The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-03-05

The bill reducing freight rates.
known a. a. the Justicc-Ho.t bin,
which was pending before the sen
ate and was On Yesterday passed On
its second il third readings. viii
probably come before the House carly
next week. It's provisions are excel
len,. and it win give great relief 10
the people OF North Carolina. The
bill was carefully drawn, and intro
duced in the House BY Speaker Jus
tice. and on the same day in the sen
ate by senator Holt. Of Guilford. The
House Committee on Public Service
Corporations modified the bill to some
extent. and as modified the bill passed
the House on its second reading. It is
thought by some that il would be
unwise for the House not to pass the
Senate bill. which is practically as it
was originally drawn and introduced in
the two bodies. In tile first place
the Hous. is better up with its work.
having passed the antitrust bin and
sent it to the Senate. and the bill
charging the powers Of the North
Carolina Corporations Commission.
and other important bills which the
Senate has yet to consider. If the
House were to pass the bill reducing
freight charges, as reported by the
committee and send it TO the senate,
there would be but little time for the
Senate to consider it. The Justice
Holt freight bill is better for the mer-
chants and in North Caro-
than the bill as amended by the
colnittee. as is admitted BY III"
gentlemen on the committee VINO re-
ported the bill TO the House. The
only question is whether the Justice
Holt bill IS entirely just TO the small
railroads.
Inasmuch as the reduction provided
in this bill is necessary. in order to
put two points, on different lines of
railroads in North Carolina, on an
equality with a point without the
state and a point within the state, the
same difference apart as the two
points in North Carolina are, it is nee
essary that the Justice-Holt bill and
not the bill, as amended by the HOUSE
committee. should be passed. The
House bill as amended is a good one.
and reduces freight IN North Carolina
considerably, but not as much as the
bill which passed the Senate Il costs
IS cents to ship 100 pounds OF goods
Of the first class leo miles, over the
line or lines of q railroad company in
North Carolina. 1t costs about the
same to ship them an equal distance
from 4 point without the state to 4
point within the State Of North Car
Dina. but if 100 pounds of goods Of
class is shipped 100 miles over
the lines Of two railroad companies in
North Carolina, the freight charges
are 81 cents. The result is. that the
North Carolina merchant is forced. on
account of this great difference, to
With points outside Of the state
il preference to points within the
State. which can not be reached over
the line o. lines Of a single railroad
company. For this reason Asheyille
trade with New Bern. because
the sum Of the local charges from |
Ashe>ille to Goldsboro, and from
G~oldsboro To New Bern, less 10 per
cent as the rates now are greatly in
excess Of what they would be if New
Fern and AshevilIe were on the line of
a single company. The -Asheville mer-l
-1-.-- -,-r 49, - ~
some city outside Of the state. in pref
renee to New Bern. and the New
Bern merchant must trade with somel
merchant out If the State, in prefer
ence to Raleigh. Durham. Greensboro.
or Asheville. The Justice
Holt bill makes the reduction Of the
Of the local charges. not greater
is now the continuous mileage
charge. 81 what would be the charge
the line # a single company. This
bill. as amended by the committee Of.
the House. provides for a reduction Of
freight . per cent below the sum of
the local charge for transporting
freight oyer the line or lines II two
or more companies. This bin. as
amended b. the committee. reduces
the difference between points in the
state Of North Carolina. on two diff
fercnt roads. and the point without the |
state to a point within the State: but
doesn't sufficiently reduce them 10
the merchants in the state toI
be put on an equal footing With the
in towns in other States.
senate bill is. therefore The
"f the two good bills and il j
- " hoped it will be- enacted ii1to Ii
what virtue has the tobacco trust
that it should be excepted?