THE CAUCASIAN
fVHUHHtl) KVKKY TlinttUMY
HI THI CaICaMA ttjBLJaMimU CO.
MAKIO ntTLr.K. - rraslasst
KALATIR. SUISCRirTION RATiS.
. Yt-K,
BIX VO.VTHH
THREE. MONTHS
10)
. .)
. 13
gntered In the Fort Offloeat Kitl. t'
m fieeoiid Claaa Matter
CAriTAL. A MEAK AU A LI AH.
It it a notorious fart that Jnterrat
bearing -wealth" lath rrraft tai
dodger on earth. It g-ta all tLe pro
tection thai liw ran gie it, J-t it
never naja ita share of the espene f
government, iteal ettatt cannot hi J.
Much of it It not productive fur tarioua
rtaaon'. tot no reaaon can be advanced
that ever will allow it to ecaje taa
tion. At a in at U-r nf fart, thit spex-iea
of property 'a called upon to alrnoat
aupport the entire fatrir of l-n-al and
flat government.
If interest bearing wraith in the
hap of notes, mortgage, ete , -ui!
be compelled to bear it ahare of gov
ernment rspenae, there could b and
would be a scaling down of taxation
on both, thit specie of property and
rral estate. Thit would lighten the
burden of the farmer and agriculture
lata, and at the same tim would not he
unduly burdenaome on the note holder
and mortgage holders and bond hold
era, etc., all of whoae property it, l)
reaam of itt interest hearing nature,
working night and daj to rake in the
earning of the people against whom
th" note, bond?, etc., are held.
A few dajs ago the State Auditor
called the epecial attention of
the Jiint legislates finance com
mittee to the matter, and sug
gested a plan which might lead
to the securing of a more equitable
hare of revenue from hidden wealth
than it wat yielding. The sugges
tion wai that everjr nufe, m.jKage or
buud representing a "aolvunt credit"
should show that it had been lifted
for taxation by some certificate, and if
It did not show such evidence, it
ahould be non-collectible by law.
There is nothing complex or unjust
in thit plan. It does not seek to do
injustice; but a great wave of opposi
tion was developed, and that raggedy
rotten old chestnut about driving out
capital is being resorted to. Well, if
capital does not want to do the honest
thing, lets nee if we can make it do so
This cry of capital being timid is
somewhat true. It is timid to the ex
tent of sneaking cowardice. When
ever it sees an opportunity to oppress
somebody, enslave somebody and draw
to itself the produce of brawn, brain.
weat and blood, It is bold enough. It
will then come out with a grand dis
play of courage and call upon the law
to sustain it in its galling, grinding
grasp. Hut if capital be asked to pay
for the administration of the law, then
it becomes "timid." Then it begins to
talk of legislation prejudicial to capi
tal," and that such and such a thing1
will drive capital out of the State, etc.,
etc.
-
Well, it seems very difficult at times
to know just what is the proper thing
to do. It Is certain, however, that the
people never desire to play the role of
oppressor. Thy like fair play, and
like that everything1 may have even
chances. They don't care to be op
pressed by capital, but not enough of
them have yet learned sense enough to
prevent this. It is time they were
-waking up.and it istimethat men who
ere credited with sense enough to
make laws should show that they are
not afraid to enact laws that will com
pel capital to bear its proper burden
There should be no prejudicial or re
strictive legislation, butcapital should
be told this: "You are here in our
.State. You have our protection while
here. You have got to pay your part
for this protection. Only your just
share is wanted, and if you don't want
to pay that, why, get out and be quick
about it.
Capital is an arrant liar and never
tells the truth alien if , , .
........ . . , .luipij ir8icu. I
In order to wring the truth from!
capital, tt must be made to show some
evidence of its statements. Likewise
it never tells the truth when it is al
luring some one into a speculation.
Truth must be forced out of it, and
that is why we favr the plan sug
gested, in this article, for making in
terest bearing note?, mortgages, bonds
&c. come out into the light and help
to pay for the protection they have
Let the plan be adopted.
THIS I KOI9L ITUKK ANI THK tUK
f ORATIONS.
The bill to reduce railroad, telephone
and telegraph rates failed to pass the
Senate.by one vote.The same kind of bill
failed to pass the House by one vote!
This kind of business iscurious. Some
bow.there'a always just enough power
or influence somewhere to win for the
corporations against the people.
Even now the boast is made that a
bill touching the validity of the 99
year lease cannot pats the Senate, and
we are free to confess at this time that
there seems to be some ground for the
boast. Perhaps it will fall to pass the
Senate by just oneto'el Something be
sides argument and figures seem to
be influencing some people in this
vicinity.
It was said that the proposed reduc
tion of rallroa J rates would ruin tLe
roada Ac. Well, would it? It is
quite clear that the nzt auHsiNas
aOOx
of the Southern in North Carolina last
Jtar were ($145,000) one million, three
hundred and forty-five thomand dollars.
