The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-18
On FREIGHT RATES
ALSO LOBBYISTS
"QueStionS That Need An An
sWer,' Writes Chief JUS
tice Clark
AS TO A $40 5000 LOSS
Gives His Calculation and The
Reasons For Declaring That
lobbyists" Is a "'Leqisia-
tive leprosy'' in North Caro-
lima.
AS TO A $40 100000 LOSS

lima.
To the Editor:
Some n has well said that great
questions have no pity for the repose
or peoples and states The distribu-
ton of the Federal offices is
much space in the press and of course
the matter is of great interest to those
VINO desire these positions and this is
not to their diScredit. But the matter
AFFECTS them alone and does not con-
Germ the public at large.
Ihere Is an overwhelming question
which affects the value of every acre
Of farming and and of every town lot
in the State and which as much as. II
not more than, anything else keeps
up the high cost OF living. This is the
matter of freight discrimination
against North Carolina. Gov. Vance
started the agitation against it more
than 30 years ago. While we have
achieved some reduction in excessive
passenger rates Though less than in
other States where the fiat rate is now
usually 2 cents per mile) up to his
hou we have had no abatement as to
freight rate discrimination. whatever
ma be hoped for or promised.
~ III LhC AAOllCy.
There are some matters which
should be called to the attention of
the people at large, who have the
deepest interest in this matter. Or
l Feb. II, 1913 the railroad officials had
! an interview with the Governor and
Council and on the following morning
. Feb. 10, 1913, The News and Observer
published the statement of the inter
4 view whose accuracy has never beer
questioned Tn that infoYviou, ~ iS
recorded that Mr.. Finley, President OF
the Southern Railway, stated hat his
road paid on its pay rolls in North
Carolina annually to its employees and
for taxes 81 900, 900 more than it re.
ceived for all it's freight bsuiness in
| this State Many people would like
to know where that 10000 0 comes
from which Mr.. Finley stated that he
pays out annually as a donation to oul
people. His rOad can not get it from
passenger rates for when those rate:
were reduced to 2 IA cents per mile
[ he filed a sworn statement before
Judge Pritchard and got out an in
junction upon the ground that tina
rate was cOnfscatOry. They can no
get it from carrying the mails for hi!
people are asking the government To-
higher rates on the GROUND that it doe,
not pay a profit.
Moreover the railroads claim tina
f the reduction they now offer us GU
side the reduction Of intra-state rate
by the Justice bill (Which last they ar,
p fghting) will amount to $4,000. coo
Then this $4,000, 900 more must ais
z be a donation. Where is thai to com,
e from?
r Admission OF the Railroads.
: The railroads refused to make an
concession and forced the caIl of
special session. II they can offer 81,
Ann 0nQ roG,1cf1on nA- Uhv oo131 tho
not have made it last spring, and say
Il ed the public that expense? If the
# really are now Offering $4,000. 900 re
ductiOn, it is IN admission that the
y have been charging at least 81, 00O, 90
Z. too much. IL SO, restitution is as prop
: er as cessation Of unjust exactions. !
!" they can let US Off with 81. 900 900 Pc
v year in the future why should they z
d back 10 years or more and restore [
l. our people and our depleted Stat
IF treasury that sum ~wrongfuliy take
from US during all those years b
charging NJ people more than wa
charged the people OF Virginia.
There must be some error in tn
N calculation, for in that same inter
view as published in The News an
Observer Feb. 13, 1919. Mr.. Thorn. III
general counsel OF that road in repl
to the demand that less should not h
er charged for a long haul than for
e. short haul and hat North CAROLYN
n should be put on the same mileae
n basis as granted to Virginia. reptile
TO that il tina was done the Souther
al Railway system would lose STA. zoe
900 per year. II SO, it inevitably 70
al lows that that system is overchars
ing some one STA, 600. 0O0 by the di.
,e elimination. Apportioning to Mort
Carolina as low as So, o00, geo as i
A. pro rata of that overcharge- it Won,
T. follow that as everybody is doing i
n the railroads of this State can not
discriminating against US less tina
RI sic. zoe 9 per year
I'd II 1900 Q per yea IS tne aIheul