The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-08
RAILROADS AND RIA LROAD
COMMISSIONS.
No. IL.
[Cor. Scotland Neck Democrat

ION
Some of these corporations do
another thing that seems strange to
the people. They claim that they
could not be affected by a railroad
commission, and the w. & W. and
r. & G. roads are among the number.
They claim that in their charter they
are allowed to charge so much per
mile per hundred weight for freight,
and so much per mile for each pas
senger, and that they are now charg-
ing a good deal less than the maxi
mum charge allowed. They claim
that this right to charge up to the
maximum fixed in the charters is a
contract with the State, and is a vested
right AMI cannot be violated by the
State without coming in conflict with
that clause of the Constitution of the
United States which forbids any State
to pass any laws violating contracts.
Therefore, they say they can charge
what they please for freight and pas
sengers up to the maximum fixed in
the charter, without let or hindrance
from the State or any other power
except their W will and pleasure.
If this be so, why should they fear
or oppose a railroad commission If
they are out of reach of the law,
above the jurisdiction of the State,
beyond the interference of a commits
sion, why should they oppose the ap-
pointment of a commission, and call
together their clans by building torch
lights on the mountains and in the
valleys at the assembling of each leg
islature? Why are they all present
during the sitting of the Legislature =?
l admit that there is some doubt as
to whether or not the legislature a
compel these roads to work for the
public for reasonable pay, but that
doubt is as thin as vapor and as trans
parent as glass. It is so shadowy
that these roads have long since de-
termined to never allow it tested in
the courts, if they a possibly avoid
it; and so they have always made a
common fight against a railroad COM
mission.
All the other roads use the argu-
ment that it would be unjust to them
to fix their charges while these
favored corporations could charge
what they pleased for their services.
But strangest of all, these non.favored
corporations employ the ablest law
yers in the State to 60 before the
committees of the legislature to plead
the exemption and convince the mem
bers that these other corporations are
beyond their reach and can charge
what they please; and, therefore, they
too though not granted that right in
their charters, ought to be allowed to
do the same.
These corporations not only pursue
this course, but they employ the best
legal talent in the State to write legal
arguments for publication in the pa
pers to educate the people their way
and bring them over.
l have no quarrel with the roads.
They are simply attending to their
own business. [ have no quarrel with
the lawyers-they are attending to
their own business also.
Now, let the people be as jealous of
their rights, as earnest in looking
after them and as desperate in main
tanning them as the attorneys are.
Take care of your wives and chill
dren as they do. See to it that you
are not deceived and misled against
your own interest in favor of these
corporations. If you were in the
place of these railroad kings and their
attorneys, l am very r you would
do as they do.
Human nature is the same the
world over. There is such a thing as
educated human nature; but with the
same surroundings and the same train
ing none of us would be very much
unlike other men. Our wrongs may
not be as great as we imagine them to
be. The railroad authorities may not
be sc much wrong, after all. If the
people want a railroad commission,
and think they ought to have it, and
l think the roads ought to desire it,
let them command the next Legislature
to give it to them. Don't nominate
any man who is not in favor of a
commission. Let us not nominate any
man for Judge who is not in favor of
a commission. Policy, expediency
and availability have controlled already
too long. There must be a new deal.
The people have played seven up long
enough without ever holding high or