The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-03-21
The Legislature and Its Work.
Charlotte Observer.


alarming, and it was with good reason
said that this Legislature was men-
ace to the State. Happily, under
reflection and consideration. more
sober counsel prevailed. The lex tretne-
ly radical measures were put to
sleep, and. regarded by and large. it
can be said that the general results
were rather good than had-no
thanks to the radicals who persisted
in their malevolent purposes to
the last.
We shall never think that the rail
road passenger rate was fairly ad-
iusted. 1t is not worth willie to dis
cuss the subject now further than to
say that a fare of ? 1-2 cents on the
main lines would be low enough,
with the right left the small roads to
charge three cents, and that the abol-
ishlnent of secOnd-class fares was IA
mistake. 1t is not now nor any time
claimed that our own people are ell
titled to exemption from burdens laid
upon aliens who have money invest
ed in the State, but of itself it is not
fair that the Aberdeen & ASHORE
Railroad, running through IL poor
and sparcely settled country, should
be put upon the same basis with the
Atlantic & North Carolina, the Nor
folk & Southern and Norfolk 4 Wes-
tern, all of them longer lnes-two of
them running through developed and
rich truck-grOwing sections and the
third part of and one of the great
est coal carrying systems of the coun-
try. 1t is an incident that the Ash
boro 4 Aberdeen Railroad was built
and is owned by North Corolinians
while the Others are owned and con-
troled by outsiders, but he fact does
not modify the cruelty of the wrong.
In reference the general rate of , IL
cents fixed upon, it is to he said that
it is not wholly bad in the view that
all the important legislation of the
world results from compromise and
that 2 IA cents is better than the 2
cent rate which was so strongly con-
tested for. How the railroads can
be expected, however, to respond to
the universal demand for enlarged
and better service with their past
| earnings so materially reduced, is a
question for those who favored re-
duction to answer If they take off
trains which are already being oper-
ated at Il loss they should not be
blamed, and finally, under this head,
the individual or company which
will now embark upon the building
Of a new railroad in North Carolina
is Il fool. AS some compensation to
the railroads for the loss inflicted by
the reduction OF passenger rates,
there is modification of the outra-
| geOus penalty law, and as large
compensation to the public for the
| fat rate and poorer passenger serv-
ice certain to ensue, there is to be,
what is the thing important in this
connection, substantial reduction
| OF Interstate freight rates.
The power of the corporation com
mission were wisely enlarged. Why
the fixing OF passenger rates on the
small feeble roads, and the adjust
ment of freight rates were not refer
red to it, we do not understand Ii
is composed, in the Observers judy
ment, of able and incorruptible men
but if the commissioners are not
equal Ito their responsibilities they
should be bowed out and replaced by
men who are.
| Returning, however: We havep pass
ed almost the only criticism we have
to make upon the work of the Genera
Assembly. It's bark was tel rifying
it's bite does not hurt In its legisla
ton upon liquor it was smilingly in
consistent, drying up the community
where the people, had voted for Ii
cense, letting down the gap in tina
one where the Watts law had obtain
ed, according the right to vote whel
in corresponding cases it had beer
denied, and disobedent to petition
when in corresponding cases the.
had controlled it's action. Loca
government was not in the mine
of the legislators as a principle to b.
observed or deied, but what mos
Democrats regard as a thing fun
damental, by it as a thing to b.
played with, regarded or not accord
ing to the locality dealt with or wha
might happen to be the view of th
person representing it.
This General Assembly was no
afraid to spend the money of IT,,
dear people. That goes to it's credit
1t was mindful of the great intrest
of North Carolina and went far t.
advance the welfare of the institution
some of which are the States glory
for all of which it is responsible
Not a dollar of this money will b.
misspent and for the liberality anC
discriminating Judgment with which
it is to be expended the people hav,
primarily to thank those wise ant
thinking men, Senator Neill Archi
Mclean, the chairman OF the Senat,
committee on appropriations, anc
Representative j. r. Gordon, chair
man of the like committee of TIN
HOuse-good citizens both are.
To repeat what has been said il
previous issues, the people OF Nortl
Carolina will never cease to remem
Der this Legislature with GRATITUDE
for what it has done for their insan'
people, and. concluding, there is mor'
on the credit side OF its account thar
the debtor.
"Preventics'' will promptly check cold o
the Grippe when taken early or at tn
"sneeze stage" Preventies cure seated cold
as well. Preventics are little candy coli
will gladly mail you samples and BOOK OF
O sza