The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-02-20
CARRYING FREE PASSES MAKES VI
FRIENDS FOR RAILROADS WHEN THEY
SEEK TO WRONG THE PEOPLE.

( companies which are ntially
{ ragnopolies 10 carry on their business
aud exercise. without rests aini. the
powers and privileges that arr con
/ lerrcd upon them by the state i IL
I !tstratad b. the course the southern
Iauuay Company j. undertaking 70
/ pursue in its litigation with he city
Of High Point
i viii he remembered that the
Southern Railway Company brought
! suit in the United states Circuit Court
lat Greensboro 10 enicin the city Of
I High point from working High street.
! Within 100 feet on each side Of the
! center 81 the main track Of the North
! Carolina Railroad there are Two
~.treets in the city Of High Point; n
on each side OF the track. These
streets. the people Of High Point say,
| have been kept open and worked By
the city since the town was incoT-
borated in 1853, and are "a much used
as any other streets in the town.
Fronting on these two streets are
some Of the handsomest residences in
the State. and Il large hotel, and
these streets are the only convenient
means q large portion Of the people
have Of reaching the business part Of
the CITY. 1t is proposed BY the
Southern Railwaq Company to close
up these street. 1t is a l~igh-handed
proposition that the railroad company
lays down in this case: That in or
der to save itself the u and eX-
pense of making its shifting yards
elsewhere. IL win destroy 4 large part
Of the value Of the property facing on
High stree. and Broad street, in the
city of High Point by taking these
streets for a railroad yard. If il were
true that it would be more convenient
and cheaper for the Southern Rail
way Company To establish q yard for
shifting trains. at this point, rather
than OF q point cut of the business
section Of the city Of High Point, it,
nevertheless, shows an utter disre-
gard for the rights and conveniences
of the people of High Point for The
railroad company to D 10 do
this. Under the law the railroad can
not carry out its plan unless it be
necessary. 1t does not own 1a0 feet
Of right of way on each side Of the
railroad company's track; but if it has
acquired rights in 200 feet at all
it has merely an easement which it
can exercise for the public good, and
when the necessities of the case de-
mand it. 1t is hardly probable that
any court would decide that it is ne
cessary that the Southern Railway
Company should do what it proposes
to do in this case. If it has the
power to do it under the law as it now
is, then this but argues that the law
should be changed so that this I'M
bridled power to destroy property in
this ruthless and unnecessary a
1er shall not be vested in ~anyerail-
road corporation. The right Of en-
inent domain and the power III rail-
road corporations to condemn prop
erty is necessary, but it should be ex-
ercised With some regard to the rights
OF the private citizen, and particular-
~ should it be exercised with some
regard for the rights Of the public.
'OC1iAN VI NV II VI i1iSAl L Jill |
take the position that the Southern
Railway Company can be trusted to
fairly With the people. without
legislation to control it.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. ].
Cox went to Washington
Senate Committee that the railroads
treated shippers fairly, and 10 oppose
Il bill comforting upon the Interstate
Commerce Commission the power to
lin freight rates, or TO declare rates
by the roads unreasonable. The
News and Observer at the time called
attention to the fact that MIR. Q was )
passes which he held by the grace of
the Southern Railway Company, and
this might account to some de-
gree for his friendly feeling towards
railway company and his bias.
This same Mr.. j. Elwood Cox appear
ed as q witness for the railroad COM
i'll the case of Southern Railway
Company VS.. City OF High Point. Tt
will be interesting for the public to
NlloN us IO" MI. - oIlo IA y
associates, Mr.. r. r. Dalton. feel
towards the Southern Railway Com
on account of their being reel
pients Of free passes. Their testi-
illustrates what most people
and maintain. but what a few
deny: that the custom of railroad
in issuing passes is an un-
mitigated evil, and that the railroad
practice the evil because,
directly or indirectly, they find it
profitable for them to do so. Note
how Mr.. Cox and MIR. Dalton view
their position towards the Southern
Railway Company by reason of their
having free passes. and the following
is quoted from the testimony OF these
two distinguished and influential car
rierS of free passes. We do not mean
say hat either of these gentlemen
corrupt, but merely to say h