The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-31
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
TRIES FOR A RIDER
Proposes Two Amendments
to Union Depot Bill.
THE SECRETAREt'S PLEA
Refers to Durham Depot and is Told There is
None Thert--- 5enate Committee Dtfsrs
Action on The Bill Of Representa-
tive JJnps Fuller.
tive J1nps Fuller.

tive J1nps Fuller.
The Southern Railways attack on the
Fuller Union Depot bill has gone off on
a side track.
Defeated in the House by the over
| whelming vote for the bill the Southern.
| through Secretaree Henry Miller, is up
against hard proposition in the Sen
| ate.
The railroad committee Of that body
yesterday heard argument by citizens of
| Durham and by Representative Fuller for
| the bill, while Mr.. Henry Miller attacked
| the bill with might and main took many
| thumps at Durham and its citizens, en-
| joyed his fine irony and caustic remarks.
| and finally drew from his inside pocket
| two amendments which he presented to
the committee, saying that he hoped they
| would report the bill unfavorably, but il
| they did not, why TIM just couple on the
| two amendments be presented, and he
| would let it go at that
Here are the amendments which the
shifty Southern wants to see hitched on
to the Fuller bill for union depots in
| towns in North Carolina where they are
needed and deserved
Amendment number one reads as fol-
lows:
Provided that nothing in this act
shall be construed to authorize the COM
missioners to require the construction Of
union depots should railroad companies
now have separate depots which are ade-
quate and offer suitable accommodations
for the travelling public"
Amendment number two is in these
words:
"And provided further the Commission
shall not have power to compel the con-.
struction of union depots should the eX-
penditure necessary to provide such IN
ion depot exceed the sum of $4,000"
The committee took no vote on the bill
yesterday, but deferred this for a futur
meeting, which has been set for Tues
day. Senator Pritchard, of Orange, want
ed to report the bill favorably, but Sena-
tor Mann expressed a desire to examine
the bill in connection with amendment
number one and on motion of Senator
Travis the postponement was had. mend
ment number two will hardly be con-
s:dered
The Senate committee on railroads met
yesterday afternoon i nthe office of the
Corporation Commission. The meeting
began with five of the committee out of
eleven, present, but Senator Travis came
in later and made a quorum. Those
present of the committee were Senators
Justice, chairman, Renhardt, Mann,
Pritchard. Welborn and Travis.
There Were a number of representa-
tives and Senators present, an dwith..
those were a number of citizens from
Raleigh A delegation from Durham at
tended the meeting in the party being
Messrs. w. A. Slater, Thos. B. Fuller,
w. j. Griswold, P. w. Vaughan, Dr. H.
Cheatham, B. w. Hobgood, H. E. See
man. A. B. Matthews, w. G. Branham,
j. Crawford Biggs and H A Foushee.
There was deep interest taken in the
proceedings, and the various speakers
for the union depot bill were questioned
by Mr.. Miller, of the Southern Railway,
while when he spoke a witty reply and
the retort courteous when he criticised
statement which he accredited, with a
caustic smile, to a newspaper made up
the gaiety of the occasion.
Senator Justice read the Fuller bill,
providing for an order by the Corpora
tion Commission for union depots and
then the friends of the bill were heard.
Representative Jones Fuller spoke first.
He entered into an explanation of the
powers conferred on the Corporation
Commission with regard to making rates
for passenger and freight traffic and for
ordering the building of depots. He de-
clared that his bill simply extended an
in1DIiad nOwaT x17ac NOT
one. The bill which he proposed meant
no hardship to the railroads, as they
had the right OF appeal as in other cases
and the first hearing would be before a
body which would violate no law
He argued the value OF the bill declar-
ed that it was general ard not local
measure, and that the attempt of the
Southern of the Southern to bring into the
case it's litigation in Durham should not
be allowed as this had nothing to do
with the bill. After 1t had passed the
Durham affairs could be taken up with
the Corporation Commission, which
would order no union depot till it was
shown that Durham deserved a union
depot.
Mr. Fl. A. Foushee spok next. He was
present, he said as representative of
the Chamber of Commerce OF Durham.
He said that it was an error to refer TO
the bill as the Durham bill, that its
paGsage did not necessarily mean a un-
ION depot for Durham, which must, if it
got union depot, make out its case be-
fore the Corporation Commission.
He discussed the powers of the Cor
poration Commission and declared that
as it had the right to make road build
a depot it should be given that of max
ing three roads build a union depot,
where its need was shown. Durham, he
declared made no war on any railroad
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