The state chronicle., 1891-02-25
MIR. PHILLIPS ENPLAS ALTON.

ME Phillips, Of Wa.auga, IN expiana-
ton Of his vote upon The Railroad Com
mission bill, said.
MR. SPEAKER: / do not desire to
make notoriety by making long speech.
| am no orator, neither do | ignore the
views of others, but sir, in justice to my
self and constituents | attempt to make
these remarks. | came here to represent
Watauga county as best | can. Since |
have come here [ have had the views
laid before me of our county paper; and
a number Of good citizens and Alliance
men all advised me to go against Rail
road Commission bill. We are called
upon to night to cast our votes.
have not been lobbying with any rail-
road LAWYER do not know but few of
them; do not know that they know Or
care that there is such one as me here
or any where else. L shall vote against
this bill because | think it is
not the measure that We people in my
part Of the State need. ] VIII not call 1t
an iron clad measure, but, in my opin
ion, there are some features II 1t that are
far beyond what my people want, "a meas
ure, when passed, which Will stop the fur
ther building of railroads, therefore it
to go for anything that will obstruct the
further building of railroads for at least
two years to come. 1t seems to me that
there are some railroads in this State that
commissioners cannot touch. Ii that be
SO, then it looks like injustice to adopt
measure that will make one company
rich and another poor, that does pot
seem to meet our platform of equal and
exact justice to all and special favors
to none. My people are willing for the
State to have a Railroad Com
mission provided we can have a
conservative one that will do exact US
tice to all. One that is fare to
railroads and farmers. AS you know,
Mr.. Speaker. l hail from the West, in
that Land of the Sky where there has
been SO much eloquence used in describ-
ing it as being high up towards the stars
where fogs freeze and hang between
the sky and the earth to receive the last
rays of the setting sun. My corner Of the
State may be looked upon as g worthless
corner of North Carolina, but, gentle
men, 1 am very sure if We could have
our section developed we have unsur-
passed forests Of fine timber, both in
quality and quantity; minerals of iron,
silver, copper, lead, mica, asbestos, fine
granite, ,soapstone, unsurpassed waterpow-
ers, &c but all of these endless branches
of undeveloped wealth are lying dormant
awaiting the building of railroad to
bring them to life, and then you will see
wealth added to North Carolina to over
balance, IN my opinion, the good that a
railroad commission will do. But the
people want com mission, and most of
you came here pledged for one. 1t is
right to go for it, but how can | go for
a measure which, in my opinion, may
stop the progress of a railroad through
my part of the State? Then, we ere
| looked upon as Legislature of reform
and retreDchment. The people all eX-
pect expenses lowered, and some admit
this is an experiment. Then why should
we give ten thousand dollars on the
start to experiment on matter that we
cannot see the end nor See what good ii
may accomplish ? 1t might be better
to give it to the school fund, or some OF
those institutions which we have to keeL
up, or if it is not needed give it to oul
mountain section to help start US rail
road and help US develop our mountain
section, and it might add more to the state
than the Commission will save. l believe
my brethren, if you were not pledged
some of you would be glad to go with
me against this bill. We do not complair
about freights 1t costs US more to haul tc
and from the Railroad than il
costs us to get our goods, &C.,
to the depot. We want competition
against our wagons and not against the
railroad. Now, gentlemen, when I cast
my vote Tdo hope you will not blame me,
for l think l have plainly showed you
that am trying to represent the wishes
and interests of my people, and l think
| shall act in as good faith as any one,
and this being free thing I shall vote
no, and when do that believe | shall
have represented the best wishes of my
county.