The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-03-05
THE FIGHT OVER THE COMMISSION.

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THE FIGHT OVER THE COMMISSION.
Many of our exchanges have
been complimenting the skill
with which the friends o! the
Commission engineered through
the bill intact against such
!adroit, insiduous and dangerous
attacks as were made on it.
The Charlotte Democrat speaks
Of it as follows:
"The great Legislative event
has been the Railroad Commits
sion Bill. 1t has been reported
from the committee by Senator
Butler, acting for the majority,
and a minority report signed by
Senators Grigsby and Walser,
was also submitted. Senator
Lucas offered an amendment
substituting $4,000 instead of
So, 300 as the pay Of the Com
missioners, and this was adopted
by vote Of ayes 25, nays ID.
Mr.. Audry voting in the mega
tive. Another amendment, to
to the effect that no member of
the present General Assembly
shall be a member Of the Com
mission, was offered by Senator
Grigsby and adopted. Senator
Butler said that the two amend
ments adopted did not effect the
principles Of the bill or the pow
ers contained therein, but gave
notice that every other amend
ment would BIZ fought. The bill
was discussed until adjourn
ment. Yesterday it came mp
again in the Senate as unfinish-
ed buslress, and an exciting de-
bate occurred. It was evident
that the friends of the bill had
determined 10 force it through
as near as possible as 1t came
from the hands of the commit
tee, and Senator Butler, who
championed the bill, as it was
discussed by seetions,performed
his part in defense of the com.
mittee with all the adroitness
Of a most accomplished pArlia.
mentarian. He cOmbated each
! and every attempt to tack on
amendments, and succeeded in
killing every one, which were
offered in the following order
Requiring the different railroad
companies to file, within thirty
days, schedule If rates, ani
that the Commission shall care
. fully examine such rates, and
il found correct, they be adapt
ed by the roads. CThis was il
: the interest Of making the Com
mission an advisory one, ant
was rejected). Requiring ce-
tain sums paid into the Treasury
to be refunded to the companie:
voted down. Proposing tc
strike out the section requiring
: a bond of $25, 900 on the part o
| roads appealing for injunction
= in cases where the roads con:id
er they are dealt unjustly will
in establishing rates-vote(
down. Allowing railroad dam
ages in Certain cases-votet
down. That two separate &C
lions shall not be brought for tn.
same act Of slegligence-.votet
: down. To reduce the pay o
the Commissioners to $1,5O'
introduced by Senator Gallo
way)-voted down. To ALLOW
the people ot the State 10 cleo
the Commissioners after tn,
first election by the General As
: sembly Offered by Mr.. Walser
voted down.
Thus, with no innovation OF
the feature Of the bill as it cam,
2 from the committees, exec pt tn,
: reduction of the salary to $1,000
= and ineligibility of the member
!. of the present General Assem- bl!
9 the bill reached a vote on tn,
!. second reading, and was adopted
e by a good majority. Explana
b tions of votes were mode. Sen
! ator Lucas said he had hoped
/ for a bill giving less power t,
g the Commissioners. He declar
g ed that he voted for The bill a.
/. the best he could do under tn,
t circumstances, but that he dit
8 80 with reluctance. Senate
/ Williams declared that he vote,
y for the bill "with mental reser
: vations." The bill then cam,
Y up on the third reading, AM
= Senator Bell, sprung, as it were
9 a new question, which he deem
l.. ed essential t. the welfare O
: Western North Carolina, in tn,
8 matter Of obtaining needed rail
a road facilities. He offered an
8 amendment relative to the regu
g lation OF freight. 1t declared
that the Commission SHALL tax,
= into consideration the Difficult
g ties Of building railroads in tn,
t mountains Of the West. Sena
8 tor Lucas, with all his accnstom
J. ed tact and zeal, came to the res
9 cue OF the proposed am endmen
as did Senator Avery. For
O time an ugly spat seemed immi
b nent, and 1T looked I'D if tn
= amendment would be adopted
q but at this iuncture Senator But