It the net earning! of this road bad
been $ix per cent, on the amount of
prorerty returned for taxation, those
net earnings would .have been $300,000
less than they are reported. In other
words, the reports show that th? South
ern has mad six per cent. kt on the
property listed, and has made $800 000
Utiles in one year. Homethisg lke
lb! ratio of earnings woulJ apply to
th A. U and tbe Atlantic Coaat
Line. Tbeae three sjatemi take about
two million dollars oter 4 a
wdttn't SI1T tntttfi on their prop
erty from the people of the Mate by
high ralt and charge. These two
tiiiilion dollars go largely to blgb
filarial cffleert. big fees lr lawyer
fab-jut a hundred lawyer are being
feed" in Kateigh by the railroads right,
now;, and for various other purposes
The legialature hat the right and
pjwrr to reduce rates to the baais of a
reatonable interest. The amount
which ia eJtorted from our people for
the benefit of non-resident bond bold
ert it about inhU th atn-nt of onr
nfwfil Staff I'll".
It wat taid that a to ct j-ire would
decrease the yearly receipts of the
roadt by I0,0). Wei!, we baveahown
above that or.' rvl get $-00,000 more
than a moderate net intereat, and it
would thus appear that theiw It plenty
of "margin" for all the roada to sustain
thia Iom. Vea.it was said that a two
cent rate wat " l- ; but the S. A. I
and probably other lines are selling
Ihm mile ticket books at 'i cents per
mile. How it ir, and why ia it, that
a man who it, able to put up twenty
dollar at once ahould be allowed to
buy railroad tickets for two rents a
mile, while a man who has only a dol
lar or so mutt pay3' j.J per mile?
The corporation lobby here said that
$12.00 per year rental for telephones
was tnorh'np. Uut in Winston, X. C.
where there are two competing tele
phone companies, the annual rental
is $12 00 per year, and both compnne$
art miiinj money. In Mobile, Ala.,
the yearly rental is $12.00, and the tel
ephone company makes 25 per rent.
yearly.
As to telegraphs, the rate in Europe
od an average is ten cents for twenty
words. It looks as though ,the rate
ought to be as cheap as 15 cents for
ten word in North 'Carolina. The
Western Union pays its President one
hundred thousand dollars per year;
apl there are many other phenome
nally high salaried officers. The
stockholders of the company
have paid in only $440,000, in
nil. Now the. company has a
capital fctock of one hundred
and twenty million dollars. Thus,
one hundred and nineteen and a
half millions of dollars have been made
out of the people by excessively high
charges, in addition to large annual
dividends and enormous salaries. And
all this is because these corporations
always seem able to defeat any reme
dial legislation by just one vote.
There is and has for years been am
ple margin to reduce railroad and tel
egraplf rates. The legislature has the
right to do it, but it seems that corpor
ations have some strange power to
prevent legislatures from exercising
this right in the interest of the people.
WHO VOTED rOK THK PEOPLE AND
WHO VOTED AGAINST THEAI.
It is very easy to make professions of
devotion to the people on a campaign.
The test is when measures affecting
the people are up and the lobbies are
filled with corporation agents and the
people are far away.
The bill to reduce the present high
passenger and freight rates, telegraph
and telephone charges failed in both
House and Senate by onk vote. The
roll call we give below that it may be
cut out and kept. On kach man of the
majority rests the responsibility of
not reducing these burdens, for a vote
to reduce by any one of them would
have carried the day for the people.
In the Senate those voting on the
side of the people to reduce rates were :
Messrs. Alexander, Atwater, Bark
er, Butler, Clark, Earnheart, Geddie,
Lyon, Maxwell, Mitchell, Moye, Mer
ritt, McCaskey, Newsome, Parker, of
Randolph, Patterson, Kay, Roberson,
Scales, Shaw.Utley, Walker and Wake
Held 23.
Those voting against the people and
to keep up high rates and high R. R.
salaries were :
Messrs. Abell, Anderson, Anthony,
Ashburn, Barringer, Cannon, Dickson,
(Irant, Henderson, Hyatt, Justice,
Maultsby, McCarthy, McNeill, Odum,
I'arker, of Alamance. Person, Ramsay.
Rollins Sharpe, of Wilson, Sharpe, of
ircueii,oui&ioersnore and Wbedbee
24
In the House, those voting on the
people's side were :
Messrs. Abernathy, Babbitt, Birrow,
Bran, of Chatham, Carter, Cathey,
Chapman, Cooley, Cox, Craven, Crum
ller, Cunningham, Dixon, of Greene.
Hrew, Duffy, EJdins, Fgan, Foster,
Ferrell, Gallop, Hancock, Harris, of
Uyde, Hartness, Hauser.Uolmes, John
ion, King, Liwhon, Lusk, Lyle, Mc
Bryde, McPeeters, Morton. Nelson,
I arker, of Wayne, Pearson, Person, of
Vayne, Person, of Wilson, Petree,
Pinmx. Plott, Price, Purgason, Rey
nolds. Rountree. Schulken, Sutton, of
Cumberland, Ward, Walters, Watts,
Whirener, White, of Randoldb, Wilson
and Wrenn 54.
While those whose votes sustained
the present exorbitant rates and cor
poration salaries were :
Messrs. Adams, Aiken, Allen, Ar-
o. S?V ArriD8:ton "a"!. Bingham,
Blackburn, Brown, Brower, Bryao. of
Edgecomb. Brvan, of Wilkes, Bunch.
Burgess, Candler, Chapin, Ghilcutt
Uanton.Cook, Creech, Crews, Currie
Dancy. Daniels, Dayton, Dewease,
P n;Cle,Ve,a' I)j3"y. Duncan,
Elliott, Eosley, Ferguson. Freeman.
?rt,en' Gubbs. Hare, Harri, of Hali!
rax, Hodges, Jones, Leak, McKenzie,
White, of Beni, Yarborough and
oung 55.
