The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-18

and II was allowed after Representa-
tive Wood, of Randolph, had urged
the matter he left to the Corporation
Commission. Mr.. Fou said that this
LEGISLATURE had not been troubled with
railroad lobbyists ana appealed 20
Judge Graham who answered: They
have had their scouts out Mr..
Woodland, of Wilson, spoke against
leaving the matter to the Corporation
Commission, and after n, general ex-
preston OF views, half Il dozen talking
ct once, Mr.. r.. w. Miller was heard
again in advocacy or the present rates
and the terrible loss to the railroad
by cutting down TO 1-3 cents As
10 3 cent fiat rate the roads were
not asking this, but would accept 1t,
being Indifferent in the matter.
Southern earnings, he declared not 10
be excessive. In response TO Questions
from Mr. Laughinghousc, he declined
t. tell of salaries paid Southern ttai-
road officials, saying that he did not
think the committee had q right TO ASK
this. II don't see why you want 10
keep it hid" said Mr.. LauGhinShouse.
and added, but I did not expect you
to tell me-" Mr.. Miller said he die
not know the salaries, but did not
think the committee should ask THIS
'Would you tell me what you pa1d
men employed?" he asked Mr..
clearinghouse, who answered. yes.
for i have not the same motive Tor not
telling. Judge Graham held that rs
railroads are quasi-public That MT.
Miller ought not to keep this inforf1a-
tlon from the public, who had right
To know it. You ask faNOrs Of the
people, he said, land ought ID let
them know what these expenses are.
Mr.. w. p. Nichols, of Chester, S. c..
general manager of the Caroline ana
Northwestern Railroad the old Ches-
ter and Lenoir told of II miles OF the
road being in the State, that the ROAD
was q small one and ought 10 be made
an exception to the general rule. thdt
il was now allowed to charge and
8 IL cents. He was told the eXcep-
ton would be allowed. Mrs. e. r.
Lowell, of Cumberland spoke for the
sa ne road saying IF the big roads
can't stand reduced rate where shall
we be-" Here Mr.. l.aughinRhouse said
do you believe all these big roads
tell you?"
Mr.. j. II. Pou. of Raleigh. then
made argument for the Atlantic Coast
Line against q new rate. lie held that
stringent railroad laws since 1892 had
given the State but. about 500 miles or
road in ten years. while before that
time there was much work. Eastern
North Carolina being grid-ironed with
roads. He held that such is wrong
policy. AS to rates the State has flXed
these, and that new roads would have
to come because private parties saw
chances for gain. as the state mad
gone out of the railroad business. He
held that the state had full power as
TO rates and that it was not this power
but that OF arranging for the manage
ment of roads bv the State that the
roads bought, that the Corporation
Commission could fix rates but not
abolish second class fares.
HAS the commission power TO
make two roads connect?" asked Mr..
Biggs.
II don't believe it ought to make
the Coast Line. now running seven
trains, to put on the eighth to make
g. connection at Selma with the South
ern," said Mr.. Pou. who went on and
announced that the Atlantic Coast
Line would on Monday put on the
extra train to Selplas that it had asked
no supercedeas from the United states
Supreme court nor for a stay of pro-
ceedings, but that it would obey the
State Supreme Court, put on the train
from Rocky Mount to Selma and con-
tend for the principle before the Su-
prerne Court asatelwhe Their or not the
State had the power to make law to
have the road put on an extra train
TO make a connection at a loss.
Judge Graham here declared that
prosperity and dividends. ought to
consider the interests of the people.
even If it cost the road SIS a day To
do this. Here Mr.. Pou. turning to
Mir. Ryan said "You need not talk of
ever taking off your Wilmington to
Hamlet or your Weldon to Raleigh
shoofiy for you will not be allowed by
these reckless condition" In response
to Mr. Biggs' question as to whether
he considered the@eonnection ordered
at Slma as an unwise order by wise
men he answered: 1T was an order
without a precedent"
Here ensued a discussion as to the
value of A. G. l.. stock, as its service
during the war and then a declara-
ton that in North Carolina low rates
prevailed that ga and Ia were
maximum rates. lower rates being
given children, preachers, Confederate
veterans, ETC., that the average rate In
the state is from 2.S0 to 2.47 Mile
age books and their cost were dis
cussed, and the density of population
argument gone into a declaration COM
ing that with reduced rates there
would still be q call for special rates.
Judge r.. r. Womack spoke for the
Seaboard Air Line told of its
never having paid dividend,
az its borrowing money to
get along and of the need of higher
rates for branch lines. he urged
that the whole matter be left with the
Corporation Commission, that the Leg
islature by it's action ought not TO
cast a slur on that body. At this
point Mr.. Laughnghouse asked Who
has said anything derogatory 10 that
body" and declared there had been
no slur. Judge Womack continued TO
urge the power of the Commission and
that it ought to be allowed to settle
the matter. AS to lower rates 1T
would mean reduced train service.
AS to the three cent rate the Sea-
board Air Line had not asked this,
but would be willing to accept it.
Then Mr.. Laughinghouse urged his
bill, holding that the people demanded
a lower rate and that the roads could
grant this. that special rates, thous-
and mile tickets, excursion rates, set
tiers rates, competitive point rates,
all showed that people were carried
for less than 1-2 cents mile
Freight rates he held to be shifted TO |
higher schedules when new rates were
ordered, and that by this the road got |
So where the State increased 81 in