The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-02

not 60 further aud provide some
economical and speedy means by
which shippers and travellers could
seek redress against tie violations OF
this law? Ifeyery shipper or pas>
,enger should have TO seek redress
in the courts every time lie was
charged few dollars TOO much, and
# in every case petit jury should
have 10 decide whether or not in that
particular instance the charge haa
been reasonable and just, the law
would be Of no practical benefit and
the railroad companies would he free
to charge, as they do now, whatever
in their opinion they thought pro-
per.
Are the charges Of the different
railroad companies in the State for
transportation Of passengers and
freight always reasonable and jast!
If they are then no lsw Is needed to
make them so.
If these charges are sometimes
unreasonable and unjust, and the
remedy if any, Low provided is
economical, speedy and practicable,
then no further law is required.
It is for YOU, my readers to am
swer this question. You are the
sovereigns of this republic; aud by
ycur commands must your servants,
the Members of the Legislature, be
guided.
Railroads, as before stated, are
built for the benefit of the public,
| and there is an implied contract be-
tween the State and the rallrOad
companies that all people shall have
reasonable and equal facilities for
transportation of persons and freight.
It needs no argument TO show the
Injustice Of charging oAe person
more than another Tor the like ser
vice. All persons are equally in
terested IN the railroad, and in a
qualified sense it belongs to all the
people. Those persons who have
ny their labor and capital built and
equipped the road are beyond dis
pute entitled to manage it in what
ever way they may think proper;
and whatever profits are derived
from It belong solely to them. oI1roys
0Uided,A01Cerer. that the road is so
managed as to give to all its patrons
reasonable and equal facilities and
conVeniences. | can charge for the
use of my horse in conveying q
traveller from Halifax to Weldon
whatever price | please or | can
charge one person one price and an,
other person another price, and no
one can complain; because the horse
is in the fullest sense my exclusive
property, and [ did not obtain this
property or ownership Of the horse
through the aid Of a grant from the
people, anil because, as L have not
the exclusive right Of hiring horses
% passengers between Halifax and
Weldon and if the traveller does not
wish to pay the price asked by me,
he can bire a horse from any other
person.
But this IS not true Of railroads.
If the Wilmington aud Weldon rall>
road company should charge enor-
nous prices for carrying cotton from
Halifax to Weldon and any other
person should wish to build q rail
road between the8e two points so as
to carry cotton at reduced but still
remunerative prices he could not do
so, because he has 10 power to take
from its owners land upon wbich to
build the road and because the vii
mlngton and Weldon company has
the exclusive privilege Of transport
ing along this line cotton by raj.
TLls privilege has been granted to
this company by the people in con-
sideratIon of an implied promise Of
equsl facilities to each and every
one OF the people. Unless this were so
the railroad company might require
one cotton merchant IN Halifax to
pay twenty-five cents per bale for
carrying cotton and at the same
time require from another Halifax
cotton merchant for the same service
only ten cents per bale, and thereby
build up and en 'ich the one a. the
expense and rain Of the other. That
this would be oppressive, UNJUST and
illegal requires no argument TO
prove and but for toe graspnZ.
lordly AMI tyrannicll conduct of at
least some of TIE railroad companies
there wonld be no necessity to adopt