'
We are sorry to say that two of the
R. R Commissioners, having failed to
reduce rates themselves, seemed to
think it would be a reflection on them
if the legislature did so, and exerted
their influence to prevent any relief
being given the people in thia matter.
They might have well said that they
had been unjble to see their way to
take the responsibility of reducing
rates themselves, bat that If the legk
lature saw fit to do o,being the immedi
ate representatives of the people, the
R. R. Commission would enforoe the
reduction. Then no one could have
blamed them.
In view of the popular and .general
. urifujr.wrmsoy, reace, Pool,
Rawls, RnterteSomers, Spruill. Sutton,
or ew Hanover. Whir. nt n.n,. '
demasd for a redaction of rate, the
Ccaail0oers atoed a great r-
atonaibilitT fa DrnUtg it aoa
for they were not leered. The R. R.
CotEtniMioo was created to protect tb
public by recoct eg ral, ana not w
prevent tb iegialatore from aakieg a
redaction.
HO KBOOBD Cr TO DATK-
Aboot ten more day a remain of lb
legislative action. L nlesa tbre shall
be, within thia time, an almost miracu
loua change, the record of the legiala
ture will bo nothing absolutely no-thin
r. All it wili have done, when it
reairoa. will be the spending of sixty
or seventy thousand dollars of the pub
lic fund', for which notning win oe
returned.
Of course there are some good men
here who cannot, in Justice, be held
responsible for the record, but we are
speaking now of the record of the
Isgiilaturr as a whole; and nnlesa that
record shall be phenomenally changed
within the next week, it will be the
imperative duty, and we think it will
be the pleasure, of the people to see
that such a crowd is never sent up to
make laws again.
The various committees to whom
bills are referred seem to be com
posed of men who are either generally
indiflerent or pitiably ignorant. It is
almost impossible to get their atten
tion to any bill that doee not carry
some job with it. Of course they will
read a bill, and then make a motion to
either report favorably or unfavc rably,
and thus get rid of it without knowing
or caring what the bill is or what it
contemplates.
Two meaeures of considerable im
portance have had this kind of treat
ment at the hands of committees. One
measure was to devise machinery for
finding out bow much business is done
by people out of the State
with people in the State. This bill
had, pei haps, ten minutes considera
tion, a part of the committee being
asleep at the time, and was reported
unfavorably. One member of the com
mittee knew what the bill intended and
voted for it. The others would have
voted for it, unless they are fools, if
they bad understood the bill.
Another bill was to create a State
Board of Equalization of Taxation. It
was proposed to put this work on the
Railroad commission1 without extra
expense to the State. It had about
20 minutes consideration, and was
voted down. Yet this bill looked to
stopping fraud and cheats in tax list
ing, and would have probably in
creased the revenue of the State from
$40,000 to $50,000 a year without injust
ice any where, and compelling justice
in some quarters.
And this is the wy the "states
man" are acting. E.en the PopulUts
seem to be unusually apathetic. Per
haps the Populists feel ? Le impossibil
ity of accomplishing anything wi.il
the disreputa' ltf 'cotile" of Reps
and bolters is i a the eat' , and feel
somewhat hopeless and dull ; but this,
in in our opinion, cannot excuse them
from trying to "do something." Up to
this date, the legislature is a damnable
disgrace to the State.
SO-CALLED "MINORITI POPS."
There is not, nor has there ever
been, any sense in trying to establish
the fact that there are two factions of
the Populists in the present legisla
ture. There are three parties repre
sented here, viz.: Populists, Democrats
and Republicans. Democratio papers
and one or two hireling hoboes who
issue what they call a Republican pa
per here, have named a certain little
gang the "minority Populists." but
these fellows are nothing less than
deep dyed Republicans of the most
radical stripe. They are more Repub
lican in point of pie grabbing and
general cussedness than those who oall
themselves Republicans.
More than once some of these so-
called "minority Pops" have declared
that they could not be driven out of
the Peoples Party. Well, they are
right in the sense of not being in the
Peoples Party, for if they are not there,
they cannot be driven out of it. They
feel they are not in it. Nearly every one
of them is oonscious of having done
wrong and looks more like a sneak
than anything else.
These fellows have helped the Repub
licans elect a Republican Senator a
man who stands for everything that
the Populists have fought from the
birth of their party. What more oould
a Republican do than this" If these
fellows will not open their eyes to
their position now, they will have
their eyes knocked open about the time
of the meeting of the next People's
Party State convention. If either one
of them should come to the convention
as a Peoples Party delegate, and we
shall be there as a delegate, one of us
would have to leatx. So help us God
we would not sit with a single one ot
them as a Populist. We would un
hesitatingly make a motion that he be
not allowed to sit as a delegate. If
the motion carried, all well and good,
ir not, then we would leave the hall but
in leaving, we would not carry the
name Populist w.th us. We should
try to find some other party to loin,
for if these fellows who are calling
themselves "Minority Pops" represent
the principles and policy of the Peo
ple's Party, then by the eternal realm
of truth and honesty, we want and will
have nothing to do with the People's
Party.
