The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-17
WILMINGTON. n. G.
THAT RAILROAD PROMISE TO PAY

The Messenger has already made re- :
ference to the adverse criticisms OF
some of the papers of this state en- |
that clause of the compromise agree |
ment between the governor and the |
railroads which provides that the rail- |
roads shall pay part Of the cost of the |
extra Session. What the state papers
have had to say has been mild in COM
parison with the censure Of the gover-
nor by the Times-Dispatch, Of Rich |
mond. In Mondays issue of that paper
we find the following article on this
subject:
Admission by Governor Glenn, Of
North Carolina, that the railroads had
agreed to pay SIT, 500 toward Nquidat-
ing the expense of convening IN extra
session of the legislature is regarded
here as the most astounding and un-
usual proposition on record. Though
not disposedto criticize the affair, Vir-
ginia officials and lawmakers quietly
admit that by whatever name it may
be called, this subsidy is nothing more
or less than bribery.
In some quarters 1t was suggested
that after the general assembly mee-s
it will refuse. EY resolution, to permit
the transportation companies to pay
the bills, inaSmuch as it would desire
to be free and untrammeled in the
consideration Of measures directly af-
fecting the railroad companies. The
refusal Of the Atlantic Coast Line
to accept the Governors compromise
[1a1 hnS
ern railway and the Seaboard Air
Line lear the cost The fact, however,
that the Seahoard is in the hands or
receivers and that all claims against
it of this unusual character must be
approved by the United States court
may possibly lead TO a tangle, even II
the legislature should quietly ac-
uuiesce and accept money from these
corporations which the state itself
should pay.
Primarily, the roads would gain
more than they would lose. provided
the legislature increases the passen-
ger rate from "a to % cents, with
some modification in the freight laws
although there would be fne kettle
Of fish il the old rate should stanu'
after the railroads had paid part OF
the most of an extra session. :,
The rate fight in North Carolina
within the past six months abIrdcteu
widespread attention. and now tnat
tba state is to amend the law so that
49, roods NAV not be subjected TO
further financial loss and more Ulre
c,nsenuences the statement that they
nnst nav for the relief comes as q
climax to q long series OF sensatlons'
We hope the first thing the leglsla-
+,,re does after organizing will be TO
adopt a. joint resolution repudiatlhs
the agreement that the railroads sha'l
help defray the expenses Of the session
which Is called to relieve them OIL
what is admitted by the governor III
the fact of his calling the extra session
for the purpose declared by him, to oe
ar unjust burden.
To accept this money from the rail-
roads in the circumst ances would put
a stigma on the state and would cer-
tainly give some persons excuse LOT
charging that in granting relief to the
roads the legislature was influenced
bv the fact that tre state had been
paid SO much money by the railroads
for passing the relief measure.
Surely if the legislature should re-
fuse to grant the railroads any relief
from the provisions OF the act of the
session of 1907 the railroads would not
be expected TO assist the state in de-
fraying the expenses Of the extra ses-
sion. Then if the desired relief is
granted and the bene1ciaries help pay
the cost of the session granting that
relief. won't it place the state and
those representating her who granted
that relief and accepted the payment
from the railroads in very awkward
position?
We think the press of the state
should enter such a vigorous protest
against that clause Of the compromise
agreement that the governor will be
forced to withdraw it The people do
ItOL "dHC d1y luluS 'hsLI AeAS 1Ao '7AASAAI
est smell of official bribery Of their
legislature.
1t strikes us that The Times-Dispatch
has made a good point as to what
roads are to pay the sum agreed upon.
The Coast Line canEoL be expected to
pay part of it for it has not agreed to
the terms of the compromise. The
Seaboard, as the Richmond paper says,
being now in the nands of receivers,
such payment by it must first be ap-
proved by the court appointing the
receivers, and we very much doubt if
,nnroroI of ouch povnout eouId hn