The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-02-25
RAILROADS AND RAILROAD
COMMISSION.
s.
TcOr. Scotland Neck Democrat

aE6ICI0s OA sAAS SNSJO
must be apparent that we need Il
North Carolina some law by which,
I. All charges made for services by
railroad companies must be reasonable
?. Forbidding the charging or col
kcting for any service rendered a
gTester or less compensation from any
"A than from any other for a ike and
eontemporaneous service.
3. Forbidding the giving of any
undue or unreasonable preference as
between persons or localities, or kinds
of traffic, orthe ~subjecting any OF them
to undue or unreasonable prejudice or
disadvantage.
4. Requiring reasonable, proper and
equal facilities for the interchange of
traffic between lines, and for the re-
caiYing, forwarding and delivering OF
passengers and property between con-
nscting lines.
s, Forbidding determinations IN
ERtss and charges rs between connect
ing lines.
6. Forbidding the charging or re-
csiving any greater compensation for
tie transportation of passengers OF the
like kind of property under substan-
TALLY similar circumstances and con-
ditions for a shorter than for a longer
distance over the same direction, the
Ghorter being included within the
longer distance.
Z. Forbidding contracts, agreements
or combinations for the pooling OF
freights of different and competing
Hlroads, or dividing between them
the earnings of such railroads.
ALI charges made for services by
miroad companies shall be reasonable
and just.
The great difficulty which the peo-
Rle have to contend with is the idea
Of the owners of railroads that they
have the same right to control their
property that is accorded to other
people as to the management and
control Of what is their own. There
never was a greater fallscy. Rail
roads are built for the benefit of the
pnblic. For and in consideration of
fhe benefits which the people will de-
Eye by way of cheap and quick trans
Pogtation of passengers and property
the people have from time to time
granted to certain persons the exclu-
GEe right to carry freight and passen-
gers along certain lines and to con
denim to their use whatever private
property may be necessary for the
purpose of building and operating the
different lines of railroad. Some per-
son maE a piece of land along the
Inc which perhaps on account of its
associations he would not be willing
60 part with at any price; bat because
Of the benefits a0htcb dt\is supposed wiU
accrase to the public he is compelled to
give up this land. So he loses this
land, he is put to great expenses and
trouble in protecting his cattle from
danger; or perhaps his little farm is
NO damaged that he has to seek some
ether home and give up the associa-
tons of a life time.
And all this is proper, because that
should always be done which will re-
@lt in the greatest good to the great
est number though a few should suffer
nm consequence.
A grist mill run by water is for the
same reason subject to the control of
the legislature, and no one has ever
Go&plained because of any law regu-
hting their tolls or the price to be
charged for grinding corn and wheat.
There was a law regulating the prices
G& liquor, diet and lodging at public
ssverns and the public at least in some
Of the sections in this State, might be
more comfortably cared for if such
law was still in force.
That the people have a right to de-
nand that all charges by railroads
shall be reasonable and just there can
Be no doubt, and that in many cases
Rach charges are unreasonable and I'M
Fust no man who is well informed
viii deny.
What is reasonable and just depends
IN great measure upon the amount of
capital invested in the railroad and
the amount of business done by it;
for while it is true that the State has
n right to control and regulate the
railroad, it is also true that this legal
night lease to be a moral right when
the road is SO regulated and controlled
as to prevent its owners from realizing
, fair income on the capital invested.
But who is to say when these
charges are reasonable and just2 If
he State should declare that all
charges by railroads for transportation
OF passengers and freight shall be
reasonable and just would not this law
b useless if the State did not go
further and provide some economical
and speedy means by which shippers
mdtravelers could seek redress against
She violations of this law? If every
shipper or passenger should have to
seek redress in the courts every time