Four State legislatures, in which the
Democrats have a majority, namely:
Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Georgia, have each voted down bills to
Sr"eI?i thf fu'" making or taking
or gold notes and mortgages in their
respective State. Ai every on
knows, the Democratio party in its
last national platform adopted at
Chicago promised the people this re
lief and protection from the gold
sharks. A bill has been introduced An
viSLtJW'8!. ,ner1 Assembly of
orth Carolina to the same effect It
S!!.PV the S". bat we regret
K . 1 r MeBls t0 110 disposition
in the House to take action on the
matter. Is it possible that the pres
ent legislature intends to go Demo
cratic on this important question.
SENATOR KYLE'S
RE-ELECTION.
A Great Belief to Tte Fopaliiti
&cd SilrerMeninThe Senate
Oregon' Deadlock.
THE LOUD BILL BEP0BTED
TT SatatOT Batter Will fe
asts m If iMrlly BUpTl-H Hpa ta Ia
teat ThU ataaaara Ca4laat fr Tat
Jacaa' " Tat Kaatera Dlt'twt
MUaallasaaaa af 1 Or"
For Tb Caocasian.1
Washikoto. D. C, Feb. It. The
news of the re-election of Senator
Kyle was a great relief to the Popu
list and silver men in Congreta; but
tbey are all surprised that he should
have received the almost solid Repub
lican vote on the last ballot. Some
charge that Kyle must have mide a
deal with the Repubicana to get their
support, but those who know the Sen
ator best do not believe thit. It i"
more than probable that the Republi
cans, seeing that a Populist would
surely be elected, threw their vote
for Senator Kyle because Senator Pet
tigrew who left the Republican party
last summer with Senator Teller, was
opposing his re-election. The state
ment made by the Associated Press
dispatches to the effect that Kyle,
while standing true to the principles
of the Peoplts Party, has agreed to
vote with the Republicans to organize
the Senate, is not believed in Wash
ington. In fact, he just as well j in
the Republican party as for what good
he could do the people for the next
four years if be has made such an
agreement, for if he should give his
vote to help the Republicans to organ
ize the Senate, then the Republicans
would put a majority of every com
mittee gold men, and this being done
it would be impossible to get any
measure in the interest of the people
reported by any committee and there
fore neither Senator Kyle nor any one
else would ever have a chance to vote
for any measure that would increase
the currency or check the greed of mo
nopolists, or to give the people relief.
The deadlock in Oregon still con
tinues. The Constitution of that
State provides that the legislature can
not be organized unless two-thirds of
the members elected participate in the
organization. The Populists have
more than one-third of the members
and have prevented an organization.
This will prevent the election of a Re
publican gold Senator from that State,
and thus rob the gold men of the ad
vantage which they gained by the
election of Senator Pritchard. There
fore, if no Senator should be elected
from Oregon, and if Senator Kyle
stands true to the people, as we feel
sure that be will, then the chances are
that the friends of the people will yet
be able to prevent the gold men from
organizing the Senate, and the Peo
ples Party will continue to hold the
balance of power in.thatbody.
THI LOUD
BILL REPORTED
SENATE.
TO THK
The Senate committee on postoffices
and post roads has, by a majority vote,
reported the Loud bill to the Senate.
Senator Butler entered a protest, and
is now preparing a minority report.
He hopes, with the help other Senators
who oppose the measure, to defeat ;it
in the Senate. If this unjust bill
should pass it would not only rob the
people of an opportunity of receiving
ouch books as Coin's Financial School
) rough the mail, but it would create a
most infamous newspaper trust of the
most dangerous and far-reaching char
acter. The indignation of the people
would be aroused everywhere if they
understood the real purposes of this
dangerous measure.
INTEREST IN THE LEASE FIGHT.
No little interest has been taken in
Washington in the fight that has been
going on in the General Assembly of
North Carolina to annul the 89-year
lease of the North Carolina Railroad
to the Southern. While the railroad
people are not so strongly opposed to
the bill In its present shape as they
were in in its original shape, yet of
course they would much prefer that
the bill, though somewhat emascu
lated, should not pass. It is under
stood here that the railroad lobby is
expected to make considerable head
way in the Senate against this meas
ure, with the possible hope of defeat
ing it.
THK JCPGSHJP FO THE Ei STERN DIS
TRICT. The announcement of the death of
Judge Seymour ha9 caused no little
activity among both Democrat and
Republican aspirants and their friends
in Washington. Settle and Skinner
are both understood to be active can
didates, if a Republican should get
an appointment before Mr. Clevelano'o
term expires, are Congressman Wood
ard, Mr. Clark, of Newbern, and Mr.
Rountree, of Wilmington. Already
delegations in the interest of these
several candidates are coming to
Washington beseeching the President
to make an appointment before the 4th
of March.
Judge Seymour was not a native of
North Carolina, but it is very proba
ble that the successor will not only be
a citizen of the State, but a citizen of
the Eastern Federal Judicial District
of the State.
Great preparations are being made
in Washington with a view to making
the McKinley inaugural ceremonies
the most elaborate and the grandest
in the history of the country. Al
ready a number of office holders who
have been prominent Democrats in the
past, but who hope to continue to hold
their places under McKinley, are be
ginning to talk as if they had alwava
been
Republicans. Washington is
very much of a chameleon, both po
na socially. It is always
with those that are in.
MR. HAUSER'S BILL.
A Good Measure That Ouht ta be Knact-dIntoIw-Th
M.j.rlty and Minor
ity K porta In Fall.
A BILL, TO BE ENTITLED "an ACT TO
AMEND CHAPTER 320. ACTS OP 1891.
