The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-31

! gross. His contention wa!
that the Commission had not suffi
Gent power to adjust these evils; tina
! Congress could confer sufficient pow
er and why not do it? That at pres
/ ent there is no remedy for an ag
grieved shipper, and proved his poin
by citing the abuse of the railroad.
in raising their rates in the cottor
belts of Texas, two years ago wher
! the boll-weevil had destroyed the cot.
| ton crop. And that the Commission
was powerless to force the road to re-
] gain from such actions
| He showed many defects in the
present system, saying that the plan
was inefficient even if the law were
| binding, and showed that the present
! plan consumed years of delay in is
suing and enforcing an order. He
argued for speedy remedy, one that
would operate on both parties as soon
as the order was issued. In doing
this, he showed the cheapness of the
alternatives proposed plan, and that
It would operate at once.
First, That, if the negative could
deny and prove the points set up and
proven by the affirmative to be I'M
true, they would win. Second, that if
the negative would admit the abuses
and determinations alleged and
proven by the affirmative, but pro-
pose a better remedy than the affirm
alive had proposed, they would win
in this way. Otherwise, they could
not win at all"
Mr. Stephenson for the Negative.
Mr.. V. G. Stephenson, for the mega
tive. said:
owing to the vastness, the intricate
completely of the American system of
railways, it is inevitable that abusage
to greater or less degree, should de-
velop at times in their operation, but
the mere fact of their existence does
not justify in resorting hastily and
blindly to any remedy which may be
proposed The abuses in railway OPP
GRAFTON may be classified under three
heads, rebates, exorbitant rates, and
determinations.
What is a rebate? 1t is a secret de-
Walton from established rates, for the
benefit of special shipper If the
evil is prevalent it merits condemna-
ton, but since rebates are from their
very nature secret deviations from es-
tablished rates, the proposal to correct
it by having the government establish
rates, is on its face absurd. Far from
abating the abuse, it would increase
it in virulence, since in the case OF
unwise action on the part of the COM
mission, self-preservation would de-
mand the adoption of a secret method.
The practice is fully covered by pres
ent statutes, whose enforcement is the
only requisite for the elimination of
the abuse.
GAS to extortionate rates, when We
consider that each rate is but one unit
in vast system of rates, determined
by the pressure of conditions, regu-
lated by the laws of trade, adapted
with the utmost skill to varying con-
ditions in varying sections. together
with the vast area included, involving
every variety of climate, of population
density, of topograp hical difference, we
realize that the magnitude of the task.
the tremendous sweep of the power.
the inconceivable disaster resulting
from failure of judgment or a fail
ure of justice defies the grasp of the
imagination.
80 vital too is the connection be-
tween the railroads and the public.
that the impairment of the value of
railway securities would disturb the
value of the peoples deposits i'm every
bank in America, wreck the insurance
companies and precipitate panic
without a parallel in our financial his
tory
1.-THE claim of determinations is the
logical outcome of the spirit of COM
petition Since transportation is a
vital, inseparable part of our economic
life, the sway of the irresistible law of
supply and demand is as absolute in
determining the price of transporta
ton rs in every other phase of our
business life.
Governmental rate-nlaking would
thus prevent the lowering of rates
Each section in its battle for CONNER
cial supremacy has the sympathy and
cooperation of its system OF railways
1t has been this strife between COM
peting industries which has produced
our presen, low rate. To endow
Federal commission with autocratic
power to dictate the channels In which
the stream of commerce shall flow
would thus stifie the spirit of competi
ton, outrage the most patent principle
of justice, produce financial disaster
and industrial stagnation, and create
a bureaucratic government, hostile to
every idea of true Democracy. inimical
to the very life of Democratic gov
eminent
Congressman Thomas Speaks.
The Alumni Address was delivered
by Hon. Charles r. Thomas, OF New
Bern, member of Congress from the
Third Congressional District
Mr. Thomas expressed his real
pleasure at being able TO be present
dQuIeSS
prosperous and suspicious year in the
life of North Carolina and its Univer-
atty. He referred briefly to the fla
miliar college scenes and the former
halcyon days of college life, in this
connection paying a brief tribute to
the members of the Glass of 1881, Of
which he was member.
Referring to the changes which
have occurred in twenty-four years
since the graduation of the class Of
1881, 1.-THE University, he said, still
remains the nourishing mother of us
all, still living reality, still the very
keystone in the arch of the educational
fabric of our State, still the States
pride sending into the service of the
State in every walk and avenue of life
men who feeling as you and | do, as
Vance felt when he said, The thing
that has been of most benefit to me in
all my life is the fact that / was a
student of the University of North
Carolina. would make any sacrifice
to defend and protect her"
He referred to the high ideals Of
the University, its origin and pro-
gress and marvellous growth since the
reopening in 1875, surprising in the
number Of its students its highest ante
bellum record, and now attaining