The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-01-22
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION BILL

Win ldICS anu neg llto CCt"SSi ototioAio
n this State; and second, that the
rates must be reasonable according to
The findings Of the courts. That is, the
courts at last are to fix the rates. And |
we are further sustained in tine view |
that in fixing reasonable rates, the |
court must have regard TO the value of
the property, and the cost of running
the trains and of doing the work.
There is only one point of which the
of the bill fails to take
notice the bill is made to apply to
all roads, while the charters of some of
the roads will exempt them from the
operation Of the bill. That, however,
could not we'll be declared in the bill
itself. But as matter of fact the old,
strong roads, we believe, have such
provisions in their charters as exempt
them from the operation of the bill.
When we consider that, and further
consider that our railroad freights are
about the same as are now in force in
Georgia, where they have commits
sion, the query arises as to the neces-
sity for the measure.
And as we have said from the be-
ginning if it is not expected that there
will be lower freights, and we do not
believe that there will be, that fact
ought to be published SO that the peo-
pie will not be deceived about it. The
people should not be misled. The line
between assumed patriotism founded
on demagogism on the one side, and
an honest purpose to serve the best in
terest of our people is often very hard
to distinguish.
Indeed, very upright men may
themselves fail to distinguish the
Springs of their own actions, and may
ascribe to patriotic ardor what has its
foundation in a hope to catch popular
applause.
The Messenger speaks as follows:
The, Railway Commission bill as il. now
ment, is as follows: 1t provides for three
| commissioners to be elected by the Legis-
y
terms of those whose term of office begin
April LIST next, shall serve two, four and
six years respectively. In case of a va
cancy the Governor appoints until the
Legislature elects. The commissioners
not to be stockholders or interested in
any railway or steamboat or express or
telegraph company, or to have been
(wlthin year OF their eiectiOn) the attOr-
neys OF any such corporation or an en-
ploye. The salary to be $4,000 yearly,
and the clerk to be allowed 81 200. The
money to meet these expenses shall be
divided pro rata among the several rail-
way companies; according to the assessed
value of their property in this State, and
shall be collected regularly in the same
way as other taxes upon railway prop
erty and shall be accounted for by county
treasurers. The office of the commission
shall be at Raleigh. If after the passage
| OF the act any such company as aforesaid
shall charge, collect, demand or receive
| more than fair and reasonable rate of
toll or other compensation for the trans
pOrtatiOn OF passengers or freight of any
kind or for the use and transportation
OF cars on its track, the same shall be
deemed guilty of extortion. If any CON-
pany shall make any UNI lust discrimina-
ton in its rates or charges of toll or COM
pensatiOn for the transportation of pas
sengers or freight it shall be violation of
this act. The commissioners are to make
reasonable and just rates of freight and
passenger tariffs to be observed by all
railway companies doing business in this
State and in making rates shall consider
the actual value of the employed capital
OF the corporation, its earnings ION its
road; and the cost of operating the road:
and shall make reasonable and just rules
and regulations, to be observed by all
railways doing business in this State, as
to charges at any and all points for the
necessary handling and delivering of
freight, and also rules to prevent unjust
discrimination in the transportation of
freight and passengers and shall also
make rules to prevent the giving of any
rebate or bonus, directly or indirectly,
and to prevent the misleading or deceiv-
ing the public in any manner as to the
real rates charged for freights and pas
sengcrs, and the commissioners shall
have full power to fix the difference in
rates for long and short hauls. But moth
ing in the act shall control the rates for
freight which comes from or goes beyond
the limits of the State, although COM
plants of these shall be..investigated,a and
if necessary brought before the United
States Inter-States Commerce Commits
sioners by this commission. The commits
sion shall have power, acting with the
railways, to make special rates for the
purpose of developing manufacturing
enterprises in the estate. Schedules ofrates
are to be prepared for each company
The companies after having filed excep-
lions with the commission) to the rates
it objects to and the grounds of objection,
shall have the right OF appeal to the
courts from the decision of the commits
sion, which is to be given within ten days
after filing of complaint. Such cases shall
Sve precedence of other civil actions.
Ger party may appeal to the Supreme
rom the Judgment of the Superior
ilway corporation shall in thirty
= the commission is organized
V Z, of its freight and passenger
A,nmissiOners shall investi-
n>d papers of all railways
We State and shall per-
- and Offices, with
Gents and en-
N.der oath, to
Regulations
Night and
i to the
ction
em-