The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-08
Ghe Messengn.
THOSE LOCAL ATTORNEYS.

Under the heading "Cut Them Short
4" The News and Observer has the
following to say as to the report" thai
there are "thirty-six or more passes IS
sued to lawyers by the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad:
-The Southern railway and consptr-
acy organ prints that there are thirty
six or more passes issued to awyers
by the president OF the Atlantic n
North Carolina railroad. some OF whom
live west of Asheville n have never
rendered the road any legal service.
We do not know how this Is, but We
will know when Messrs. Gray, Page
and Lee finish their Investigation. IL
true. there is no warrant for 1t, Mr..
BRYAN deserves criticism. and they
should be cut Off short"
Evidently this was written before the
editor of that paper got hold Of a COPY
of the affidavit OF MI. NcBee filed In
the case of his Indictment for h at
tempt to wreck the Atlanti and North
Carolina railroad and he forgot to
.kilr' the article after reading the List
In the affidavit. Our assumption OF
this fact is based upon the following
which appears as editorial In the same
issue, evidently written later:
w print McBee's affidavit in fell.
1T WAS not received at The News and
Observer office until last night--too
late to review today. Later on II Will
be answered. 1t reads like F1nch's APP
~plfcation for a receiver. That made
Purnell highly indignant"
statement will be received with ne
same confidence that Ffnch's inspired
The Raleigh Times which Is an az
ternoon paper and went to press after
the affidavit of Mr.. McBee had been
presented to h court says this on the
subject of free passes. C attorneys
and the proxy committee Of that road:
1T may be that the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad Is short on
rolling stock. with a bad track, and in
need OF much to make it a safe road
and a paying institution. but there 3
one thing that may be safely asserted,
that Is, 1t has the best legal and proxy
protection of any road in the world.
For about every three miles OF this
road is provided a proxy committee
man and a local attorney, according To
the record of free passes issued. II Is
said IL this road was made to answer
for the violations of law for the Issuing
of free passes. as the eaboard Air
Line and southern have had to do. 1t
would require more than S2OO,0Oe to
settle. A pretty hefty sum to be Que
just from large shippers who have re-
ceived passes in the interest Of the
road"
We agree with The News n OBJ
server-"Cut Them Off," Why should
both our senator's. one Of them living
clear back in the piedmont section be
retained as local ca attorneys for q
road from Goldsboro to the s~eashore?
Why should district solicitors, legisla-
tors, ~penitentiary board members, as
pirants for office in h democratic
party, ring politicians and prominent
citizens who like to enjoy the ocean
breezes that blow over the Atlantic
hotel be accommodated with free passes
to and from Morehead city?s Yes. GU.
them off. That is what the manage
ment under an Independent admins
tration of the affairs OF the road would
do-"Hinc lilac lacrimae"-hence the
tears tina certain of the advocates OF
continuing present conditions have been
shedding over the ~degeneracy OF those
who wish to see reformation in certain
state matters, n over the prospects
OF curtailment OF free transportation
for themselves and families over the
Atlantic railroad and free board at the
Atlantic hotel when the siroccos of
the dog days are sweeping over the in
land sections and the cool sea breezes
and invigorating serf OF the broad At
lantic invite them to-the railroad no
tel at Aorehead City.