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Correspondence between J. W. Pless and Zebulon Weaver, February, 1932

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  • <y PLESS LL PLESS. J F. PLESS & PLESS Lawyers Oatei Building ASHEVILLE. NORTH CAROLINA February 24th, 1932. ASHEVILLE. N . C. MARION. N. C. Honorable Zebulon leaver, Congressman House of Representatives, Washington, B. 0. My dear Zeb: I am division Counsel and have the business of the Clinohfield Railroad in North Carolina. I have a communication from the General solicitor indicating great interest in the bill before Congress repealing the recapture Clause by which the railroads are to pay to the Government one-half of excess of their profits over six percent. Doubtless you are familiar with these bills and have given them some consideration. This clause in The Transportation nuntefTjbirairi.j Act of 1920 seems to be more hurtful to the weak railroads than to the supposed strong ones. The serious competition given by our state and national road building cannot be overlooked. The revenue from railroads has been the foundation stone of town and county governments. All of us must realize that this source of revenue is endangered as it is going to be extremely difficult to operate the railroads in any event. It is my opinion that they will finally go out of existence. In any event if they make any revenue in any one year they should be allowed to conserve it for improvments and future losses. The Clinchfield is losing very heavily every year as you may find from its reports yet it is one of the best equipped roads in the country. Trusting you will give this some special thought I am with very high regard, Yours very truly, JWP/mc
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  • Zebulon Weaver (1872-1948) was a lawyer and U.S. Representative from western North Carolina. He was a member of the North Carolina Park Commission and was involved in the land acquisition process that went towards establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and development of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This correspondence between J. W. Pless and Zebulon Weaver deals with the repeal of the Recapture Clause affecting railways. Following are summaries of each of these letters: J. W. Pless to Zebulon Weaver, February 24, 1932 In this letter Pless first identifies himself as Division Counsel in charge of the Cinchfield Railroad in North Carolina and then proceeds to discuss the bill before Congress that would repeal the Recapture Clause by which the railroads were to pay to the Government one-half of excess their profits over six percent. According to Pless railroads, in view of rising costs of operation, should be allowed to conserve their revenue for improvements and future losses and he hoped Weaver would consider this in the Congress. Zebulon Weaver to J . W. Pless, February 27, 1932 In his response Weaver assures Pless he was aware how the Recapture Clause had hurt some railways and he hoped Congress would remedy this situation during the current session.