The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-24

ch have been made affecting the
nagemeht by The present admins
| tration i'm the 0rler in which they
came to our atSf4tfon, we consider
/ first:
The charge that the road has been
| run as political machine, or that it
| has been dumping ground for brok-
en-down politicians.
In view of the States ownership of
II controlling interest in the property,
and the resulting fact that the state
| administration has been charged with
the control and operation of the road
| il has necessarily been true that
this property has been treated like
every other State institution. change
i'm the political complexion of the
State administration has resulted in
changes i'm the officers and employees
| of the Road. i'm the same way as SINH
! lar 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
extent than i'm any other institution.
! That this condition of affairs has SerV-
! ed the best interest of
| the property from q business stand
point cannot be maintained, but we
| cannot see that the present admins
tration has done more to contribute to
| this result than any other. We take
/
some OF the officers and employees
/ have been changed with every change
| i'm the State administration 1t is
! frankly admitted by President Bryan
! that, all other things being equal. he
| has given preference to Democrats. 1t
/ is not shown by the evidence that any
| broken-down politicians have been
dumped upon the road, and SO far as
we are informed, fitness, known or
supposed. has controlled in making all
! appointments. We find that one en-
! ployee has been retained in the service
Of the road after it was known that,
| by reason OF age and feebleness, he
could not render the company service
| commensurate with the salary paid
him. Since your Excelency's name has
| been mentioned III this connection We
would go into the case in detail. Re
! fcrring to the evidence of President
! Bryan and RoadmaSter Carlisle, it is
| shown that you suggested the employ
| ment of this man, provided there was
| a place open that he could satisfacto-
rily FILL and particularly stated that
you did not want a place made for
| him or for any one else. 1t appears
that he was employed at salary of
SEQ per month as Soliciting Agent. ami
/ proving unserviceable in this position
| was transferred to the RoadmaSter's
Office as clerk, a position carrying very
light work, without change in salary,
and continued in this position up to
the time Mr.. McBee took charge as re-
ceiVer. From the standpoint of an
economical and business administra-
ton of the road this employee should
not have been retained. 1t is shown
| in the evidence that he was an old
and feeble Confederate veteran, and
we are not disposed TO too seriously
condemn policy which seeks to pro-
vide work for one of this class, even
though q younger man might more
fully earn his salary. 1t does not APP
pear that this appointment was made
for political reasons, nor is there q
! suggestion that he was a politician,
broken-down or otherwise.
The Charge With Reference to The
Proxy Committee.
The bylaws of the company provide
that the Proxy Committee shall be
composed of seven stockholders. We
find that the present Committee num-
bers 35 members and that fourteen OF
them are not stockholders. The MEM
bership of the Proxy Committee was
/ increased from seven to ten prior to
Mr.. Patrick's administration. During
his administration it was increased
from ten to sixteen. At the meeting
of the stockholders in September 1900.
il was increased from sixteen TO TWEEN
ty; later to twenty eight. and at the
last meeting to thirty-four. as shown
by the record, but according to Mr..
| Bryan's testimony to thirty-fiVe. The
pass-book shows that annual passes
have been issued to these thirty-five
gentlemen on account of their MEM
bership in the Proxy Committee. Mr..
BrYan's testimony is to the effect that
it was the purpose to elect all the large
| shippers on the Proxy Committee, so
that annual passes might be given
them, and ia this way secure their
| business for the road. 1t is not pre-
| tended that they were expected to
serve on the committee. They We're 20
receive annual passes and in return
| therefor were expected to give the
road their business. 1t is claimed that
the resolutions adopted by the stock
/ holders at various meetings, electing
a larger Proxy Committee than pro-
| vided for by the bylaws, legally
amended the bylaw limiting the num-
Der to seven as really as if it had been
| specifically mentioned and amended
in the resolutions. In view of the adj
| mitted fact that the purpose was not
| to provide for q real need of moro
| help to verify proxies but to put the
gentlemen in a position to receive
transportion and thereby secure their
business-a view confirmed by the ap
| pOintnent or fourteen nOn-StOckhOIu-
| ers-we can but say that the action
| is certainly in violation of the spirit Of
| the law prohibiting the issue of free
transportation, whether technically
contrary to law or not. The large and
unnecessary membership in this com
mittee certainly was not needed, and
they should not have been appointed
Local Counsel.
The list of passes on account OF
local counsel includes the names OF
thirty-fOur attorneys. only thirteen OF
whom live on the line of the road. II
appears that, while some Of these are
= bona fide attorneys of the company
others are not, and We're not intended
. TO be. 1t is shown by the evidence
that one Of these local attorneys ha.
never appeared for the railroad com.
! pany, and that he has appeared
, against it in practically every case /
has had in Craven county courts dur
, ing Mr.. Bryan's administration. w,
! believe that the best interests of tn;
company would be promoted by reduc
ton of the number of the Proxy com
mittee to the real needs of the com
pany. and that attorneys who canno