The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-01-30
WILL the GOVERNOR REFUSED

When it was first announced that
Governor Glenn had called special
session of the legislature to consider
Q new rate bill all the daily papers
quoted the Governor, over his name,
% saying that the railroads had
agreed to pay $17,5O0 toward the
expense of calling the legislature
and Court costs. Many Of the pa
pers Of the State criticized the Gov
ernor for agreeing to accept money
from the railroads to amend law
In their favor. One Democratic
member said it looked as though the
railroads were buying the kind Of
rate legislation they wanted.
After much adverse criticism Of the
Governors action, another state
ment was published to the effect
that none of the ST., 500, which the
railroads had agreed to pay, was to
70 towards defraying the expenses
Of the extra session Of the legisla-
ture, but that 1t was to pay Court
costs.
These conflicting statements caused
: the Wilmington Messenger to sit up
and take notice, and incidentally
ask some very pertinent questions.
, The article from the Messenger is
very timely, and for that reason we
give 1t here 1t in full:
because of conflicting statements
which have been made as to the
: terms of that clause of the compro-
mise agreement between the Gov
srhor and certain of the railroads OF
the State in reference to the pro-
posed payment by the railroads to
the State of the sum of ST., 800, we
suggest to the legislature, if we may
be pardoned for such boldness, that
that body, in order to settle the dis
pute beyond all controversy, adopt q
Joint resolution calling on the Gov.
ernor for the correspondence in full
between the Governor and the States
Attorneys in the rate case on the
one hand and Of all the attorneys
and the railroad officials on the
other. Let the Governor be asked
TO lay before the legislature all let
ters he or the States attorneys have
written on the subject to the rail
way officials or attorneys and the
replies that have been received. The
making public of this corresponds
ence would clear away the doubt al
to what the proposition was which
was originally made, subsequently
modified and finally adopted. W.
do not suppose the Governor or any
one Of the railroad officials would
object to such correspondence being
made public as it was all carried or
In the interest of the State.
We are rather surprised that the
Governor, considering the recent de-
velopments and the apparent misun
: derstanding of his attitude regard
ing the intended use of this money
to be paid by the railroads, has moi
rendered to the legislature and
through it, to the people of thu
State, q full statement of what &C
tually occurred between him and bil
attorneys on the one side and thu
railway officials on the other in thu
way of q full publication of all thu
correspondence.
As the Governor has not seen Fl
to turn on the light as to this mat
ter we think it is due to the people
that the legislature request him t.
make the revelation. Surely, tina
the Governor has not done this al
ready has been an oversight on hi
part, and now that his attention ha!
been called to the matter he will
not hesitate to give his people TIT
desired information. He could no
object to such resolution. Even i
he does object it is light the peo-
pie have to demand of him. Viii
he refuse ?"
Whether the Governor will maxi
the agreement between himself ant
the railroads public, we are unabl
TO say. But 1t has been the custom
Of Democrats officials to keep sucl
matters hidden from the public. Fo
what reason we cannot say. It ma.
be that they think it is not publ
business, Notwithstanding that tn
taxpayers foot the bills, or it may b
that they fear severe criticism If tn
public should learn of their secre
agreements.
We remember that in the case o
the Investigation Of the Democrat
management of the Atlantic an,
North Carolina Railroad that tn
hearing was behind closed doors ant
the result Of that hearing has neve
been made public, Notwithstanding
that the taxpayers footed the bill
EuYkhernore. the renOrt Ia now miss