1NTITLID AN ACT TO PROVIDE TOR
THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OP
RAILROADS, STEAMBOAT AND CANAL
COMPANIES, EXPRESS AD TELE
GRAPH COMPANIES DOING BUSI-
oifSNAT?BSTATJtOPNORTH CAR"
oVZZ"l4'Se"blyfXurth Cina
uSStMoh 320 ot the
5.TLV fl891 " reby amended by
slmfiriOUt.aU of line 9 10.
KlVl? the boning of
matt 5f m lieu of the
ZVSgl fntneken ont Uow-
succe8or to any of said
fha SiiieXpir6fha11 be chosen by
Jatt lm.b?-re the "Potion of
m fT Tmthl Provision however
not to apply to the commissioner
whose term shall expire dnrint ?be
ZSSn ?e,neral Assembly that con
utn thlnl1?.6 13,and inertinrfn
&r attbegeeral
Etc. 2. Itibali be nalawfal f;r
asy railroad or steamboat company
ta charge or receive for transporta
tion cf a racsrr between any two
points ia North Carolina more than
two O cents per mile for flrtt-ela
far or oce and a half (I) for se
otd e!aa fare.
Sec. 3. It shall be nalawfal for
any telegraph company to charge
for a muge between any to
points in North Carolina to exceed
the following rate, to wit: Fifteen
(15) cents for a message of ten woidt
or lers in the body of the message
(the address and signature not to
be charged far) and one cent for
each additional word over ten words.
Sic. 4. It shall be unlawful for
any company or person operating a
telephone line or exchange to charge
more than at the rate of twelve dol
lars per annum for the rent or nse
of a telephone at a residence, r
eighteen dollars per annum for the
use or rental of a telephone located
ia a store, effice or other place of
baaii s.
Sec 5. N j railroad, telegraph or
t lepbone shall, in consequence of
the tttablisament of the rates here
in provided for, give a Uss amount
of accommodation (or inferior ac
comomdation) that is now furnished.
Sic. G. That just and reasonable
freight rates within the meaning of
said Chapter 320. Acts 1S91, are to
be prescribed and established by
the Railroad Commission in the man
ner following: The charges for
freight between any two points in
North Carolina shall be calculated
upon the following basis, to wit:
taking said charges for freight in
connection with the receipts from all
other sources, the total gross re
ceipts from all sources shall not
yield to any railroad company to ex
ceed a net profit of six per cent, per
annum, on the actnal cost of the
construction of its line and equip
ment and other necessary property
in this State. In calculating said
net profits the Railroad Commission
is forbidden to take into considera
tion, as a proper and legitimate de
duction frm the gross receipts, so
much of any and all salaries paid by
any railroad company which is in ex
cess of $2,500 per annnm to any
one officer or the payment of other
unnecessary or exorbitant expen
ses, or the rental paid on leased lines
or disbursements for purposes not
within the line of the duties of said
corporation within the scope of its
charter. For this purpose the Rail
road Comm8sion is hereby author
ized to snd for persons and papers,
and to tximiae all officers, agent
and employees of said railroad cor
poration or oihtr persons, undei
oath, as is provided in said chapter.
It shall be unlawfal for any rail
road, steamboat, telegraph or ex
press company to issue a free past
or frank or render service at ls.
than the rates charged the public
generally, to any person holding an
office or place of profit or trust un
der this S:ate under any pretext
whatsoever, whether for services
rendered or otherwise; nor to any
other person (not an employee or of
ficer of itself or connecting line)
except for services of equal value
rendered by the recipient to said
companies.
Every railroad, steamboat, tele
graph and express company shall on
the first day of July of each year re
turn on oath to the Railroad Com
mission a list of the franks or free
passes granted to persons other than
employees of themselves or of a con
necting corpoiation, stating oppo
site to the name of each person the
nature of the service for which said
free pass or frank was issued, which
list so returned shall be open at all
times to the inspection of the pub
lic. Any violation of the provisions
of this act shall be punished as is
provided fcr violation of the regn
1 a tion s of the Railroad Commission
in aforesaid chapter 320, acts 1891.
and in addition thereto, for each and
every violation of this act the cor
poration so offending shall be liable
to a penalty in the sum of two hun
dred dollars to be recovered before
a justice of the peaca in any county
in which such corporation shall have
part of its line or track or habitually
exercise its franchise. Any person
holdiner any office or place of trust
or profit under this State who shall
accept a frank or free pass from
aforesaid corporations or service at
less rate than is charged the public
generally, and any other person
(other than employees and officers of
said corporation or a connecting
company) who shall accept a free
pass or frank (or less services at
rates less than those charged the
public generally) unless in return
for services rendered shall likewise
be liable to a penalty of two hun
dred dollats to be recovered by any
person who shall sue for the same.
All acts and part of acts in con
flict with this act are hereby re
pealed. This act shall be in force from
and after its ratification,
MAJORITY REPORT.
The committee on railroads and
Railroad Commission to whom H.
b. dll was referred, make the fol
lowing report:
We are of opinion that it is to the
best interests of the State that no
change be made in the manner of
electing Railroad Commissioners.
