The Washington herald., 1907-07-30

Raleigh, n. c, July 2s.-Gov. Glenn to-
day issued a letter TO the public. review
ing the course OF events in the railroad
rate matter, and advising that tie people
join with the State authorities in giving
full effect to the agreement with the rail-
roads, signed last Saturday
The governors statement follows:
THE general assembly, at its last ses-
sion. passed a law regulating passenger
rates, the same to go into effect July l.
1901 Before that time the Southern and
Coast Line railroads. through the Circuit
Court OF the United States. en5oined the
corporation commission and attorney
general from publishing and putting the
fixed rates into effect
Not believing that the circuit Judge in
an equity suit, by enjoining the corpo-
ration commission and attorney gen.
eral, could prevent a self-acting law
from going into effect, I commenced TO
prepare a letter 10 the judges and an
address 20 the people when. on the Sth
Of July. 1907. the Hon B. T. Long, one
Of the ablest and most conscientious
judges ia the State. of his own motion
FASTENED action by boldly and ably
charging the grand jury Of Wake county
that it was its duty TO Immediately in
dict the railroads for violating the rate
law.
Praises Judge Long.
AT once I assured Judge Long OF my
hearty approval of his righteous stand
and my intention 10 assist him in up
holding the law Ny letter was forwarded
to the other judges and indictments were
made IN Wake and other counties. Many
penalty suits were also commenced
against the railroads by private indi-
viduals.
The railroads then applied to the Cir
cult Court TO entoin all private persons
from bringing penalty suits and 10 take
the persons arrested and convicted IN the
State courts from the officers Of that
court by writ Of habeas corpus 20 the
! Federal curt Fs'iev = - va not
/ legal way. directed the States etorneys
to appeal from such action. and requested
! the state courts 10 continue 10 enforce the
law
This brought about direct conflict be-
tween the state and Federal courts. a
matter that ] regretted, but could not,
under my oath, avoid. At this juncture,
Assistant Attorney General Sanford, rep
! resentiug the Department Of Justice az
/ Washington, came TO see me TO try and
adjusI all differences.
Negotiations with Sanford.
7 told him that under the constitution
/ I could not and would not attempt 20
annul a State law. but if the railroads
would obey the law and let It imme-
diately go into effect, all minor details
could be adjusted. At his request I put
my ultimatum in writing, and published
/ t. Nothing was to be done unless the
I railroads Immediately recognized the law.
I After some debate and arrangement
Of minor details the railroads accepted
I the States proposition, the rate law 20
become effective August S "a few days
I being given TO change tickets, Sc), GER
/ tain cases TO be carried TO the Supreme
Court for final determination, and In
the meantime the railroads 10 request
/ the circuit judge to commence no con-
/ tempt proceedings, and 70 ask the
/ judges and solicitors to commence no
more indictments. and not prosecute those
on their d0ckets except the two from
which appeals were taken. and to request
the people not TO commence any penalty
suits
In compliance with my agreement. the
/ law now being fullyrecognized and Obeyed
/ by the railroads. I do most earnestly re-
1 quest ali judges TO stop all new indict-
ments and to not prosecute those on the
/ dockets. and also beg the people to bring
no more penalty suits. TO the end that
/ peace and harmony shall again prevail
! between the railroads and the people.
State Injured Through Roads.
You cannot injure railroads without
/ injuring the State. When they obey the
law they are entitled 10 protection. The
/ law is now in fun force, and no one
should therefoye desire 10 violate the
/ agreement made between the State and
the railroads, and / confidently ask and
expect that said agreement be carried out
and be strictly complied with. The law is
supreme. Let all obey it.
''R. E GLENN. Governor
The governor to-day addressed tele-
/ grams to officers Of the Louisville and
Nashville and the Carolina and North
western, asking If they viii put the 21-4
cent rate in effect on August s. The
Southern Railway has perfected its ap-
peal from the $4,000 fine imposed in
Wake County Superior Court, Swing a
I lrpf for fsriae fha amount of ha