The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24

to decide.
In order that In the future both the
state and the railroads should know
their respective legal rights I'm deal
ing with each other, and believing tnat
the Minnesota case and the haOeas
corpus case from Asheville now pend
ns. In the supreme court OF the United
States would definitely settle and define
the respective rights OF all parties. IL
vas agreed that, even IL your honor
able body accepted and approved the
agreement, the case In the supreme
court should not be affected thereby,
but should proceed to final judgment
OTHER STATES AGREE.
The states of South Carolina, Geor-
gia. Alabama and Tennessee. and prob
ably Virginia, have agreed to the same
terms offered by North Carolina, thus
giving a uniform rate and mileage
books ovr the entire south.
I have given this matter a most care
full investigation, tried To protect ID
every way the rights Of the state. ana
settlement reached is both just ana
equitable to the state and the railroads
I have had the advice and assistance
o. some of the states truest, abtest and
best men. However. | discharge ny
duty by obeying the constitution and
jaying the matter before you, as you
alone can enact laws | think 1t wise
to settle the matter. | believe the
terms are fair to all, and therefore,
ask YOU, the lawmakers OF the state.
if consistent with your sense Of right
and duty, TO approve what has been
done.
RATE FIXED NOT CONFISCATORY.
The rate fixed by your body at its
last session, in my judgment, though
less than the amount recommended IN
my message, was not confscatory, but
was just and based OD the reports or
the railroads themselves, and. there
fore, vas in no sense wrong; and. II
the railroads had given the rate falr
test, without having made the people
hostile to them, | firmly believe, as
shown by the evidence taken in the
pending equity suit, that said rate
would not only have proved both
equitable and remunerative, but in ex-
cess of previous earnings. But times
have changed since you last met, and
all business has suffered by the stric-
ture in the money market. DlsclCs-
ures made in the financial world show
ed fraud and corruption, gambling in
the stock market, the withdrawal OF
money from circulation, thus bringing
about unrest and distrust, together
with many other causes. which have
seriously affected all securities, max
ing stock values decrease and credit
hard to obtain, until, not account Of
the little reduction CT fares t. II
cents, but for the reasons above stated
and many others, railroads, like in
dividuals and other corporations, have
been crippled in their operations, have
had in many ways to curtail their ex-
penses, cannot borrow money to carry
Oh their business, aud, therefore, need
all legitimate help that can be given
them, not inconsistent with the rights
of the people and the state. They
claim that, IF all matters Of difference
between them and the various states
can be adjusted confidence will be re
stored, their securities more easily
placed, and they be enabled &c con-
tue their contemplated improvements.
No one but a demagogue would de-
sire to injure railroads simply because
it. can be DONE but should only wish
tC require them to leal justly with the
people; and now that the railroads
state and come forward, agreeing to
terms alike fair to the state and them
selves, it behooves the state. through
its lawmakers, to meet them in the
same spirit of equity and do all it can
to aid them, provided in no way de-
stroys the rights Of the people.
Again, | trust you will solve this
complex question by approving the
terms agreed upon, thus restoring
peace and harmony and putting all
OF our beloved state.
FREIGHT RATES.
In regard to freight rates. I sug-
gest one amendment to section 1,
chapter PIT, Laws of 1907, by adding
at the end of said section these words:
Provided, further, that this act
shall not apply to independently own
ed and operated railroad companies
in North Carolina whose mileage of
road in said state is one hundred
miles or less" The reason for this
recommendation is, that the amount
of freight shipped on one of these
little roads from one section on it's
own line to another station on it's
line il not over five or ten per cent
OF its shipments, While from a point
on the same line Of another road it's
ireights would amount to from ninety