The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-07-26
RAILWAY RATE LITIGATION.


The present excitement La North
Carolina, not over the conflict OF laws,
but over the conflict Of judges and
lawyers about the railway rate ques-
tion. will in due. time subside TO q
calm and dignified consideration OF the
real merits OF the controversy.
Hysteria will give place to sozer rss-
son.
II the railroads are wrong and op
pressive there are enough able men
assalling them TO show up their mis-
deeds and to vindicate the rights OF
the people. With the array that the
president has behind him the rail-
roads seem to have no help but III,
law.
Those same statesmen who were
once happy in the smile of the rail-
road magnates now pass them in theil
adversely with averted faces.
The T1mes-DispatCh never believed
in railroad politics O in railroad poll
ticians and has deplored long and
deeply the evils which the Wretched
combination brought on the common
wealth, but it is interesting to see how
quickly those who lately hailed hos
annas can now call for crucifix-
ion.
1T should not be forgotten that the
political misdeeds of railroads were not
done u approved by the ZEAL owners
OF the railroads, but by their ambitious
y too often unscruplOuS officers and
servants.
1t is doubtful if railroad politics
were ever brought before a board of
directors, and certainly not before q
a meeting of stockholders. When 1t
comes, however, to the infiictiOn OF
punishment the blows fall Oh those
who now have no defense but consti-
tutiOnal right. and no helpers but wise
and upright judges
The case now is that the directors of
certain railroads, and Indirectly the
stockholders, are informed and b.
lieve that the proposed rates will De
very injurious to their interests. will
simply be taking money to which they
are fairly and honestly entitled, and
using it for distribution among he
public VINO may be travellers by rail,
and that the rates are. in short, unjust
and unconstitutional.
In the light Of this information the
directors and stockholders desire their
rights protected, and they ask the
courts TO prevent the c~OnfiscatiOn Of
their property for public uses without
adequate compensation.
That seems to be the whole story in
a nutshell.
NO farmer o. manufacturer WOuid
want to have his property apprcpriat-
ed for the good Of the public generally
without proper compensation. It it
were attempted he would ask the
courts to stop h proceedings. That
IS all that the people who hare put
their property into railroads are now
asking.
The courts will by due process OF
law find the facts in the a and if
the railroads have been allowed all
they are entitled to their case will be
dismissed.
If, however, upon a full and impair
tlal hearing-with no politics in the
case-the courts determine the rail-
roads have been oppressed, their rights
will be protected and indicated.
hi is a country of government by
law, and by that test the questions
OF right must at last be settled unless
we2are to have a revolution and civil
violence.
1t is a plain tact that unless the rail-
roads, knowing their rights, are pre-
pared to defend them lawfully the pub
lie, led by ambitious politicians, will
surely not protect them.-Richmond
Times-Dispatch
CARRIE NATION IN DURHAM