The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-23
OTHER STORM Scene
IN NORTH. CAROLINA
Passage Of Rate Reduction Laws
Broke Record for Rabid
Legislation.
POLITICS BEHIND IT ALL
Review Of Events That Made
Last Session OF General As
selnbly Memorable.

SelnDly Memorable.
To those familiar with the exciting
events of the North Carolina Legsla-
ture In January, tho litigation at RAJ
leigh and Asl,eville during the past
week Is Of small concern When the
State Democratic convention met al
Greensboro In July last a platform was
adopted which declared that there
should be reduction In flrst-class
pa ssenger rates. Politicians, anxious
to be elected. took the cue from that
convention. and pledged themselves to
help bring about the desired reform.
Unlike most States. North Carolina
had first and second-class fares, the
former being three and one-quarter
cents and the latter two and three
quarters Two cents fiat, was. what
the radicals insisted upon
In his message TO the Legislature
Governor Glenn, for many years one OF
the leading attorneys for the Southern
Railway, urged the enactment of a
two and one-h half cent law, but this
did not meet the wishes of those
clamorlng for a greater reduction.
Fight begun Early.
The contest began early. In the
| House a representative from Durham
county splashed into the turbulent
waters with bill making the ate two
lcents and other members had substi-
ltutes providing for various tariffs.
The Senate more conservative. Went
over the ground thoroughly and finally
| passed 2 ga cent rate blu. which
! had been introduced by Senator Gra-
|tinguished men in the higher branch.
/ This did not satisfy the House, how
ever, and the House bill did not suit
| the Senate.
Exciting Time in senate.
| When Lieutenant Governor winston,
! President Of the Senate. appointed the
! Senate committee on conference. he
named members who We're violent ad :
lvocates of the two.cent rate. ignoring
ISenator Graham, who commended that
las the father of the bill he should
/ have been on the committee. His pro-
ltest on the floor OF the body was the
4 most sensational event of the Senate,
land his attack on the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor was scathing and severe. He at
tempted to explain 1T by the sta tement
THAT II was worse than peanut poll
tiles" f,HE VI
RenchinE Compromise, .,.M
After more or loss wranglins there
was compromise for IA cents, the
4 second-class fare being abolished. Be
1 fore this happened, however, the rail-
lroad officials were given a hearing and
4 the treatment accorded President Fin.
| ley was SO discourteous. according to
4 the more conservative members and
! many of the newspa pers, that there
I was a reaction of feeling, and 1t was
4 feared at the moment that this woulG
/ so divide the members that nothing
in the way flower rates could be &C
/, complished.
i A set of questions We're submitted tc
i the three railroads-the Southern, tn.
| Atlantic Coast Line and the Sea boarc
Air Line-to be answered sin three 0,
i four days, but no reply was ever re-
I celved, s the roads explained that il
4 would require months to give the n
4 formation the Legislature demanded.
Startling Part Not Told.
4 A committee, for instance. wanted t.
/ know how much had been gpent on tht
private car account how many cross
4 ties had been purcha sed since the da5
4 of the old Richmond and Danville
i Railroad, how much money had beer
/ invested by the railroads In news.
4 papers. and how much had been squan
4 dered in politics. If this latter ques.
ton had been answered there were
q many wise people in North Caroline
i8WllO DeueSen ttndt popular pOliC1Ca
idols of the day would have been shat
4 tered and disgraced. But, fortunately
.lthere was silence
Called Legislature Menace.
i The fight In the lower branch Of tn,
4 Assembly was SO bitter at times tina
the newspapers. particularly the Char
lotte Observer, which stands head ant
shoulders above all others iii NORTH
\ Carolina, declared that the Legisla
ture was menace. The session wal
breeding politics and animosity; ever.
) corporation head was assaiied, and til
red flag was waved day and night
: In North Carolina the two star Of
, tenders" In the corporate line. accord
Ing to the more rabid element. wer,
the Southern Railway and the Ameri
can Tobacco Company.
1t was rather a peculiar circun
stance. however, that the man who ha
z first introduced the two-cent passer
ger rate was the champion OF til
American Tobacco Company and i
opposed the antitrust bill, which woul
: have driven the corporation out
!, the State, for the reason that 1t woul
injure the constituents who had electe
! him.
Glenn for Conservatism Then.
During the early stages Goyernt
1Glenn was working for conservatism
!, He stood by his message on the RAJ