The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-06-02
COMMITTEE REPORTS
On the Physical aad FiaaaeiI Cea.
diiisn of the A. & n. {. Railroad
The Report Goes at Length Into the
Various Charges Of mismanasemens
Alleged Against the ofheiaIs Of the
Road.

The special committee appointed 10
Investigate the management OF the AT
lantic and North Carolina Railroad
made public It's findings on Monday.
The document is quite lengthy and
goes extensively into the details OF the
roads operation and Of its present con-
dition.
Concerning the specific charge OF
mismanagemsnt on the ground that the
road has been the dumping-ground for
broken-down politicians the report says
in part:
considering the specific charges
which have been made affecting the
management by the present admins
tration in the order in which they
came to our attention, we consider
first, the charge that the road has
been run as a political machine. or
that it has been dumping ground for
broken-down politicians.
I'm view of the States ownership OF
a controlling interest in the property.
and the resulting fact that the State
administration has been charged with
the control and operation Of the road,
it has necessarily been true that this
property has been treated like every
ether State institution. A change in
the political complexion Of the State
administration has resulted in changes
III the officers and employees of the
| road, in the same way as similar
changes were made in the officers and
employees of the States Prison and
other State institutions, and, so far as
We are informed, not to a greater ex-
tent than in any other institution.
That this condition of affairs has
served the best interests of the prop
| erty from a business standpoint can
not be maintained, but we can not see
that the present administration has
Gone more to contribute to this re-
suit than any other. We take it to be
fact that the President and some Of
the officers and employees have been
changed with every change in the
State administration. It is frankly ad
| mitted by President Bryan that, all
other things being equal, he has given
| preference to Democrats. 1t is not
| shown by the evidence that any bro
ken-down politicians have been dunn
| ped upon the road, and, so far as We
are informed, fitness, known or sup
| POSED, has controlled in making all
| appointments"
With reference to the charge concern
| ing the purchase Of oil, the report
| says:
''It is charged that oil has been pur-
chased from the National Oil Com
| pany at prices largely in excess OF
| what the same grades of oil were Of
fered by other responsible bidders. We
attach but little Importance to this
charge, in view of the long experience
cf one member of your committee with
lubricating oil. We do not believe that
one oil userSout of a thousand can tell
by examination nor even by use for a
short period whether cylinder oil is
| intrinsically worth thirty-one cents Or
seventy-five cents a gallon. The oil
people know this, and exert themselves
tc convince the purchaser that he
needs d high-grade oil. Having sue
ceeded, they usually proceed to fur
nish him the lowest grade which they
believe-will answer the purpose, at the
| price of the higher grade which they
have convinced him he needs. 1t is
shown in the evidence that President
Patrick first made the deal COM
| planned of with the National Oil Com
pany, and we presume that he thought
he had about the right thing at about
the right price. 1t is wise man who
knows that he is ignorant" and in our
opinion it shows Mr.. Bryan's wisdom
In the matter of the purchase OF
| wood the committee scores the man
agement rather severely, and recon-
mends the use Of coal as being in the
interest of economy as we'll as guaran-
tees a quicker schedule and better SER
vice.
4 The matter of stations is considered
and it is found that there has been a
good deal of partiality shown in build
ing these, the better stations often
being erected where they are least
needed.
i 1t is also found that much careless
aess has been the rule with regard to
keeping the books OF the road and the
plan of hauling unbilled freight is con-
demned.
) Free passes it is found have beer
! issued recklessy and unnecessarily
| Counsel has been employed.
that he refused TO change relation
ship which lad proved satisfactory
1t is sometimes better to bear the evils
: we have than to fly to those We know
rot of, and this is certainly true il i
!. is a question Of oil. The Standard OF
:, Company made lower prices to the A
, & N. C. Railroad than they were selling
, what was supposed to be the sam'
: grades of oil for to other roads, AMI
, surely in dealing with these people i
? is we'll to fear the Greeks bearing
gifts"
The hotel at Morehead City, th'
f committee reports, should ifeyer hav
d been purchased OF run in connection
with the road, and it is doubte'
whether its charter allowed this to b
RI done legally. The fact that more thai
e Sc. 900 loss resulted from one season
| business is evidence of gross misman
> agement. The committee insists tina
the hotel be disposed Of in some way
The report is lengthy and cannot b
: given here in full. The members OF tn
| committee have done their work thor
Sughly and their report seems to indi
cate that they have tried to be mir t
c | ell parties and to serve the best inter
ests Of the State.