The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-02-28

both houses of the General Assem-
bly,, DIR. w. R. Ferguson, Mr.. w.
B Ferguson, Prof. W. 81. Woodall,
DIR. 81. NJ. McFadgen and Mr.. S.
III. Keller. It is believed that a
majority of the members of the
House committee will vote to re-
port the bill favorably, notwith-
standing Mr.. Boyd's position.
A number of the senators and
representatives are very sensitive
upon the subject of newspaper
criticism and 'rising to a ques-
ton of personal privilege" is a
frequent occurance, OIL account of
reference to them in the Raleigh
papers and some others in various
parts of the State. Their actions
however, do not deter honest news
paper reporters from doing their
duty regardless of consequences.
The News and Observer comes in
for q liberal share of ''privileged'
denunciation, but continues to
stick to the text: "The people
demand and must have a'substan-
tial reduction of passenger rates
and relief that means something
in matters affecting freight traffic
in the State" Certain members
of the House appear to have lost
sight of the fact that their first
action upon arriving in Raleigh
last month, was to make an I'M
warranted and wholly unjustif-
able attack upon the editors of
the State, by the introduction of
bills seeking to deprive them of
the right to contract with trans
~portation companies without re-
strictions prescribed in said bills.
Is it any wonder the newspapers
lost patience with such a proposed
prescription
The passenger rate proposition
is the all-absorbing topic of con-
versation around the capital at
this time, as it has been for sew
eral weeks past. The House of
Representatives passed a bill re-
ducing fares on the big railroads
to two and two and one half cents
per mile, based upon an earning
capacity of $500 per mile and
abolishing second class fares alto
gether. This did not please the
Senate and that body on Friday
adopted the following for the
House bill:
"a bill to be entitled an Act to Es-
t&blish Rates for Passenger Traffic in
the state of North Carolina.
"Section /. That the passenger rates
fixed by the Corporation Commission
be reduced for irst-class fares from
three and one quarter cents to two and
one half cents per mile, and second-class
fares from two and three quarter cents
per mile to two cents.
''Sec. Q. That all railroads carrying
passengers in North Carolina shall issue
interchangeable mileage tickets for
500, 1000, 1,5O0 and 1000 miles to be
used by the purchaser thereof in trans
p~ortation of any person or persons he
may choose to travel on said ticket.
"Sec, 3. That the foregoing sections
shall apply only to those railroads COM
panieS where the passenger earnings
per mil of road exceed 81, 800, and If
not 50 much. then the first class fare
may be three cents, per mile and the
second-class fare two and one-half cents
per mile, but only for those trains
which in operation do not pay 81, 500 of
passenger earnings per mile of road.
"Sec. 4. That all railroads where the
passenger earnings per mile of road do
not exceed $1,000, may charge the rates
now in use.
"Sec. s. That the railroad companies
affected by this act shall put the pas
senger traffic rate herein prescribed in
to on July the first, 1907.
''sec. 6. This act shall take effect from
and after its ratification.
Thn nhouo LII ~