The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-09

| there is unjust discrimination, and
| the Commissioners so find, they may
| bring the matter before the Inter
| State Commerce Commission for re-
dress, in accordance with the provis-
| ions of the act of Congress establish
ing said Inter State Commission. They
can do this more effectively and sue
cessfully than the individual, because
| they will represent the State and have
| official influence.
The bill provides for three, Commits
| s~ioners, at a salary of $4,000. This
| is right, as we want to secure u
best talents, men who will be fair and
Just to the people and the railroads.
They tell US we cannot lind men who
| are competent. This is a mistake.
| We have men eminently qualified and
| fitted for a Railroad Commission. l
| do not and will not ~depreciate North
| Carolina talent. I feel a pride in my
State and her men; they have always
proved a success when given official
| position. We want no man as Com
| missioner who is an enemy to the
roads, MOI do we want any one who
| is favorable to the roads against the
| interests of the people, but men emil
nently just and fair to all concerned.
| The bill only grants to the Commits
| sioners power to fix just and reason
able freight and passenger rates, not
unjust or unreaSonGble-we want moth
ing but what is right and fair. The
interest of the roads are well guarded
and protected in this bill. 1t gives
them the right of appeal to the courts
of the State, and preference over all
other cases in the Superior or Supreme
| Court. So if the Commissioners do
the roads a wrong in fixing rates that
are not practicable, just and reason
able, they can appeal to the courts
and get q speedy trial. Have you
no confidence in our courts -? If we
fail here to obtain justice, where can
we expect it? Its object is to pre-
vent discrimination and to fix a
! schedule of just and reasonable rates,
investigate books of roads, agents,
station, &C.; make report to the Gov
ernor and to represent the interest of
corporations and individuals on be.
half of the State before the Inter
State Commerce Commission. The
bill is fair and reasonable and ought
to become a law, as it is a necessity.
| The people demand a Railroad Com
mission, and their wishes ought to be
respected. No one will argue, for an
instant, that discrimination in freights
is just and right; then how shall this
be prevented By statutory regula-
tons without a Commission =? This
has been tried for many years and has
proven an absolute failure. Then, the
only remedy is such as this bill offers.
No one will assert that there, is no dis
elimination in North Carolina. Then
why should we suffer it to exist when
we have a remedy :? The House has
passed this bill by a decided majority,
thereby giving emphasis to a popular
demand from the people, whose
wishes should not be trampled under
their foot, because they 1.-THE people)
are the best judges and know by ex-
perience its necessity. The supreme
question of the day is, whether the
railroads shall govern North Carolina
or North Carolina the railroads, from
whom they obtain their franchise.
This must be answered by the Senate,
the responsibility is with us. want
to see a North Carolina Legislature
that has the backbone and the moral
courage to pass a Railroad Commits
sion, and thus show to the world that
we are unwilling to yield to the
money powers, railroad combinations,
monopolists and corporations that are
sapplng the very life-blood from the
people and a hindrance to their gen
eral prosperity.
We mean no unfriendliness to rail
roads or railroad enterprises. We
desire to encourage rather than check
their growth. A Railroad Commits
sion will add to their prosperity and
the general prosperity of the people.
1t will stand between the roads and
the people; unite their interest and
establish a friendliness between the
two-so much desired by well-think-
ing people. Railroads are a great
blessing and we bid them success.
Justice and fairness between the peo-
pie, the State and the railroads is all
we ask. Nothing more nor nothing
less do we demand.