and absurd statement has never been
heard than the question which Senator
Pritchard asked the editor of the News
and Observer sixteen years ago when
this editor was making an argument Tor
Railroad Commission before the com
mittcc of which Senator Pritchard was
n member He asked: Would you be
willing for the Legislature to fix the sub
scription price Of your paper?" showing
that he thought that railroad corpor-
ation. whose very breath is in leGlsla :
tive enactment, was on a par with priv
ate business, asking and receiving moth
ing from legislative enactment.
Mr. Bryant took the correct position:
that this bill ought to pass independent
of Durham-that Durham was most anx-
ious for it because Durham most sorely