The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-27
BILL OF LADlNG REPORT.
June Il, 1911.

4 VI hEk olAI.
The committee on the uniform
bills Of lading act Of the North car
DINA Bankers Association made tht
loitoWlng Ieport at the annual CON
Nention at Kanuga Lake:
To the North Carolina Bankers AS
sociaticn, in convention at kanuga
Lake.
Gentlemen:
Your committee on the uniform
biils-Of-lading act begs leave to re
port that q bill ~embodying this act
was presented to the General AS
sembly of 1911 and its passage urge
in every proper way. Introduced IL
the House by Representative George
w. Common, il was referred to the
judiciary committee and, after a fui
n free discussion at two or more
sittings of the committee, the pub
lie carriers being represented, {
unanimous favorable report was give.
the bill ana 1t passed its seconc
reading. Pending the vote on X:
third reading, the railroad lobby
e~ncompassed it's defeat, by method:
which to it's friends were question
able, and to the disinteTested, bu'
We!l-informed, amusing, if not ques-
tionable.
Hi1S II III a Ft1iu1IS III bi>
House it was introduced in h Sen
ate by Senator L.. V. Bassett, and
after a patient hearing by the judi
ciary committee, was ~favOrably re
ported. It's defeat, however, in tn
House brought an end TO its further
consideration in the Senate
The history of this measure Wa
set forth by your committee in it!
report last year. It did not originate
With the bankers, but was prepared
after years Of investigation and dis
cussion by the commission on uni
form State laws. IT is not being ad
vocated primarily for the benefit o
the banks. but for the benefit OF tn
shippers; its provisions are in tn
main based upon the decisions OF on
highest courts, and its enactmen
would prove of great help to laSmen
as we'll as lawyers, as it would setti
what is now Il most complex matte
the law governing bills-of-ladins
Best of all, it would hold the publ
carriers liable for their bills-of-ladin
when in the hands of innocent pur
chaserS.
The measure having been espouse
BY the association and its merit
being urged throughout the country
it would be a great mistake to aban
don the field at this stage of tn
fight. Let its enactment continue t
be urged until the people wake III
to the advantages to be derived there
from.
AS stated by your committee in it
last report. the bill was pCffecte'
and approved by the commission OF
uniform State laws in the fall O
1909, and already it has become LAY
in the following States: iowa, Ill
nois. MARYLAND. Massachusetts, Mich
igan, New York, Pennsylvania an
Ohio.
The determined opposition TO it b.
the public carriers has held 1t up /
several States. and the unfair meth
DDS resorted to in working Us defea
in North Carolina has set ai1oat Sc
we're but just criticism or certal
railroads in the State. On this &c
count it is but fair to state mat a
least one of the leading roads of tn
state. the Atlantic COas Line
through one Of its general committee
TO representatives OF GU
committee during II session Of tn
Legislature that. While the act Woul
increase the burdens Of the publl
carriers, he regarded its provision
of great importance to the hippe
that the railroads were treated Wit
reasonable fairness ana mat thef
would be no opposition from his PEG
ple: and it is prOper to record tina
the committee is OF the opinion ina
this road kept faith with the adVo
Gates Of the bill.
Your committee makes it's acknoWl
6gements to the members of tn
General bly, mentioned in tn
report for their active interest, an
10 the other able lawyers composin
the committees named for the cou1
teous and patient attention accorde
in the several presentations of tn
subject, Mr.. W. A. Hunt, secretat
of the association, rendered the com
mittee much needed assistance.
JOHN F. BRUTON,
Chairman.
June Il. 1911.