We have given fall consideration
to the subject of reducing the rates
charged by railroads and steam
boats in North Carolina, and we
are of opinion that existing rates
as fixed and supervised by the Rail
road Commission, should not be in
terfered with. An examination of
the report of the railroad commis
sioners will show that they enter
into every detail of transportation
freight and passenger and that
they have since their organixation,
reduced, adjasted, and equalized
rates in the interest of the people,
until the work has reached a point
where there is danger that further
reductions, especially of a radical
nature, would so cripple the tt as
portation companies that service
would be impaired and reduced to
such an extent as to make the peo
ple the sufferers.
We are of opinion there should be
no h gislation upon telegraphic rates.
The Railroad Commission has ample
power to deal with that subject, and
the commissioners have made re
duction in prices and improved the
telegrahic service very materially.
As with other subjects coming un
der their jurisdiction, the railroad
commissioners can deal intelligent
ly with the details and are nrnmnf
to correct all abuses brought to their
Hicnuon. iney have dealt with
the telegraph companies in snch a
way as to give our peojle a good
service at what they consider the
lowest rates the companies can do
business and have a reasonable
proHt for their work in ih Kt.t
Telephone companies. obtain their
xraacouea xrom local municipal or
gaaltation. and re cw1' bd
spoa iedividaa! inbecriptieca to
Lake a certain naonWr f phone n
prieee agreed npoa between the com-
...i f. anbacntMra. "
think this baaiaeas should not be U
tetfercd with by legislation, or the
enactment of a law that mictt d
prive the people allwrether of the
telephone service. Voedmons in
the future may jastify neh itr
ferenee; bat at this time we Uiti
none is called for.
The subject of the efffct of free
passes, telegraph and express franks
Tn Etate oflcers has been discuss
for many year. We have too
much respect for the good people or
North Carolina to favor a law that
would brand many of their troauu
servants with suspicion of liability
to tfieial eotruption through the
means of a railroad pass or a tele
graphic frank. Any man whose
honesty is liable to waver in the
piesnce of a free pass, can easily
refuse it. Pubhc corporations will
ing to favor public officers, should
not be suspected of attempting bri
bery and corruption, nor should the
recipients of such favors for a mo
ment be suspected of being influ
enced thereby. In the history of
North Carolina we have no doubt
that the list of her noble cons who
accepted free passes and used tbem
without doubting their own honesty,
wou'd be a rebuke to the clamor that
is raised on this subject.
Clergymen and others are acccrd
ed half rates by railroad companies,
which is equivalent to half a pass,
yet no one ever fears (hat these wor
thy men are bongbt by corporations,
or that they feel that they have sold
themselves to do unlawfal work for
railroads. We are not willing to
admit that memb?rs of the legisla
ture or other persons who receive
railroad passes or franks are cor
rupted or rendered unfaithful to
'heir constituents or oath of office
thereby, and therefore are opposed
to that feature of the bill.
We therefore recommend that this
bill do not pass.
Browir,
Chairman.
Minority report upon h. b. no
311, to amend sec. 320, pcblic
laws op 1891, and also to re
DUCE FARE AND FREIGHT RATES
AND PROHIBIT FREE PASSIS.
We the undersigned, a minority
of the committee on railroads and
Railload Commissioners, to whom
was referrrd the above bill,
respectfully file this report and
report and recommend that the bill
do pasr.
The first section of this bill pro
vides for the election of Railroad
Commissioners, after the present
session, by the people at the ballot
box. The Railroad Commission was
established for the express purpose
of protecting the people against ex
cessive rates and corporation abuses.
The Commissioners were intended to
be tribunes of the people and should
above all officers of the State be
elected by the popular vote, thereby
presenting the least opportunity for
manipulation by corporations who
are so intensely interested in the
personnel of the Railroad Commis
sion. When our first Constitution
was adopted in I77G, the Governor
and all State officers were elected by
the Legislature and step by step the
people have secured the election of
all these officers. In 1894 the Pop
ulist and Republican parties, in the
State of North Carolina, went into
the campaign asking that the peo
ple be allowed to elect the county
commissioners and justice of the
peace which are insignificant officers
compared to Railroad Commission
ers, by the vote of the people at the
ballot box, and to fail to pas3 this
section of the bill will be going back
on the principle we profess to advo
cate. And there is still more reason
for the election of Railroad Commis
sioners by the people, because they
are to protect our interest against
corporations. If they are elected
by the people they will be likely to
represent the interest of the people.
The second section of this bill pro
vides for a maximum of 2 cents per
mile for first-class passenger fare
and 1J for second-class fare, and for
reduction of freight rates bised
upon six per cent, net earnings on
the real value of the property, after
discarding all excessive salaries and
improper expenditures. The rule
for fixing of rates for freight is ex
actly in accordance with the decis
ions of the U. S. 8opreme Court. As
passenger rates, the Railrotd
Commission reports that the rail
roads receive on an average 2 15
nents per mile, and as they charge
3i cents for first class, it follows
that if the large number of free
passes is cat oS and every man pays
for his own riding, 2 cents per mile
would be a very slight reduction to
the railroads in the receipts for pas
sengers, which redaction would
more than be made up by the in
creased travel of people who would
travel at 2 and H cents. More money
is made by the U. 3. Postal System
at 2 cents than if they charged 4
eenta per letter, or even 3 cents per
letter. It costs the railroad compa
nies as much to haul an empty seat
as it does to haul a filled seat. Hun
dreds of ears are carried over tie
roaas witn empty seats, whereas if
the people could go for 2 and l
cents per mils they would be aUajs
full.
