The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-02-06

The Si7.soo Was intended to Share
Expenses Of the legisIssure--LstserI
From Gov. Glenn to the President Of
the Atlantic Coast Line.
When the extra session Of the leg
stature was called Gov. Glenn was
quoted by the State press "a saying
that the railroads had agreed to pay
SIT, 500 toward the expense OF con-
veuing the legislature in extra ses-
sion and Court costs. Several Of the
papers Of the State said that the
State should not accept the ST., 800
from the railroads when the legisla-
ture was meeting for the purpose Of
deciding question In which the
railroads were greatly interested.
After much criticism of this feature
of the proposed compromise, 1t was
stated In the News and Observer.
and afterwards by the Governor In
q message to the legislature, that the
$17,500 exacted from the railroads
was to pay the cost Of the rate cases
In the Court. All might have gone
we'll but for the fact that letter of
the Governor to the President of the
Atlantic Coast Line has come to
light. The original letter has not
been seen by the writer, but it has
been published in the Charlotte OBJ
server and Daily News. and we take
it for granted 1t Is authentic. This
letter, it would seem, shows that the
Governor originally intended that
the $17,5OO to be contributed by
the railroads was to help pay the
expenses of the extra session of the
legislature, which was to sit in judg-
ment on the case of the railroads
The letter of the Governor to the
President of the Coast Line is as
follows:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Executive Department,
Raleigh, December 20, 1907.
Mr.. T. M. Emerson, President At
lantic Coast Line, Wilmington,
n. G.
My Dear Sir The following
terms submitted by me in order to
settle the railroad difference in North
Can DINA have been agreed upon by
the Southern Railway and the State,
subject, of course, to the approval of
the legislature, and I herewith ask
your opinion in regard to it and ask
you to definitely state in writing
whether your road will abide by the
terms as I desire; if you do. ia
call the legislature together at once
[ am to recommend to the legisla-
ture an increase of the present flat
rate of 24 to % cents also the re-
peal of the old law of 1907, doing
away with the penalty suits and in
dictments heretofore incurred also
to recommend that if, after rea =
sonable trial, the rate is found con-
fiscatory the Corporation Commits
sion be given power to regulate the
rates, in no case to be more thar
2 8. 4 cents. =
The railroads on their part agree
to give an interstate rate of 81 cents
making the inter and intrastate rate
uniform; mileage book Of 2,00(
miles, for firms and employees not
Exceeding five persons, inter and
intrastate' inter changeahle books mo-
used redeemable in a year on 2!
basis 1000 mileage books for indi
viduals, 2 cents, inter aud intrastate
interchangeable; 500 mileage books
at 24e ents. intrastate, not inter
changeable. These mileage books
to be interchangeable amongst the
solvent railroads of the State; the
names of the family and Of men,
bers of firm to be entered on book
at the time of purchase.
The railroads to pay an amount
not exceeding $17,5OO, this caused
by the fact that the legislature OF
North Carolina has to be called to.
gether. Heretofore l have lput il
on the basis of Court cost, but this
is not entirely reasonable, IS all gel
the benefit and should pay theil
proportionate part, though the roads
having the most litigation, I pre-
I sumo, would pay the larger portion
but this is a matter for the roads
and not for the State. I want q
definite answer to this proposition
at once.
I believe it is best for the rail-
roads and best for the State; it set
ties this vexed question, I hope, fol
years to come, and will bring har
mony.
1 also respectfully request that il
you accede to this fact that you will
take no further action in regard tt
suits now pending of the railroads
! against the Corporation Com mission
| Asking an immediate reply, am
Very respectfully yours,
r B. GLENN,
Governor.
The papers that have misquoted
A q