The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-27
UNJUST RATES OF
THE RAILROADS
Raleigh Merchants as to
Discrimination.
RATES ARE INCREASED
Mr.. Norman H. Iohnson's Splendid Ad-
dress on Freight Rate Iniquity is
Literally Applauded aud En-
dorsed by the Merchants
n.
Of RaIeiqh.

discriminating freight rates was the
topic of the meeting of the Retail
81 chants of Raleigh last night in
the mayors office,
The event drew together many mer-
chants and the meeting was presided
over by Mr.. d. T. Johnson, president
oi the association. The main event
W8s the address of Mr.. Norman ii.
4oi nson, attorney general of the North
ca DINA Merchants Association and
ed or. of the Merchants Journal who
s .ussed unequal and unjust freight
as as operating against the mer-
efa hts of this State. His views were
Vie 3rously applauded, as were also
81 Sc of President Johnson who added
~ he forcible remarks of Mr.. Norman
nson.
he speaker of the evening first took
up the matter of the Parcels Post
Bill" and discussed the impending
danger of this, claiming that Il was
only an effort of the department stores
to centralize trade and that it's pas
sage would embarraSs North Carolina
merchants to the extent that the great
er number of merchants would be
forced to close their doors. Il do
not take a pessimistic view of the sit
uation," he said, because the splendid
trade organizations throughout the
United States should be able to exert
a greater influence than these few, yet
strongly allied department stores"
In discussing freight rates he said
that no greater hardship confronts
the commercial as we'll as industrial
growth and development of North
Carolina than the totally unjust and
arbitrary determinations made against
this State in matters of freight rates,
saying that every capital in the South
Richmond, Columbia, Atlanta and
others are supplying the trade at our
very DOORS and this deplorable con-
dition is due only to the fact that
our merchants cannot confine business
that legitimately belongs to them with
in the State because States and cities
beyond the State can deliver their
commerce to nearby towns at a great
deal less rate.
The question of freight rates is in
deed a difficult problem, and the bust
ness men of our State realizing the
many intricacieS of the situation were
successful i'm having railway commits
sion established to study this question,
% collect the vital statistics and dis
ordinations, ETC.. but unfortunately
no reduction of freight rates have re-
suited from these efforts, but on the
other hand freight rates have IN
creased.
"Of course" he said, 'the fiat rates
crease had been obtained by changes
in classification.
e"There are today a large number or
North Carolina merchants who have
moved from their native state and
placed their citizenship and their capt.
tai into a foreign state because they
could not enlarge their business in
North Carolina. There are jobbers
and manufacturers in Richmond, Nor
folk and other cities who deal only
with the trade in this State. Freight
comes from the remotest sections of
the South directly through the city of
Raleigh to points far beyond at less
rate than it can be stopped here.
Shipments from the western part of
the United States come through AShe-
Vile. Greensboro, Raleigh and Colds
to Norfolk and points beyond at less
rate than the same shipment can be
stopped at any point in North Caro-
lima. Shipments from the North pass
through North Carolina to Atlanta
and points further South cheaper than
the same shipment can be stopped in
this State, and because of these condi-
tions North Carolina cannot hope to
become an important factor in extend
ing her commerce. Yet in the face of
these conditions some men in North
Carolina MAINTAIN that the railroads
can best regulate these conditions"
Then the speaker illustrated the
difference between inter and intra
State rates and maintained that an
aggressive and active railway commits
sion should, if these inter State dis
examinations be not abolished, make
such a reduction in the intra- State
rates as would give to our North Caro-
lima town the benefit of trading at
home, thereby centralizing capital and
building up the states commerce.
I'll h &c limo
were both entertaining and instructive,
and following this he told of what had
been accomplished by the State asso-
citation, the repeal of the merchants
tax, the enactment of certain bene-
fetal laws and the defeat of those
prejudicial to the mercantile interests.
You applaud me-" he said, when
l say that the MERCHANTS Association
has saved you $4,000 by the repeal
of the merchants tax, yet l tell <ou
the defeat of the proposed tariff issue
i'm March, 1904, increasing the price on
less than car load shipments, saved
each of you twenty times the amount
of taxes. You should" he continued,
mot only be grateful to your associa-
ton but appreciate the splendid eX-
position of this scheme made by the
News and Observer which has splend-
idly done you service
Mr. Johnson then discussed various
other matters of local interest and
made a strong plea for cooperation
and organization.
Mr.. ID. T. Johnson, president of the
association, next spoke, and told of the
value of the work done, that members
of the Raleigh association had first
voiced the demand for "a repeal of the
merchants tax and for a doing away
of unjust freight rates. He urged
that q strong delegation go from Ashe-
vile to the third annual State meetine g
of the association, and that the R-<
eigh association pay the expenses OF
its delegates, these matters to be fixed
at the June meeting. He was APP
plauded.
An enjoyable smoker followed the
speeches. and the meeting proved a
valuable one.