The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-08
PROHIBITION AND RAILROADS
Two Matters Or Which Legislators
g. Should Go Sloy in Regulating.

AS
Should Go Sloy in Regulating.
Lobelia, N. c., Nov 2.
Editor Messenger:
1t has been quite "a while sinve I
have written anything for publication,
| but with your permission. I wish to
again express some opinions worthless
| though they may be in regard to our
| state laws, which have more or less
recently been enacted by the topples
| representatives. -hS . - ~
A few years ago, we had enacted
laws f%orbidding the manufacture Of
| sale of intoxicating beverages With,
the state, except in a few localities,
| and those under rigid and complicated
! restrictions. which filled the country
with law breakers, causing CONSUMERS
to purchase supplies outside the stGte.
at an Increased. cost, which money does
not return .eEirtually cOnfscatiug much
property and business, for which the
| owners got no compensatory 'nJt in
stead got increased taxation on other
! property in the effort toHmabe. end,
/ meet. s#' , '!F .
i II the evils of the aTfuE hahit had
been cured, or even materitg@ lessen
ed, the country would have'been tina:
much better off, but JthGse1 evils, are
still with us, with an amy of'OficGrs
! all over the country maintained At
the expense Of the public, claiming TO
the busy all the time trying to sup
press, the trafFc, which q TRAY say. l.
continually iporeasing.' 80 49,
Costly though .oas the prohibition
laws have been, and still are, to the
! people Of North CarJ1ina. their ef-
feets will look Small beside the dc
struztiOn OF our transportation .lacil-
ties, when the railroads becone .rcEi-,
lated out Of existence.
If rat law be Enforced and prove run-
ious as the managers claim, there is
nothing left but for them. to 60 out
Of business. ''s''
That legislation. was needed. 10 cause
railroad companies to provide moi
prompt and reliable service WIS, gen
orally admitted, but to expect such i'm
provement to come from a, reduction Of
earnings, was indeed q strange
idea. " ~
There has been some prosperity in
portions of the state within the past
few years, confined mostly TO tho tim.
Der business, whose products have .had.
the benefit of a rising market price,
Notwithstanding freight charges, but +
We stop. the roads, from hauling VI
may, all arrange to stop our other pur-
... 500
Thinking people all over the country
are, asking what other business viii
feel the heavy hand es tie Law:
but further inquiry is hardly necessary
since a lack OF, transportAtiqn. Will
KNOCK them out anyway 4a.,
PERHAPS the Destruction Of ElsjncS;
N CUR state with, the consequent abaR-
aInm4ent Of cur homes, may give tne
's5feSss, opportunities TO grow up again,
game and wild animals. 9. cilan3c@?
4 1IihnSGrease 10 their normal cQrditfcIs.
which may be e 5eAeit to some e. !
-ure generation Of men. but fuF the
resent the -p~resPeet-&s. not very ln2i
investigations, hearipgsrs6c,s tse9fn
Q reveal: much rodenness among some
leAspapaEs~aaA+- politicians. brtg YER!
little Of aHsSue eathe genera: ! Dnt,-.l
1c:11>t. ~. d. rt2r* 7
oEnergetic eSeftion, is no. like to
the result Of the states government
20llcy Of fhe, last few years. but per-
thap politicians eanIsee.the slight
lheah:P ifaso, an anxie'is ipuDfc Voudftf |
sladly know which way and #lssre. !. 81
- ~ = Respectfully -,
Lex Ea4sl