Then there is the reduction in the
numerous and enormous salaries
paid railroad officials whose abate
ment alone would permit the reduc
tion of rates.
The S. A. L. R. R. is using 1000
mile tickets at 2 cents per nvle. If
thay are able to do this they ean se'J
tickets at the same price to poor
people, unless increased travel (it
lower rates) would more than make
np for the reduction. The railroads
are only entitled to net earnings rf
0 per cent, eonomi ally managed,
yet, with their high salaries, lobby
ista and attorneys we see they are
bidding 10 per ceLt. oaN. C. R. B..
and onp of this 10 per cent and
high rates they propose to make
their profits. The Southern R. R.
Ca. admits by their reports and by
Col Henderson's speech that they
cleared $1,275,000 on their roads in
fiorth Carolina last year.
This might be largely increased
by reducing salaries and other no
?r5fsaryexPense. Bat even $1.
27o,000is about 20 percent, net on
the trne value of their roads in N.
j. full three times and more than
what they are entitled. Pass this
bill and reduce fare from Bj and 21
to 2 and 1 cents per mile and you
will save the people (aid the most
of these are toor peooh) on that
road akne about $900,000, and still
Rothschild s atd Perpnt Morgan.
The aee-ion redueing rates of tel
egraph and telephones is amply jus
tified by the enormons profits now I
"v-l-i v. tkaaa corporations which'
wu jastify' a rreater abatement tha.
lb. ill piividee, latheetty of Ox
ford. this State, tie telephoxe
company made an Investment cf
fl.Sil and the net profits the flM
rear from that eattay wasll.XM.
the Wetrn Union TeUgrap Com
pany has been thoroughly invetti
gaUd by the congnfwocal re torn it
mwA fMm the examination of its
President (Dr. Norwm tiren. who
dited he r.eivJ a salary of
100 U00) it app-1 ttat ",,r cor;
poration. which now has a capital
stock cf 120.tXX0iW. en which it
rv.. f, trt S tr cent, dividends has
neer psid into ii. treainry by stock
holJcisbnt 1140.000, leas than cn
half million; while the othtr f 119,
500 000, its annual divide nl rlJ
out to stockholder, have been col
lected out of the rtofle by its exces
sive charger. This ccrta.nly jasti-
a. thia St&te in demanding an
abatement of cueh tolls.
The H.ll Telephone Company has
almost a parallel record. It pays its
President $50,000 per year and has
accumulated over 100 pet cent, an
nual dividends added to its capital
ick. besides the di'iuends to stock
btlJrrs. The annual report of the
parent Bell Cora pan v for lb'X shoes
net prcfits cf $3,122 CSu on gro re
ceipts cf $t,S4$,213, almost 70 ir
cent.
According to tbe New Yi.ik
World, at raes of $G0 a jer, the
profits of the Bell Company ia Now
Yotk City were 497 per cnt. in five
vears. nearlv 100 Der cent. rcr ver.
The Home Telephone Ccmpnr, ff
Mobile, Altbama. earned I per
cent, net on rates of $20 and $30 a
year and are now earning 25 per
cent, though tbe Bell Com pan v has
reduced rates from $o0 to $1.0
year, down to $12 a year.
The rates for telegrams in Europe
average ten cents for 20 woids, and
in many countries annual rentals of
telephones is to, as in Switzerland
and also in Paraguay and South
America.
When rates are high enough in
this eountry to be making million
aires of corporation owners and
enormous salaries to corporation of
ficials, the people who are fixed to
pay them, arj entitled at our hands
to have us exercise the power the U
S. Supreme Court decides is vesttd
in us of reducing charges by those
corporations. The people have long
been restive under the issue of frte
passes to public effieials atd a do
ferenee to their willdemitds that
this evil should be stopped, tecausn
every free pass must b anl is
paid by some one who pays for Lis
pass.
A section creating the Railroad
Commission was understood at the
time of its passage to prohibit free
passes, but the Railroad Commission
not having so construed it, unmis
takable laws should now bs passed
to prohibit this evil. The railroads
could not turn a wheel or move a
car but with money collected out of
the people.
To continue the present system is
10 provide an omce holding aristo
cracy who rido free at an added ex
pense to their constituent-; Thrre
is less excuse for members ef tho
legislature to tide on free parses as
tney are paid 10 cents per miJe I y
the State, each way.
The provisions for keeping a list
or free pastes to thoso not effice hoi
aers is a safeguard to prevent
abuse. Tho increase in the
value of money by the addition
of the gold ttacdard has greatly
iQcreasea me rates or railroad?.
Telephones and Telegraphs which
are and remain as bgh as they
were when farmers got from
10 to 13 cents a pound for cotton.
and $1 50 to $2.50 for wheat and $1.00
tor corn. The men who on aid
control these corporations are tbe
very men who have brought this
country to the gold standard. These
necessary institutions of civilintion
are now practical.y restricted to thw
use of the rich and dead head m.
cials except in cases of emergency
bdu necessity. g
Reduce their charges somewhat in
proportion to the rife in the value
of money and the corresponding de
cline m pri-es in produce and labor,
would be jast to tbem and wonld
again throw open the us's of these
great conveniences to the pullic at
large as should ba the case.
The ms j riy of the committee, af
ter turning the arguments of the
rauroaa, telegraph and teVphone
lawyers against the bill, declined to
hear the undersigned f Ilanaer in fa
vor of the bills after agreeing to
do so.)
