The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-29
For the States Control of
A. s. N. 6. K. r.
Continued from First Page.)

and odd dollars at the hotel, is
not 50 weighty as to justify the con-
cluSi0n of the committee: that eve
do not believe that the hotel can be
made profitable under railroad con-
trol."
The fact is the hotel was not pur-
chased with any idea or expectation Of
its earning a broft--no one ever
dreampt of its doing so the first year
The reason that controlled in its pur-
chase WIS that it was to be kept open,
and 10 make it attractive to the pub
lie every dollar of its receipts not
actually necessary to be used in keep
ing the property up, repairs, etc, was
to be put on it and into the service,
and che profit 10 the road was eX-
pected TO come, has come. and will
come. from the increased traffic over
the road in travel to and from the
hotel. (see the increased passenger
traffic for the months of June, July
and August, 1909 and it is the opin-
ion CT good business men that not
WithStanding the-apparellt loss (and it
is more apparent than real, as will
appear from an examination into the
increased passenger traffic during last
season. of $4,000 in round figures last
year on account of bad. if not actual
dishonest management on the part of
the manager, the hotel will show this
year a net profit and this opinion is
based upon nast seasons experience.
But the serious charge of miSman-
agement against President Bryan in
his wood contracts. 1t is urged by
the committee in their report that in
stead of using wood in operating his
trains he ought to have used coal.
That by so doing a saving of from
5000 to $4,000 a year could be
made. This may be so, probably is
So but there is q difference of opin-
ion even here. Good business men
often disagree Expert railroad men
occasionally differ just here, for the
Atlantic Coast Line. uses wood in its
engines on it's branch lines from New
Bern to Wilmington, and from Kin
ston to Weldon. Even doctors sOme-
time differ-cah't agree whether it's
measles or scarlet fever, and preach
erS often differ-"BaptidSo" has
caused many row. | beg pardon,
controversy. Lawyers always differ
and frequently "cuss' the judge at the
risk of being in contempt. | trust
that | may be allowed to exercise this
high constitutional right to differ from
or disagree with the investigation
committee in so far as they find that
1.-The facts brought out in the evidence
in. reference to wood contracts in the
vicinity of Croatan and Havelock are
such as to compel the conclusion that
Mr.. Bryan has used the authority con-
nected with the office he occupies for
the purpose of efecting and increas-
ing sales of wood to the company from
ms own lands. situate at and near
HaVelock.' Upon first blush that
would seem to be so. But a careful
analysis of the evidence taken before
the committee, in this connection, and
considering the whole tranactiOn
in the light of all its surround
lngs, forces me to the conclusion that
the hnding of the committee above
quoted is erroneous.
But Mr.. Bryan ought not to have
done it-sold wood to the company
from off his own land 1t don't look
Well 1t needed explaining, and ex-
plantations on the part of high officials
are not pretty. He ought TO have