The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-11-05


ropean countries paid thena tribute
instead or driving tecn from. the s2A~
when somebody in Congress coltl-
pia!red a, the cost 0. sappresairE the
Iaw!ess men who endangered COM
merce, IL va. a South C~arciirien--i-
our recollection is not aznsss-who Ut
tered the famous express. =. "Fiislt'ns
for defense. but not one cent tor tFto-
ute"
For years. based upon their own
sworn reports. the southern l;afi"-E
has been Ieyytng trttu.e - 1Fe- tffse
hundred thousand dollars
apon North Carolina in ,xcess OF itIr
and reasonable freight ani passenger
charges. The last Legislature, II re-
Spouse to the demand # TIE bc@bte,
declared that hereafte- only reason
able charges should be collected ana
the annual 100000 charTe f3r IT'D
ute should no longer be collected cur
of the people Of this state. The men
who had been collecting tho tr9Gte
money-some Of which went = SUB
sidize neuspa pe.s. employ ana
hire lobbyists 70 make public santl-
ment in favor Of continuing the RIB
ute on the people-natu-at.y were I'M
willing to stop collecting I. IheV
therefore. became ~violators Of the law
and sought TO continue the COLLECTION.
They would have succeeded but Tor a
brave Judge and a brave Governor
who wee true to their oaths n met
defiance of law with high resolve 70
punish such defiance. The judge a"d
Governor, backed by a righteous and
resolute sound public sentiment. COM
PEELED observance of the law. but ne
law defying railroads are trylng 70
defeat the just statute under the form
of Federal law, contrary to the orderly
methods of procedure. IN pursuance
OF this policy they are suppressirs ne
necessary testimony and shutting taelr
books from proper examination IN the
desire to get the case before the Su-
preme Court with vital and important
facts depressed.
Shall the State surrender and let
great corporations defy the laws at
will? Shall it continue to pay this
three hundred thousand dollars an
nual tribute? Or shall it employ
al lie counsel to uphold the right of the
State to legislate and have its laws r.
spectedo
These were the questions that the
State had to answer. The Governor
employed Ex-Governor Aycock and
Speaker Justice to represent the State
in al litigation and the Corporation
Commission engaged other eminent
counsel to represent the State in
the rate reduction and together
they have worked with Fidelity
and ability all summer to properly pre-
sent the States contention. They We're
not asked or expected to do this at
their own expense or Without COM
p~ensation. The time had come
the state declared that it would no
longer pay his tribute (part of which
was used to defeat the right of the
State to legislate and %cOntroD and the
defiance of the Southern and Atlantic
Coast Line made a fight in the courts
unless the State was ready
to make an abject surrender and wear
the collar of the powerful railroads.
IN effect the state said: eve have
TOT ueIeHSe, out not one cent
tribute"-"the people of North
Carolina are ready to employ able law
yers and all necessary expenses to up
hold the honor and right Of the State
to regulate public service orpora-
Nc complaint vas heard from
any quarter against the necessary ex-
perditure of public money for this
Nv ary man or MA nor that oh
jected to the annual levy of $4,000
money. SO far 10 word of crit
icism has been heard Of the expense
except from those who opposed the
rate reduction. If they could remain
quiet while the Southern Railway took
$500, 900 yearly (by their own adnnis
sion), from the people Of North
than reasonable rates would
they had no objection to that
steady drain, why are they SO active
in opposing the expenditure Of a
drain?
If any nan or paper that favored
the rate reduction has any objection
to the expense account Of any lawyer,
or thinks it too much, he Will be doing
4 public service to point it out, but the
of subsidized railraad or
Radical newspapers seeking 10
make political capital and kickers Will
not be seriosuly regarded. The Cor1or-
alton Commission and the Governor
may be trusted to see that the fees
OF the attorneys are not too large ana
high character of the gentlemen
fighting the battle is guarantee that
expense charges are correct.
Those who wish the STATE 10 lie SOW
ereign are glad to pay their share of
necessary amount 10 ampIns abie
counsel. to defend the States right to
govern. So far no objection has come
any advocate of i rate rsduc-
ton. and most Of it has come f~om a
well known subsidized ral1c@lI organ
and a m~endacious Radical paper tina
IS seeking to make political capital
and at the same time earn the frien J.
Of the southern EtaiiW;.y, il in
deed, it is not already in the enjoy
-1-+ - -..zA 49, 49,.