The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-31
WILMINGTON N. c JANUARY 81, 1908


ceed, the bill is so drafted that this
puts the rate back to 2A cents. No
railway would like that result.
The senate also discussed the rail-
way rate bill, Mr.. Mclean declaring &
the people demanded this compro-
mise because ii was right and just
Senator Graham had said the $4,000
railway employees in the state who
ask the legislature TO raise the rate
to the old figure would vote for the
republican party IL this were not
done. Mr. Mclean said that If this
were true, there would be only two
thousand difference between the dem
ocratlc and republican vote.
The senate passed the bill author
izing the board OF agriculture to sell
the test 1arm in Pennsylvania coun-
~ in order to buy one IN buncOmbe,
deeds for such farms being made in
the name OF the state as the board
Of agriculture cannot hold property
Part OF the Pennsylvania 1arm is
subject to overflow OF the French
DrOaG river.
inc DIu also passed authorizing
LaurlngDurg to issue bonds.
Chairman Graham, OF the railway
oser% le4med by petitions regarding
tAe rate bill. a special committee,
composed Of Messrs. Howard, Goodwin
and Dlcece was named to assist him
in naHuaing these petitions.
Three pills were, by unanimous
consent, introduced in the house, one
by Mr. Wells. to authorize Pender
TO cancel certain bonds, one by MI
4 III
present passenger rate law, and one
by Mr.. Galloway to amend the chick
en- law OF Green county. The house
promptly passed the last named bill
as a compliment to Mr.. Galloway
Bills passed the house incorporat-
ing the Hiwassee Railway and al
lowing Lumberton to issue bonds to
pay floating Indebtedness.
Four more members of the house
have signed the minority rate bill
presented by Mr.. Manning which
now becomes the majority bill, hav-
ing ten Of the seventeen committee
on It's side. 1t is now very plain that
the senate and house will pass differ
ent bills, and there will be a con-
ference of committee TO settle mat
terS.
Night Session of House.
The entire night session of the
house was consumed in discussion
Of the passen ger rate bills, with
probability of not reaching a vote
before Thursday afternoon or Friday
morning, there being several speak
erS yet to be heard The arguments
tonight were made by Judge Win
borne, in explaining his bill; Mr..
Young in advocacy Of his measure
modelled after the senate bill, and
te DoughtOn bill, and by Mr.. Wea-
yer in explanation of and advocating
the majority bill Of the public SER
vice corporations committee. Upon
learning Of the adoption by the SEN
ate Of the Buxton amendment to the
Graham bill, giving the corporation
commission Jurisdiction, many house
members expressed the belief that
the Manning ''stand-pat" bill will be
passed without trouble and little fur
Cher debate in the morning. Others
declare that resolution to adjourn
sine die will be carried, although the
senate is still holding up the prohi-
oition bill.
Several members of the house told
ne they polled that body tonight and
hat Mannings bill will hardly get
sOrty votes. seventy members hay-
ng said they would vote against it.
There are four rate bills before it,
and now the senate bill goes to the |
house but will be referred to it.
Members Of the house declare no
)ill giving the corporation commits |
sion power to fix rates can pass that |
body. One Of the four bills was
lrafted by Speaker Justice. 1t is |
said he will speak tomorrow and |
will support the Manning bill or if |
his fails, will support the Weaver |
)ill
Night Session of Senate.
The senate session was devoted to |
he rate bill with speeches by Man |
ling, Reeves, Webb, Aycock, Odell, |
long and Graham, the latter closing |
he debate. The latter said he did |
lot understand why the legislature |
hould surrender to railways by Civ |
ng control to the corporation COM |
mission at the end of the year. He |
lad fought for railways, now he was |
lighting for the people. Buxton said |
he reason he had introduced the |
leaving the matter with |
he corporation commission after a !
rear was becuSe it WS part of the !
Graham said it had |
)een agreed to omit this feature
rom the compromise, to which BuX- |
on replied the senate could defeat |
lis amendment if it desired. Buxton's |
amendment was adopted 25 to 21. |
amendment by Warren making the
ill effective April 1st next was adop- |
ed almost unanimously, as was one |
~ Graham eXempting for two years |
lfter completion Of newly construct |
ID roads or portions of railways |
which may be newly constructed. |
The bill passed second reading 30 to |
L, those voting for it being Messrs |
Aycock, Ballenger, Blair Buxton, |
Daniel. Davis, Drewry, Efrd, Hicks, |
Fleming, Howard, King, kluttz, Long |