The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-01-23


in said State is one hundred miles OIL
less" The reason for this recon-
mendation is, that the amount of
freight shipped on one of these little
roads from one station on its own line
to another station on its line Is mol
over five or ten per cent of its ship
ments. while from a point on its line
to some point on the line OF another
road its freights would amount 10
from ninety 10 ninety-five per cent
Of its shipments; while the shipments
of the large roads to points on their
own lines is from seventy to eighty
per cent Of their shipments, while
their shipments to points in the State
on other roads would not exceed
twenty or twenty-five per cent, being
a discrimination so largely against
the small roads as to most seriously
affect and injure them, and, there
fore, demands relief
Determinations.
One of the most serious complaints
now existing against railroads is the
determinations made by them against
the cities and towns of North Caro-
lima in favor of like cities and towns
In other States, notably Virginia, by
reason Of which jobbers and whole
sale merchants in Virginia can under
sell the same class of merchants in
North Carolina. The cause of this
is the rate given by the Norfolk and
Western and Chesapeake and Ohio
railroads to Roanoke, Lynchburg and
Richmond, being the same rate given
to Norfolk, Va, on account Of its
water-rate competition. To meet the
rate of the railroads above named,
the Southern, the Coast Line and Sea-
board railroads had to give the same
rate, and so haul freight through
North Carolina to Virginia cities for
less amount than they haul to the
cities of North Carolina; and often
our shippers can better pay the
through freight to the Virginia point,
plus the local rate back to the North
Carolina point, than pay the through
rate in the first instance to the North
Carolina point. This can and should
be corrected. The Corporation Com
mission has now instituted proceed
/ ings before the Interstate Commerce
Commission against the Norfolk ana
Western Railroad for discriminating
in favor Of Lynehburg and Roanoke,
Va, on its line, over Durham and
Winston, N. c., also on its line. There
can be no defense made for this un-
just difference, and we feel assured
that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission will corrct the discrimination
as to these points in North Carolina
When the Norfolk and Western is
thus forced to adjust the rates for
these two cities in North Carolina
competition will compel the other
railroad systems to give the same rat+
to these points, and then they will be
compelled to give them to other North
Carolina cities, else there will be dis
elimination between points in NortE
Carolina, which is forbidden by law
Hence, we confidently believe thai
|
ly correct any unjust discrimination
against North Carolina shippers, job
bers and merchants. This being ar
interstate question, it can only be
reached through the Interstate Com
merce Commission; and, in order thai
these suits may be successfully push
ed to an early hearing and termina
tion. I respectfully ask that a sun
not exceeding $4,000 be appropriated
for carrying on an investigation
fraught with SO much benefit to oul
people. At the last session a bill max
ing this appropriation passed one
house and two readings in the other
| but in some way failed to become Z
| law.
Other Important Matters.
When I called the extra session
with the advice of the Council o.
State, only one object was considered
and that was the rate question. 9th
er purposes, however, than thos'
which I convened you to consider vii
doubtless be brought before you; ant
#, n your wisdom and after the mos
mature and wise declaration, you de
eide to enact other legislation thar
that embraced in my call, there ar,
two matters, imperative in their ma
ture, to which | would most respect
fully call your attention
Better Court Facilities.
, There is a defect in the present ju
dicial system of the State. If Judg
is sick Or detained from his courts b.
unavoidable accident, there is no pro
vision to remedy this omission, un
less some other Judge can find tim
from his own courts to ride the ell
, cult of the sick Or absent Judge. Thi
could easily be remidied by establish
ing two small additional districts
} consisting of county each, so tha
the Judges riding these small district
could, when not engaged with thei
courts, hold special terms and tax
: the place of the sick Judges. TIL
Ninth Judicial District lost its entir
circuit this fall by the serious Hines
Of the Judge, thereby causing a los
of thousands of dollars AMI leavin
t persons in Jail who were entitled t
T speedy trial Such instances hav
e happened before and will happe
{: again, and, therefore, should be rem
l edied.