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

In favor OF like cities and towns, in
other states, notably Virginia, by reas-
on of which jobbers and wholesale
merchants in Virginia can undersell
the same class OF merchants in North
Carolina The cause CT this ls the
rate given by the Norfolk and Western
and Chesapeake and Chic :a'l-cads =
Roanoke. Lyrchbburg and Richmond.
being the same rate given to N>lfDik.
Va, on account OF irs wafer CO -pei-
ton. To meet the rate IF he T-!l-
roads above named, the South SRI. the
Coast Line and Seaboard railroads bad
to give tie same rate, and SO haul
freight through North Carolina to
Virginia cities for less amount than
they haul IL TO the cities OF North
Carolina: and often our shippers can
better pay the through rate to the
Virginia point. plus the local rate
back TO the North Carolina pont han
pay the through rate in the fist in
stance to te North Carolina point.
This can and should b. correcte'. The
corporation commission mas n1T in
stitutea proceedings before the inter
state commerce commission against
the Norfolk and Weste :; Tai..oAG rc-
discriminating in favor = ra5 -rg !
Durham and Winston. X. z. also r
its lire There csn be no .efense
made for this unjust fTe -,o, a.1
we feel assured Thar he .nterst q e
commerce commission Will orr CT the
discrimination as TO these p,ints In
North Carolina When the Norfolk
and Western is thus forced to 2djcs.
the rates for these two cities in No; tn
Carolina, competition will compel the
other railroad systems to give the
same rate to these points, and then
they will be compelled to give hem
to other North Carolina c.ti es,
there will De discrimination hc'wee /
points in North CVaro!ina, wh:ch s
forbidden by law Hence, W. conf
IDENTIFY believe that this suit and sirIi
lar ones will entirely correct any un-
just discrimination against Nor h
Carolina shippers, jobhers ard mor-
chants This being an i7'e~sta.e cues
tiOn, It can Cnly be reached through
the interstate commerce comm S3ior ::
and, in order that -fTese sQis ~1ay G
successfully pushed 20 an cary le2ri- 2
and termination, ! respectfully ask
that q sum not exceeding $4,000 be
appropriated for carrying on an in
vestifatiOn fraught with SO much bene-
fit to our people At the last session
bill making this appropriation passed
one house and two readings in the
other, but in some way failed to be-
come a law
OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS
When | called the extra session,
with the advice of the council of state,
only one object was considered, and
that was the rate question Other
purposes, however, than those which
L convened you to consider will doubt
less be brought before you- and If, in
your wisdom and after the most ma
ture and wise deliberaton you decide
to enact other legislation than that
embraced in my call, there are two
| matters, imperative in their nature. to
which [ would most respectfully call
your attention.
BETTER COURT FACILITIES.
There is defect in the present Judi
c1al system Of the state. If a Judge is
sick or detained from his courts bv un-
| avoldable accident there is NO Droyis-
lon to remedy this omission. unless
so:2e other judge can find time from
dis own courts to ride the circuit of the
SICK or absent judge This could cas-
liy be remedied by establishing two
small additional districts, CONSISTING Of
county each, SO that the Judges rid.
Ing these small districts could. when
bot engaged with their courts hold
special terms and take the place of the
SICK Judges. The ninth judicial die
trlct lost its entire circuit this fall by
tne serious illness of the pudge. there
Oy causing loss of thousands of dol
lars and leaving persons in iail who
were entitled to speedy trial. Such
instances have happened befor. and
VIII happen again, and. therefore
Should be remedied.
PROHIBITION