By the Associated Press
Goldsboro, N.C., July 25—Resolutions recommending that the special session of the legislature, called to convene August 7, provide legislation for putting into effect the recommendations of the state ship and water transportation commission, rather than place the question in a referendum, were adopted here today at the meeting of business men called by the traffic bureau of the Eastern North Carolina chamber of commerce.
The consensus of opinion of the meeting by man prominent business men from practically all of the eastern counties and by a few from other sections of the state, was that the ship commission recommendations for creation of a port commission with appropriations of $8.5 million should receive immediate action by the special session.
Congressman Charles L. Abernethy gave unequivocal endorsement to the ship commission report and declared that in his opinion it was the desire of the people of state to get its recommendations put into effect as speedily as possible, and that therefore the legislature should enact the necessary machinery without a referendum.
In expressing his favor of the proposed program of water commerce development, Senator Furnifold M. Simmons said in part:
“If the state adopts this measure I assure you that the inland waterways will be developed with he assistance of the government. I have secured for the state for the purpose of developing waterways $16 million and could have gotten $2 million if I had shown that North Carolina was ready to use it. I have, in discussing our freight rates in open session, heard our state was referred to has having made no efforts to establish port terminals which would justify the solicitations it was said making for help from the government, and realizing that this was true I have had to hang my head in shame.
“I say to you that I will get from the federal government whatever amount you need towards the establishment of the finest transportation facilities to be found under the blue skies if you will only do your part here in the state. Arm me with the kind of ammunition that I need and I will bring home the game.”
The meeting was opened by H. Galt Braxton, president of the transportation bureau, who acted as chairman, at noon. It lasted till late in the afternoon. Approximately 600 people attended.
After declaring that North Carolina is the greatest farm producing state in the south and the biggest tonnage producing state for the railroads operating in the southern states, Dr. J.W. Joyner, who was a member of the state ship and water transportation commission declared that the only remedy for the excessive freight rates he said North Carolina is suffering is water competition.
Major George E. Butler of Clinton gave a resume for the advantages that have been obtained by other states by port development and declared that North Carolina could obtain like advantages by following the examples of these states.
General E.F. Glenn of Goldsboro voiced is approval of immediate action by the special session and said, “the United States government has a way of helping its children who make it a point of helping themselves.”
“I may have been referred to as a fool sometimes, but never as a coward,” said State Senator Joseph A. Brown, a member of the ship commission who opposed the proposal for state-owned terminals and ships in the last general assembly, “and this thing I believe in from the bottom of my heart. I did not hesitate to recommend it to the governor, nor will I hesitate to pass on it when it comes before me as a member of the legislature.
From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, July 26, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020730/1924-07-26/ed-1/seq-1/#words=JULY+26%2C+1924
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