These are some of the reasons we
offer this minority report to the
House of Representatives, eo as to
maniujjy Dnrg the irsnes before
the people and then let the people
judge the actions of their represent
atives on f he bills.
Respectfully submitted.
E P. Hattsir.
Macbt Ward.
AliHUAL REPORT
OP TJJE
OLD rOQIHIOB BUILDING
MID tOAII ASSOCIATION
Of Richmond, Va.
ima0. the year endis7 December 81,
ASSETS.
Loans on bond and raort
gtge (face value). $
Loans on other securities
Real estate, foreclosure
purchase... mm
Cab on band and in batik
Fqrniture and fixtures. .
Installments due and un
paid Other assets, t n detail '.
Sundry accoots '
22 130.35
4C015.C7
17 047.17
2,613 10
14,08.C5
11, 033.01 CCS
LIABILITIES.
uae anare holders, due in
stallmetiU paid
Due shareholders, in'.
stallments paid In ad
vance Due shareholders earn
ings credited
Due shareholders, earn
, logs not credited -
i,cis5i:i
mfu money
Balance to be paid out on
. loans mad
Surplas '.'.'.WWW'"
utner liabilities in detail
viz:
tuiciruD paia up stock. 17
,14847
.01 CM
Report for the Year Ending
Dc-
cembfr3!t 18.
PA.WJI A CCOIJNT.
BECEIPTS.
ClLlm hnl Jll0,7 la
(0(DOr
1
health. Tir-, -aad
rorarr v
jatrta U m
It qo!;ty f -prtHi.
gHS dif;
t4oo4 tor-. ..
tlB,ralar-L
war to Law r
rWajri::
talis, a is ! -the
tlctuci .
etrry errvr ,
a foikl
a4 rurrt t ..
Hood's Pill-
Subscript!, r .
-Paid up." -tr
part paid" -.
Mortgagra rr, .
wbwle tr in j
Oilier loana rr.v.
IVemiuns r... ,.
Interratrrrrit.-j
Kinaa rer-i!
Ottr rerrip:
tlx.:
InveMmer.t rrl
Kspenae fund
Sui.dry arrant t-
I I l:t 1.-5 t ,.
Loaned on nxr'i4-,
Iared on tlir
Taid on withdraw
rmmi't
Paid on withdrt
denda, int f r.
Salaries
Advertising, t-ru - it
stationery
Kent
Othtr dirbur t
detail
Heal etat at1 j .
Sundry arroimt
Caah on band
1 1 :
e t
a
C Hi
STATi: OK No; IH i
Ari-ii. i. - l
In conform it) l
of.n Art ! v.,iint.'
um II,.f Uwr. .1- .f t.
and I-oan A;-ui ..t.
statement of J in
ing and Iian , ;, 0
mond, a.. in !. .
file in thi drpitr' .-!
II M W. j
Ani ' -
ANNUAL FIFO
! 1111.
COLUMBIAN EDM
LOAN ASSOClin
Of Kic l.fu .! 1
For the year en Vt e
1 S!; :
I 1 a . .
uii u'iimi aui 11 1 - at
gage (face a1u-
advance cu mm I
Ileal estatf. pun I a ! at i
foreclosed .
Cash on band and :ti tu
Furniture and (itjr
Installment du aid ui,
paid
Oilier a'set. in d ti 1. 11.:
prem. due
Account a
'Hills receivable
LIAI51I 1111
Iue thareliclder', due m
etallntenta paid, A
Iu rhareholdt r. 1 1, -1 ,
rnents paid inadtai '
Due shareholders It
lue shareholders ('
Iii- shareholders I
Borrowed money
Surplus, 1 r.iflts .
Other liabilities, in J.a..
viz: Amounts
Report for tbe Year ii
cembcr 31, W
keci:ii-j.
rash on band Januarr i
ltfC
HubecriptioD on elia' . 1
Iaid up," prepaid"
"part paid" 'wk,r
Mortgages redeemed ie
whole or in part?
Other loans redeem j, lil
payable
Premium a received
Interest received.
Fioes received.
Other receipts, in d-'ail.
Tlx: Trans fees
Instalments B
Taid up I) .
Interest on stork adv
It- E. Rents
Earnings acc't
Balance due ou
atock
Accounts
DISBURSKMI.VT
Loaned on mortgage t
L aned on other eecwrr i
Paid on withdrawals, d'
A
Paid on withdrawal d vi-
dends, c. L
Salaries
Advertising
Bent and omcellare t
expenses
Other disbursements in c
tail.Treas. com
Real estate
Interest on withdraws.: .
B. and C
Interest on diacouLts.
Office fix mres and 1uru-
ture.
Ktlfinneev rA v. ; ..t i r.
j
Taxeg on real etate. .
"inorawal B tock
Bills receivable
Account .
Cat h on batd'. .
STATE OF NORTH A' 1
AcDiToa's Im '
In conformitv with :) 1
of -An Act to amird Ml'
urn If. if i i t.iih
and Loan Asaueiaf inv I r
tne above la a true ropy "
tfttnA at, s..1.... I. if
- ""'"i wi una ii -
and Iilil AAiafwn. ft 1
Vl.n December 31 .f. I
file tn this depart met-T.
HAL W. A
Audi.'
LrOQ
Sarsapar
W I4TOCTIMK TO fJ
Tax caroasiax.
f
23823.42