The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-12
THE CONFERENCE At ATLANTA
Governor Glenn Tells of Object OF
the Meeting
Discussed Laws OF various States Re
Iatins to Railroad Kates-Took no
Action to Change or Modify Them
Conference With President Finley.
Especial to The Messenger

L
Raleigh, \. c., November 3.-GoF-
ernor Glenn, seeing articles in various
newspapers regarding the conference
of governors at Atlanta last week ana
his own position towards the railways
gives the following interview.
Governor Conner, Of Alabama. -
vited me to confer with himself al
Governor Smith at Atlanta. No details
were given as to the object OF THIS
meeting. save regarding TO passenger
and freight rates. T. he council CT
state and the states attorneys advised
me to go. At our meeting we at
first discussed the laws in the Va
rious states, to ascertain how far there
was uniformity Governor Conner sub
mitted a proposition from the South
ern railway regarding interstate and
intrastate rates, but feeling that gov
ernors were simply executive officers
with no rights to change laws or take
upon themselves the duties of the cor
poration commission. we took no ac-'
ton looking to changing said laws or
even modifying them. We did discuss
methods by which present laws could
be enforced and also methods by
which interstate rates might be made
uniform and not differ as at present
The governor further said: Some
people do not appear to understand
the object of my conference with Pres
| ident Finley of the Southern railway.
Some have taken it to be an attempt
to modify the law passed by the last
! legislature. Any lawyer or business
man will readily understand that l
have no power to change OF amend
the rate fixed. This can only be done
by the legislature. The proposition
! submitted to the Southern railway,
which | think fair and just was this:
Let the railroad stop its suit and the
| state stop it's suit, thereby producing
harmony and good will between the
ipeOple and tne railroad; then let the
railroad give the present rate fail
test Of six or eight months, seeing IL
that time whether or not increased
travel would not enable the road tC
make as much or more than hereto
fore or at least be in no sense con
, lfiscatOry Of railway property, and /
at the end Of eight months the rail
road ascertains that the rate was no
, injurious or coniscatory the law t.
, be continued, but if it was fOun'
. greatly injurious or confiscatory tn
, legislature to be called together {
change the rate to the end that n
injustice be done. This is my positio
. in regard to this matter. The la
Ipassed by the legislature should b
obeyed until fully tested. The railroa
i should submit to the law without tai
ing any action in the courts, for
sufficient period to ascertain its result
and then if it proves to be injuriol
the sovereign state can be called upC
to remedy any wrong and if the sta
II sees any wrong has been done it w
readily remedy any evil.
Governor Glenn feels that such
y course would bring about peace al
le harmony and he yet hopes that {
le railways will see the wisdom of t
course and agree upon such a line
er action.
d. George P. Grantham of Dunn,
a. appointed a delegate to the Nation
lg Rivers and Harbors Congress
a. Washington December 4th.