The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-17
,Rx w. r. HELvERTON.)

compliments on Attorney General
Bickett's speech were expressed after
the hearing before the Interstate
Commerce Commission on North Caro-
lima freight rates. His was the first
speech of the argument and covered
the general ground of the North Caro-
lima freight situation from the fist
steps Of the agreement with the rail-
roads to the fight OF the Virginia
cities. He showed before he concluded
tina the Virginia cities had absolutely
nothing TO do with the fourth section
order then under consideration, leay-
ingit 10 Mr.. Travis to go into detail
As to the eXact proposition before the
commission.
Mr.. Travis speech was largely tech
meal, dealing with the proposition In
hand as was explained in dispatches.
His talk was right to the heart Of the
matter an. served still further to show
Virginia up as a meddler in rates
which have to do only with North
Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The two Of them, reinforced by the
Southern Railways crack spokesman,
Walton Moore, left the Virginians
gasping for breath. 1t is safe to say
that il North Carolina should lose. it
would not be because they We're OPP
posed by the Virginia cities.
Mr.. Bickett's speech was in part as
follows:
The history Of this Commission JUS
tifes the observation that matters are
not here determined by the ton miles
OF talk produced by opposing inter-
ests. Hence North Carolina was con-
tent to rest its case upon the facts
In the record. But gentlemen repre-
senting certain Virginia municipalities
insisted upon a talk fest, and this des-
pite the fact that they had already
filed a brief that is upon it's face the
grossest case OF over capitalization
that has ever been brought to the at
tention Of this Commission. This brief
moreover makes it plain that. however
deeply these Virginia municipalities
may be infatuated with themselves as
"a chosen and peculiar people in the
donain OF transportation, they are
absolutely devoid Of sympathy with OF
understanding Of the unfortunate Gen.
tiles whO are their nearest ~neighbOr:
on the South. 1t Is not my purpOS,
TO review in detail the history Of {
freight rate situation that has opcr
ated as a perpetual quarantine againS
the commercial development of Nortl
Carolina. So effective has been thi
quarantine that, although 10y virtue o
our natural resources and the ener
gieS of u people we have made ire
mendous strides along agriculture
and manufacturing lines, commercial
we have simply marked time, and to
day there is not first class diStributin
ibu7S II tS httak's ~ ~ ~ W.
position to deny what the Nirgini
cities take such pains to prove tina
this situation has been the source Q
a constant and ever increasing irrita
ton, until at last d just n as pa
triotic and AS conservative q GovernO
as there is in his Union felt impelIe
to say in his inaugural address ths
the situation demanded relentless Tt
sistance n resentment. The carriel
themselves recognize the ~naturalne:
IF this discomfort, and Col. A.
Thorn, General CounSel for the Soutf
ern Railway. and a loyal Virginian,
the hearing of this case in Green
boro, charged this discomfort To II
great commercial advantages whiC
for years the Virginia cities have e1
joyed owe North Carolina, and az
ministered to these cities d. stingir
rebuke for attempting to prevent II
North Carolina cities from ObtainiI
a measure of relief which is grant,
will not place North Carolina on
parity with Virginia.
Again, Judge Leigh Il. Watts. &c
.ral Counsel OF the Seaboard Air Liz
and n Nirginian Of the old school, fiji
with the Commission q written stat
ment in which he says he desires
"emphasize the fact that or accou
II the unprecedently low freight rat
enjoyed by the Virginia cities the II.
rates proposed for North Carolina q
necessary to relieve the people Of
State from the ~fiagrantly unjust u
elimination which has SO long III
vailed in favor Of the Virginia cit
to the lasting injury Of their MOI
carolina competitors
No Passion and Prejudice"
In view of this well consider
statement. made 10y ii Nirginian an,
man who has served his
general counsel for many. ma
years, the suggestion that the ayr
ment TO grant us a measure of rel
was born Of passion and prejudice
not worthy of serious consideration
naturally shrink from discussing $,
matters before a judicial body,
the Virginia cities have written n bt
upon the subject. the r of VIII
is as obvious as il is impossible, an
feel compelled to say that howe
warm and at times unparliament
our language on the outside may h
been, we ave not hollered, Fire
single time in court.