The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-29

! the railway rate legislation at ttdlelSl
and Asheville within the past ten days
is OF small concern.
When the State Democratic convention
met at Greensboro IN July a platform was
adopted which declared there should be
a reduction in frst-class passenger fares.
Politicians, anxious. to be elected, took
their cue from that convention. pledging
themselves to help bring about the de-
sired reform. Unlike most States. North
Carolina had first and second-class fares,
the former being 31-4 cents and the latter
1884 Two cents fiat was what the radi-
Gals insisted upon.
Gov. GIenn's Message.
In his message to the legislature. Gov
Glenn. for many years one Of the leading
attorneys for the Southern Railway Com
pany, urged the enactment OF a 2 lucent
law. but this did not meet the wishes Of
those clamoring for greater reduction.
! The contest began early. In the house a
representative from Durham County
I splashed into the turbulent waters with
bin making the rate ? cents. Other
members had substitutes providing for va
rious tariffs
! The senate. more conservatively, went
over the ground thoroughly, finally pass
/ ing a "a cents bill. This bin bad been
introduced by Senator Graham, Of Orange.
This did not satisfy the house, however,
and the house bill did not suit the senate.
Senator Graham Ignored.
When Lieut. Gov. Winston, president OF
the senate. appointed the senate commit
tee on conference he named members
who were violent advocates Of the 2-cent
rate. ignoring Senator Graham. who con-
! tended that, as father of the bill he
should have been on the committee. His
4 protest on the floor OF the body was the
most sensational event Of the session. and
his attack on the lieutenant governor was
scathing and severe. He attempted 10
explain Il by the statement that It was
worse than peanut politics" After more
or less wrangling. there was a compro-
mise for . Ii cents. the second-class fare
being abolished.
Before this happened. however. the rail-
road officials were accorded a hearing
The treatment given President Finley
was so discourteous. according 10 the
more conservative members and many OF
the newspapers. that it was feared at
the moment that this would so divide
the members Flat nothing IN the way Of
lower rates would De accomplished.
working for Conservatism.
During the early stages Gov. Glenn was
working for conservatism. He stood by
his message on the rate matter. but when
delegations from various cities were ap-
paarng on the scene 10 protest against
adverse legislation which threatened .
drive capital away. when the commercial
organizations in half a score Of the lead
ing cities were urging reduction OF freight
rates. with the elimination Of the passen- (
ger reduction. the governor saw that it
was time for men TO be sane.
When the first bills were prepared, it
was agreed that roads with less than l0)
miles Of rail should be exempt, but this
provision was later changed 10 sixty
miles the charge being made that this
was done I'm order to make the lower
rate effective on the ASHORE and Aber-
deem. the length Of which is about sixty
five miles
According 10 those who made the allega-
ton this was done in order 10 punish
Henry A. Page. or that property, who
had offended certain men by his plainness /
Of speech. This charge resulted in a
legislative investigation, the object being
to ascertain the source of this alleged
information, But the legislature was dis /
appointed In that respect and the inquiry /.
ended in a manner both farcical and /
ridiculous. 1t showed the temper OF the 4
body, however, if nothing more.
Coast Line Not MOIested.
Much of the animosity in North Caro- /
Ina was aimed personally at Col A. B. I
Andrews, first vice president of the 4
Southern. whose home is in Raleigh In 4
this connection it Is interesting to note /
that while the Atlantic Coast Line has /
failed, like the Southern. TO regard the
State law. none Of the Coast Line ticket /
agents have been indicted The fact was
to have become effective July l.
While the 2-cent rate in Virginia was 10
have gone into effect simultaneously with
the 21-4-cent rate in North Carolina. the
Seaboord complied with the former stat
ute and ignored the order of the
Virginia corporation commission. It APP
pears, therefore, that the Seaboard obeys
in one State and refuses to obey in an
other. which rather emphasizes the as
that the legal questions here
and there are not Identical
Public Receiving Benefit.
Notwithstanding the fact that the new
laws are disregarded. the railroads con-
tend that pending final adjustment of
the legal question involved. the public is
now receiving the benefit of the reduction
In Virginia, inasmuch as coupons for the
difference between the ola and the new
law are given each passenger which may
be redeemed at their full value In the
event that the higher courts decide
against the railroads.
In South Carolina, where the three
main transportation systems are the
Southern. the Atlantic Coast Line. and
he Seaboard Air Line. the legislature in
January had before it bills to cut the
passenger rate below 8 cents. The Trav-
slers' Protective Association opposed that
measure on the broad ground that service
vas more to be desired than cheap rates,
which was also the argument of Presi-
lent Roosevelt in his Indianapolis adj
lress.
The bill was defeated. the roads. how
,ver. being reminded that they would be I
,iven an opportunity 10 improve the serv-
&c In the meantime. If this is not done !
he legislature of that State next year /,
viii take Up the matter again. and doubt /
ess viii pass the bills held over from
no last session.
james E. Moss Dead.
pecial to The Washington Herald