The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-25
WOULD EXTEND
lis 0PE RAT ION
Bill in North Carolina Legisla-
sture to Continue Effectiveness
Y of Grandfather Clause.
FINLEY ADDRESSES ASSEMBLY
FINLEY ADDRESSES ASSEMBLY
President of Southern System
Says Passenger Rate Cannot
Be Lower Than 3 Cents.

81. Especial to The Times Dispa,ch.>
RALEIGH, n. c., January 24.-ln
the lower House OF the General AS
sembly to-day Winborne, one of the
Democratic leaders on the floor. in
troduced a bill to amend the State Con-
stitution so that the famous Grand
father Clause regarding the franchise
will be effective until 1915 instead of
1908. the purpose being to make 1t pos
sible for white men whose grand
fathers voted before them TO exercise
the franchise, whether they have the
educational qualifications or not
Members of the House had lengthy
and spirited discussion of the bill by
Speaker Justice enlnrging the powers
OF the Attorney General so that he can
control trusts. making solicitors OF the
State assistants 10 the Attorney-Gen-
eral and putting them on salaries In
stead of fees. The bill passed the sec
ond reading, but on objection OF Dowd,
OF Charlotte, the third reading was de-
ferred until tomorrow.
To Define Trusts.
The feature of the day in the Senate
was the Introduction ny Holt, of Gull
ford of bill to define trusts and pun
ish those responsible for their opera
ton in North Carolina by empowering
the Attorney General to prosecute.
Corporations guilty forfeit their right to
do business In the State, and any cor
poration which puts down prices to de-
stroy competition can never raise the
price again on penalty Of fine of $4,000
70 100000.
3, The Senate passed Senator Buxton's
bill to prevent usury or extortion by
loan sharks, who lend small sums at
high rates of interest.
This afternoon the Senate Committee on
Railroads and the House Committee on
Public Service Corporations began the
hearing of railroad officials regarding bills
pending for the reduction of passenger
md freight rates and general regulation
Of railroads. President Finley, of the
Southern Railway Company. spoke for
two hours. during which MANY questions
were asked. most of them by Speaker JUS
aice of the House, with view to bring
Ahg out discussion OF matters proposed to
Be legislated on in bills introduced by
Mr. Justice. President Finley in the
course of his talk. said his company would
agree to n reduction of the passenger
rates In the State to three cents. but that
two and one-half and two cents. as pro-
posed would be disastrous to the business
OF the company. He expressed a desire
to cooperate In every way with the
LEGISLATURE in their efforts to reach just
conclusions.
Mr. Ryan of the Seaboard Air Line,
spoke fer an hour, and will conclude to-
morrow afternoon. He presented the view
Salat his company is now operating at n
loss, and reductions WERE so to speak,
tout of the question: He mentioned
several reasons, including the Raleigh
Weldon Shoody and the Hamlet Whining
ton train as being operated at great loss.
purely for the accommodation of the sec
'tions and in hope of developing the sec
tons for future profit
Revising Revenue Acts.
The legislative committees Senate
and House, began joint sessions this
morning for their work of revising
51ie revenue and machinery acts. And
sWhile plans are not by any means ma
:terialized as to the changes it is be-
lieved that there will be very many of
them. number of the towns IN the
State have been urging that there be
radical changes in the matter of priv
ilese taxes, insistence being made that
these taxes should go to the town
treasures instead of the county and
state. However. the best informed
members of the committee say that
this demand can hardly be granted,
ewing to constitutional requirement
that these 20 TO the State and coun
ty. The co'Griittes will hold daily ses-
sions fcP -th- next three weeks
longer.
At the 'lneeting of the State Geolog-
icel Board in the Governors office to-
day, the work for the next year was
mapped out, including special atten-
ton to road Improvement. forestry,
artesian water supply, topography and
improving the oyster and fish indus
try. The board will try to secure
legislation for the creation OF n State
highway commission. also Stat!
forester. The members of the board
are Hugh McRae. of Wilmington: Frank
Hewitt. of Asheville; Frank Wood OF
Edenton; II. Z. Fries of Winston
Salon
There was opened to-day In Raleigh
central recruiting station for the
United States Army. the purpose being
to have sixteen auxiliary stations in
various parts of the State, notably a.
Wilmington. Henderson and Greens.
boro. The work will be in charge Of
Captain T., T. Winston. of the United
States Array
The Public Service Corporations Com
mittee OF the lower House OF the Cen
eral Assembly has decided to take fnal
action as to the Manning bill requiring
telephone companies to maintain joint
stations for the transmission of local
and long distance messages until next
Monday night. when Mr.. Manning will
be present to defend the bill against
the arguments in opposition by repre-
sentati"es OF the telephone companies.
practically all of whom contend that
the proposition is impractical
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6 Another kind of contributory negligence
NJ