The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-21

South often there is no direct connec-
tion in regard to time. So it would ap-
pear to him that the only place where
union station was a great convenience
was one where there was a great deal or
| through traffic.
In one place, he said, he recalled very
| many objections from citizens after a
| union station had been established, and
petitions asking that trains stop at the
old place. 1t was clear to him that the
union station was no benefit to the resi-
dents of the town.
Of course he knew the argument was
that, where it was impracticable, the
commission would not compel such sta
ton. He had a very high opinion OF the
honorable gentlemen who composed the
! Corporation Commission of North caro-
| lima He said he spoke adyisedly, fof
his road had had large dealings with TINS
commission. and had always received
perfectly fair and just treatment.
! E, He cited the case Of Wilmington, to
| show that a union station was not always
practicable.
Mr. Manning said he thought both Mr.
! Miller and Mr. Kenly were mistaken as
To the purpose of the bill. They seemed
F., TO think that the bill was to compel
station to be built in some particular
| place.
such was not the object of the bill 1t
was simply to add to the already ex-
listing right of the commission to compel
any road to provide suitable depot facili-
/, ties.
The people from Durham, he said, We're
here for the purpose of pointing to Dur
ham as an example of the necessity of
having such q law as this.
The records of the Southern Railway,
he stated, did not show the number of
passengers transferred. for it did not
sell tickets over other roads competing
with its own at places like Durham. Peo-
pie, for instance, going from here to
Roxboro, were regarded as Durham pas
sengers.
We think in Durham, said he, that we
need union station. but we will not
get it by this bill. We will only get the
power vested in body to which we can
appeal. II seemed impossible for the
people to get what they need in any other
way.
Shall the Railroad Commission be
vested with this power? That is the
naked question.
cit has been conceded that the COM
mission has the right. and rightly so, to
require proper depot facilities. This bill
is exactly along that very line.
Should the people of any town con-
slider that they needed a union station
they would have some tribunal that could
give It to them. That is the whole bill.
That is the entire matter in nut she'll.
1t IS intended only for those communf-
ties where the public needs require a
depot"
Mr. Miller then read some kilograms
from the Seaboard Air Line. He thought
possibly the reason the Seaboard was not
represented was because they desired 10
keep the good will of the people of Dur
ham, and feared a boycott. A boycott
had already been instituted against the
Southern.
Mr.. Biggs, Mr.. Manning and several
other Durham men assured Mr.. Miller
that no boycott had been instituted at
Durham.
Mr.. Miller said he was very glad to
hear that He had understood there
had been.
Mr.. Miller then proceeded to read the
messages from the Seaboard Air Line
the gist of which was that it was use
less to oppose the bill as it was. The
only solution would be for all three roads
to get together and put up a union depot
at Durham in accordance with the needs
CT the people If this were done, the
present bill would be withdrawn. Other
wise it would pass, and would establish
a dangerous precedent.
This Mr.. Miller thought, showed why
Tie Seaboard was not represented at the
hearing.
One of the gentlemen present, Mr.. Mil
lcr went on. had said that the under
standing was that the other roads were
willing for this depot, and that the
Southern alone was not willing.
I'VE decline" said Mr.. Miller, be
, cause we don't care to give up our alb"
soluto right to this street, or rather,
for IT is not a street. what the Durham
people call a street.
Mr.. Biggs: would you withdraw your
opposition if the bill were limited to Dur
ham alone?"
Mr. Miller: "No. l should not Would
the people of Durham be willing to have
the matter adjudicated on January 3Oth,
when the right of-way question will be
settled?"
Mr. Biggs: "We claim that the right
of-way question has nothing to do with
this depot question"
MI Miller: you evade my question.
Mr.. Biggs 81 think I am answering
your question"
Mr. Fab Busbee, attorney for the
Southern Railway. then took hand in
the game and said that. as some OF
the gentlemen did not seem to know the
facts in the case. he would state them
without entering into the argument 9TH
er than to say that the facts themselves
condemned the argument.
He then proceeded to give the Whole
history of the right of-way question the
facts of which are by this time quite
familiar. and challenged denial OF the
facts as Re rave them.
In the course of his story of the lltl-
gation, Mr.. Busbee took occ9Sson TO
state that all of the lawyers who are
now working for the passage of this Dill,
and arguing for it before the committee,
were engaged against the Southern RAIL
way during the action in the courts.
Mr.. Busbee closed by insisting that
the particular question of Durham was
back of the bill, and it was simply to
see how much pressure could be brought