The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-03-05

Gates Of Report OF Conference Com
mittce Win Complete and Glorious
ter Cent Passenger Rate Is NOW the
Law in North Carolina.
The people still rule.
Platforms are made to stand upon
as we'll as get in on
The Senate forfeited the confidence
of the railroad lobby last night and
Won the approval Of the people of
North Carolina.
The Senate Chamber was crowded
last night as it had not been crowded
this session. The Conference Com
mittee's report, including the bill re-
ducing rates was the special order.
The opponents of rate reduction were
ready to leave no stone unturned to
win. The platform keepers were re-
solved to win and redeem their
pledges 1t was a scene that viii not
soon be forgotten. The House al
most adjourned and passed into the
Senate. Ladies filled the galleries
bieS were packed.
1t was the last battle Of the many
that have been Waged. Hardly had
the Senate been called to order when
the contest began. Senator Daniel,
chairman, clearly presented the rea-
sons that caused the committee to
prepare the bill submitted. The Lieu
tenant Governor ruled that the report
of the committee must be adopted or
rejected DIS Il whole and was not open
to amendment That ruling was ex
pccted. In fact it was so plain that
no presiding officer could rule other
wise. But it was made the occasion or
the excuse for such Il performance as
is rarely seen in the Senate Chamber,
and an earnest attempt was made to
have the ruling of the chair reversed.
Why? Not many Senators wished to
go on record as opposing rate reduc-
ton. If the report must be voted
for or against they had to face the
music and vote straight. If it were
open to amendment, the fight against
rate reduction could be kept up until
the Senate expired. with no bill en-
acted
The criticism upon Lieutenant Gov
ernOr Winston brought forth speeches
that were full of righteous Indignation.
Senator after Senator commended his
course and every utterance of ap-
prOval evoked applause from the gal
Ieries, the lobby and the floor. Even
the clerks forgot themselves and ap-
plauded tributes to Judge Winston,
and once there was not only applause
but loud cheers and hurrahS as sena-
tors spoke and replied to the criti-
cisms made upon him. 1t was a trib
ute deserved and it was pleasant to
see that it was participated in by
ladies in the galleries as Well as by
members of the House and Senators.
The people understood the true situa-
tIOn and they honOred the man who
stood for doing the Right Thing in
the Right Way at the Right Time.
The test vote was on the motion
20 reverse the ruling of the chair. The
opponents of real rate reduction must
cred is votes to over-rule the Lieuten-
amt Governor. That was the testing
Tune. OF course some who voted that
way wanted some reduction but most
of them seemed determined to have
only the sort of reduction that suited
lhcIr personal preference or let all
reduction fail
When the fight failed and it was
the : IA cent or nothing, quite a
number Of Senators who had been in
SlslhS upon ther personal views voted
Tor the bill. for which 3S votes were
east
1t was a hard fight and d great vic
tory, ,
The Senate was convened at eight
ernor Winston. and before the rate
bill was considered Mr.. Buxton moved
that the bill to create Il State Board of
cqualiza ton be made q special order ,
for twelve o'clock on Monday and il
was ordered.
The chair then laid before the
Senate the report of the conference
committee with the conference bill
prescribing rates railroads may
charge for transporting passengers
Mr. Daniel. chairman of the Senate
committee. made no extensive re-
marks upon the report and the bill. |
but stated that the committee had
done It's best in the matter. and that
ne had been very loath to accept the |
t"O and n quarter cent rate, because !
II mad been first suggested in his own |
plil. which was rejected By the Sen
ate: but it had been impossible for |
lhe conference to agree upon two |
rates. ana if the Senate committee !
nad insisted uDOn two fares. he said. |
he believed the two committees would |
have reached no agreement The ef- |
forts of the cOnfcreeS in respect 70 !
this matter, he said were recited III |
conference report: and after the flat |
two cent rate had been refused as |
we'll as the two fares. it was a matter |
Of ComprO mise or no determination !
by the committees. He said if it is |
finally the sense Of the Senate that |
there should be one fare, there was