The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-01-12
MESSAGE TO The LEGISLATURE.
Gov. W. ". Fitchin Writes bis Views on
Public Matters. Strong on Pro.
hlbitiOn and Education.

hlbitiOl and Education.
We take the following extracts
from Governor Kitchin'S message to
the legislature from the Raleigh
correspondence to the Norfolk Vir-
ginian-Pilot. The correspondent
says:
FEATURES OF MESSAGE.
The reading of the message of
Governor Kitchin was the over
shadowing feature Of the Genearl
Assembly for this the second day of
the session. 1t deals forcefully with
a great variety Of matters of the
greatest public interest.
AS to antitrust legislation he rec
ommends the enlargement Of the
scope of the present law, making
acts intended to destroy competition
and create monopoly criminal by add
ing certain other sub-sections to
section l Of chapter PIG, acts of 1907,
and says experience suggests the
necessity of amending in other re-
spects to render it more effective.
He fears ill-advised declarations
that the present law is ineffective
have discovered efforts to enforce it..
Yet the law is forceful and enforce
able, but there should be induce
ments provided to directly encourage
prosecution under it. He would
have an amendment that will include
rates and tolls, such as express and
telephone tolls.
He recommends amendments to
sub-sections "g" and ''h" that will
strengthen them in conformity with
the two most important sections of
! the Federal antitrust law. He rec
ommends that the use of coupons in
packages be prohibited; that indie
pendent concerns be given prefer
ence in purchasing supplies for the
State institutions, and that the Gov
ernor be empowered to employ
counsel to aid the solicitors in prose-
cutions under the antitrust Law.
He recommends, too, that 40 per
cent of the fines collected through
any prosecution be paid to the soil
| citor, special counsel and private
prosecutors, in such proportion as
the trial judge may decree. Also the
private prosecutors may recover
$500 per Gay for violations of the
antitrust law, and that any person
Or corporation damaged by trust
methods recover three times actual
damages.
! Concerning water power, he says
many water power plants are becom-
ing the property Of syndicates that
are selling the publec power and
lights. He wants these placed I'M
| der the jurisdiction Of the corpora
ton commission for regulation, as
railroads are.
INVESTIGATE FIRE INSURANCE RATES.
| Treating fire insurance the Gov
ernor recommends that the General
Assembly appoint at once q special
committee with power that is ample
for thoroughly investigating the
question Of rates and insurance com.
binations as applied in this and 9th.
er States to the end that there may
be proper remedial legislation for
evils in this State. He recommends
the prohibition OF any compacts
tending to destroy competition OF
put Or keep up rates or put dowr
and keep down compensation K
agents; that no company be allowac
to do business in this State that does
not pledge to not charge higher
rates in this State than are charged
elsewhere under similar conditions
that the co-insurance clause bt
optional with insurer and that rate.
with and without such clause be fur
nished; that in insuring building :
value be fixed that shall apply il
case Of loss with burden on insurance
company to prove depreciation; that
schedules Of rates be filed by al
companies admitted to do bushes!
in the State; that the insurance com
missioner be given power to revoke
licenses for unfair dealing with the
public, with appeal to the courts.
AS to the railroad mileage he rec
ommends that railroad passenger
fares be made 2 cents where the
2 IL cent rate applies and that there
be proper provision that all railroad
companies whose mileage books will
interchangeable mileage are sold a
the present mileage book rates ant
pulled on the trains as they were
four years ago and for whose coupon
no tickets are required prior to tax
ing the train shall be permitted t.
charge not exceeding the presen