The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-13
Swansboro, N. G.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSt ION
AGAIN.

and more especially those of them who
will be members of the legislature, to
the need of great care in selecting the
Railroad Commissioners if a Railroad
Commission is created.
South Carolina has tried a weak
law and elected Commissioners with
regard to the class to which they be-
longed, one being a lawyer, one a
merchant aud one a farmer, and the
part of the State in which they lived.
The result has been a failure to give
to the people proper relief.
Georgia tried the opposite plan, a
strong law, and elected men to n
force it With regard to fitness solely.
The result has been of great benefit
to the people, and certainly no injury
to the Railroads, in fact, the Railroads
have greatly prospered.
The great danger is that in cOnsid-
ering these matters of No real lmpor
lance in the con fusion and cross pur
poses that will arise, men may be cho
sen who are not wall suited to the
work. There should be but one quail.
ifcation-itness.
b Since writing my forme: article l
have read the message o: Gov. Til
man, of South Carolina, and | beg
lyou to print a part of it as a warning
to our Legislators.
IL REGULATING H RAILROADS.
y Thus far matters which require
outlay and increased expenditure or
from which no income is derived have
been discussed. l will next touch on
the means of saving the people money,
reducing and eqalizing taxes and
increasing the States income from
the phosphate royalty. There is moth.
ing which will save the people more
money than a good railroad law,
administered by an honest, impartial,
fearless commission. The people have
demanded relief from the imposition
and injustice Of these powerful cor
porations. Hitherto all efforts to
legislate in their behalf have failed
because the railroads have welded an
undue influence with our General
Assembly.
w I'LL buS pIO6Ohb JUL L III 0u1O
the only question is as to what is best
to be done, and, a ter such investiga.
tions as l have been able to give the
subject, l unhesi5atingly advise that a
law similar to that of Georgia be en-
acted. The people of that State are
perfectly satisfied with it and the
railroads must be, because sister
! State lads the miles of new road
constru cted. Whether the choice of
commissioners shall devolve upon the
people, the General Assembly or the
Executive, is for you to detel mine.
Our platform demands that it be given
to the people, but an immediate re
organization of the commission is
desirable, while our next election is
two years off, and if pr )per men are
elected | am sure that the State will
receive instant and great benefit.
"Of one thing l am certain, the
division of the State into sections from
which the commissioners must be
drawn is wrong in principle and in
policy. We need the best men for
the place, let them come from where
they may, and let US hope that as
there was absolute obliteration of the
lire bet ween "low country" and cup
country in the last political campaign,
and the reform wave swept from the
mountains to the sea, so may the
Democrats who won and those who
lost bear and forbear with ca ;h other,
aud locking shields again, as becomes
bretnr 9n and Carollnians, forget and
forgive the bitterness which has been
engendered. Let us, in future, know
no sectional line in the State, and in
selecting men for position of honor or
trust ask not whether a candidate is q
d" Reformer" or not, but whether be
is the best man for the place. De
mocracy and fitness alone should deter
mine the matter. A law may be ever
so good and wise, but if it is moi
properly ad administered it will fail tc
give satisfaction. The Genral Assem-
oily may enact
THE GEORGIA LAW,
but if it fails TO OBTAIN the right mer
there will be no relief to the people
1--WE must get men like the Georgia
commissioners, able, honest and fear
less, or we had better abolish the
commisson aud make no ate mpts al
controlling the railroads at all. Ii
tn s connection it may be well to say
that in seeking to control railroadI
and other corporation 8 strict regard
!, should be had for their rights anC
interests. Corporations are not publ'
enemies, although they are, if un
!, bridled. apt to be oppressive. Mucl
of the material development and prog
ress of the age is the fruit of corporate
| effort, and many men, acting unde.
one head and guided by One viii
hnuo done for nnr country whaf n,