The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27
Friday, May II, 1904.
MORE ABOUT THAT REPORT.

The report of the COMMITTEES which
investigated the condition Of the Allan.
tic and North Carolina railroad renews
public interest in the question of the
lease of that property The condition
of the road and the manner of
ing it's business as set forth in the
report show tina its management
should be taken out of the hands of the
state. The committee, which put the
best foot foremost for the administra-
ton and railway management, did not
hesitate to say that the property should
be leased though declaring that there
was nothing in the situation to call
for great haste on the one hand or ex-
treme action on the other in reference
to n proposed change in the control
and operation of the property"
This latter clause is one of the many
sup~erf1uous remarks which the COM
mittee has injected into it's report.
We know of no one of those who ad-
vocate the lease of this property who
has urged undue haste in the proceed
ings or extreme action regarding the
change of management.
Another very peculiar proceeding on
the part of the committee was the in
cooperating in its report of the matter
in reference to the payment of vouch-
ers endorsed by President Bryan after
the receiver had taken charge under
order of the court. The following para
graph in the report bearing on this
subject shows more clearly the animus
of the members of the committee than
anything else they said:
1T seems to us thai we have moth
ing whatever to d. with the charge
that Mr.. Bryan signed vouchers dur
ing the administration of Mr.. McBee
receiver. At that time Mr.. Bryan
was not in any way connected with
the operation of the atlantic and
North Carolina railroad, and we have
no concern in his deeds or words as
a private citizen. 1t would occur tC
us that the shoe is on the other foot
and that the opportunity given out
slider to tamper with the papers o.
the receiver indicates a state of af.
fairs which might call for an indie
pendent investigation. Since We are
doing our work for the state admins
LII HUI III NLS IL
ceiver. this matter does not seem tC
come within the scope of our enquiry
If the committee had no concern il
Mr.. Bryan's deeds at this time why die
il embody this transaction in its report
1t looks as if the committeeman wen
out OF the way to give what they
thought would be a damaging blow Il
the receiver. Again, if Mr.. Bryan, a
only "a private citizen" signed vouch
ers which ne had no authority to sigl
and the knowing that his 81
doing was ..tampering with the paper
of the receiver" paid those vouchers
are not both Mr.. Bryan and the treas
urer amenable TO the law, the one TO
unlawfully interfering. with the man
agement of the road and the latter TO
> paying vouchers Illegally endorsed? L
looks to US as il the boots are on tn,
feet of Mr.. Bryan and the treasurer
and that they might pinch, too.
To get back to the question of the
lease OF his Dad about which we start.
ed out TO write in this article. but
branched off on other features of the
case. We are told by The News and
Observer:
There is opposition along the line
of the Atlantic and North Carolina rail
<road to any lease of the road to the At
lantic Coast Line because it is the chief
competitor of the Atlantic and North
Carolina railroad. The people feel that
if the Atlantic Coast Line leases the
road that section would be forever
without competition, particularly if, as
is believed, the Norfolk and Southern
has fallen into the lands of the Atlantic
Coast Line"
Whether the Norfolk and Southern
has fallen into the and OF the Allan
tic Coast Line or not; whether the At
lantic Coast Line wants the Atlantic