The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-24
Remarks of Hon. w. p. William
son, of Tarbofo, on the Rail
road Commission.

road Commits
Although the Bill failed to pass there
Is sufficient interest in the subject to
warrant the printing Of the f,lloWing
synopsis, which clearly explains it.
M. President
The bill from the House Of Repre-
sentatives TO create railroad commis-
sion and to regulate freight and passen
ger rates proposes the most needed and
important legislation. that this General
Assembly has been called upon to enact
The question arises. why create a
commission? For this reason The
railroads of the State are now 50 oper-
ated and controlled BY monopules and
unjust determinations, are so made
against the people, that North Carolina,
il 2he desires to protect the public from
oppression and ruin, must provide a
check for this grievance. This trouble
is not a new one. 1t became so fearful
that England and France were called
upon to solve the question and have
done 50 by legislation as proposed by
this bill; seventeen States of this Union
have done likewise and the time has
now come when North Carolina must
establish a commission, ntM pIeHufy
po,cets, to stand between the people
and the railroads and to regulate them.
The Governor has appreciated this fact
and in his Inaugural address recon-
mends action as strongly as the people
who were taxed to bald and support
the railroads demand it
Now an issue has been joined be
tween these two great powers, the cor
porations and the people. Let u> consider
the effect of establishing this commis
sion.
Section creates the commission aud
clerk, and fixes their salary and quail
ticaticnS, also designates where their
office shall be, &c. Section defines
their duties, and gives them the power
TO perform them, and the clerk of coun
ty commissioners TO post at every court
house door the tariff Section 3 grants
them the power to administer oaths
apd examine the books of officers
agents, and such other persons as they
may deem proper, and requires them tc
be active and vigilant in having the
rates of charge established by them duly
Observed aud enforced Section ! pre-
scribcs the penalty fer the non obser-
vance Of the same. ami what shall be
come of the fines and penalties.
Also every railroad or natural person
owning or operating railroad in this
State will be compelled to furnish a
copy of the rates charged by them for
transporting passengers aud freIght>
over their roads. The commissioners
will examine the rates and fix uni
iorm standard of rates ;Jr al, then
classify the different railroads in the
State and find out what it cost to con
struct them and the expeuse OF keeping
them in repair, their gross earnings and
net earnings, and fix the reasonable per
cantage that each road will bear, and
from this standard rate that Is agreed
upon by the commission. issue orders
stating what each railroad in the State
shall charge, more or less, as the case
may be, allowing each to charge a rea
sonable rate, but compel them TO con
form to the rate established by the
commission but in case the rate fixed
should be too high or too low, regulate
by orders. allowing them more or less
as the case may be, SO as not to damage
the railroads and protect the rights OF
Ike people. The results oi she claSsiti
alton and fixing maximum rates, when
completed, will be put IN operation on
all the railroads IN the State by thi,
commission. And experience in other
States has shown that, while greatly
beneficial to the public this will not in
lure the interests of the railroads On
the contrary, the increase Of travel oc
casioned by the reduction that vii. be
made will add materially to the earnings
Of the railroads
Now, Mr.. President, what kind Of a
commission should we have, and what
compensation should the mcmt crs re
ceive?
In my opinion. men of uuquestioned
honesty and integrity ; men Of discre
ton and Judgment, who will keep con
stantly in view the objects Of the law
and who will do equal and impartial
Justice to both railroads aud the peo
pie; men Of thought, who will not
come to hasty conclusions. but men
who. after they have made themselves
acquainte as to what their duties are,
aud what the law requires them to do.
will. after mature deiiberation, put it in
operations compel the observance of it
without favor or affection. and not hc
swervcd irom il. No less than three
commissioners will answer the require
meuts of the law. The responsibility
that will rest upon that commission l.
unequaIed by ANY IN the State The
experience Of the States witch have e.
tabli>hed this law is that grave respon-
siblitieS rost upon them; consequently.
in order to carry out the intent OF the
law, no less than three will answer y
70 the salary that should be allowed
them, | will say that s. 5O} per annun
is the lowest amount fixed by any State.
and | think that little enough for the
responsibilities and duties that viii be
required of them.
A word about discrimination IN
freights.
Any well informed man will not deny
that not only in North Carolina. but
throughout the Union, determinations
III freight ami passenger tar!tt, has
caused serious alanm and injury JAY
Gould can any day reduce the price OF
wheat five or ten cent, Il bu-hel hy IN
crease Of freight char-cS. K. K
Rrdgers, Of the ". s " K X could BY
unjust Determinations affect tie value
Of property alouy the line Of his road
ten per cent Why. Mr. President,
this very corporation, chich pays no
ta.res. can regulate the price of cotton