Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-02-07
A RAILROAD COMMISSION.
SOME ACTIONS ON THIS SUB
JECT RECALLED.
Mr. Kepler Makes "a statement of
Interest-The Committee Who
Went to Raleigh tor the Mer-
NlanutS


Interest-The Committee WHO
Went to Raleigh for the Mer-
chants.
EDIToR THE CITIZEN Il ask to make
statement in regard to my telegram to
the State Chronicle and communication
force the committee in relation thereto,
published in yesterdays CITIZEN.
That the matter may the better be un-
dcrstood by the public, will present what
has been done of similar nature, and
cali attention to the methods employed
W hen the Railroad Commission subject
has been under consideration. Four
years ago when Mr.. Richmond Pearson
was our rcprcscntativc-whc the
Railroad Commission bill came mp
he wrote to hsheviie, aud al
thought the writer was ut that time
president Uf the board OF trade. Mr..
Pearson's letter was to Mr.. Sawyer and
this gentlemen carried the letter i'll his
pockets for several days and when hc
handed it to me time was very short and
a meeting Of the board of trade had to
be called on very short notice. To this
meeting, by singular coincidence the
stalwarts for the corporations were
present, but lew Others, the meeting not
being representative in any sense | had
issued a circular and made publication
through the papers, following this with
petitions; these petitions were signed by
1875 citizens of Ashcvilc and sent to Mr..
Pearson as expressive Of the sentiments
OF the people here.
Two years ago meeting of the board
of trade was called for the purpose OF
sending delegates to Ruthcriordton to
ask the Carolina Central to extend its
line to Ashevlle. No mention was made
of the railroad commission club, but
Capt. Matt Atkinson introduced rcso-
luton in that meeting, that it is the
sense OF this board that since there is an
Interstate commission, the interests OF
this section do not demand state COM
mission"
Here is the attendance at that meeting
and record OF their votes: Voting for
resolution: ". Ridgcley Pcnnlman, J.
II, Herring, L, Levy, Matt Atkinson, Dr
]. II. Williams, {. L. Graham, !. ". Cort
; land, {. d. Blanton. Capt T, W. Patton
G. 5. Powcll-10.
Voting against resolution: $. X, Kcp
ler-l.
Not voting; ]. p. SAWYER, G. A. Shu
ford, w. W. Barnard, W. b. Gwyn--t
Thus above is presented a ccurd or 2
= meeting of fifteen persons which Wa
then made to appear as expressive o
. the sentiments OF the people Of thi, see
= ton. Capt. Matt Atkinson went I,
Raleigh and made this representation,
and the influence of his statements wr,
? potent, and Y. S. Lusk and ! 5 7
: Baird voted against commission Capt
NJ. L. Carter, knowing his constitute
: better and being III touch with them
votcdfor commission.
This brings the matter up to tn
present, and it will strike the public tha
: very similar tactics have been practice
!. on three different occasions When tn
railroad commission subject has bee
> under consideration. ! do not know
!. that should have submitted this con
munication but for the fact that TIT
CITIZEN, without my consent or apprC
baton, showed the committee bcior
publication my telegram, and thus aide
their personal energies III bctorchandncs
III this matter.
do no, sec that the signatures n
tachcd to the committees telegram. NJ
der the condition that they were gottcl
sustain or indicate their action at IA
cigh. Several parties who ! have aSkc