The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-13
RAILROAD COMMISSION.

n0bnlng upon Gn6 Ojoc OL D Lal4'
road Commission, for the eason that
we did not care to discuss the question
in advance of the meeting of the Gen
eneral Assembly. But now that the
legislature is in session, there are a
few things that we wish to say.
The Alliances in North Carolina de-
sire the creation of a Railroad Com
mission. Many of the members of the
present General Assembly we're elected
upon an express understanding be
tween them and their constituents
that, if elected, they would help to
perfect and vote for a good Commis
sion bill. The Alliancemen are in the
majority in both houses of the Assem-
bly,; and they a pass such a bill if
they want to do so. The Alliancemen
will be held responsible for the char
aoter of the legislation passed this
winter by friends and foes alike. No
class will be louder in the condemna
ton of the Alliancemen in the Assem-,
bly, than the politicians, if these Ali,
ancemen fail to pass a Railroad Com
mission bill. And such failure will
be sure to destroy the confidence of
the people in the stability and indie,
pendence of the farmers of the State,
because it is known that a large ma.
iority of these armer-representatives
we're in favor of such a measure when
they LETT their homes and came to
Raleigh.
We mention the above facts to
bring the representatives of the people
face to face with the responsibilities
OF their present position. The most
frightful pressure that can be employed
will be brought to bear, a it is be,
lieved it was brought to bear two
years ago, to defeat this Measure.
And, if members yield to this pres
sure, they must hold themselves in
readiness to take all the consequences
of such yielding. 4
The members of the Legislature wilb
be told that like commissions have not
worked benefcially in other States
in Georgia, for example. But it will
be sufficient to ask those who use this
argument, why the law supervising
railroads, in Georgia, has not been re-
pealed, if it does not work well in that
State? The users Of this argument
may also be asked to name the State
thas eve took the supervision of rail
roads into it's hands, and then gave it
up, because it did not work well.
Gentlemen will be informed that
the creation of a Commission will dis
courage railroad extension in the
State; and it will be said that to hin
der the extension of our railroads at
this time will be to cripple the plans
now being put into operation for the
development of our great national re-
sources. To this argument it may be
enough to say, that railroads r
lever builded for the sake of their be.
~nevolent effect. But they are builded
to put money into the pockets of their
owners, and any effect which they
have in fastening the so called devel-
opment of natural resources is merely
accidental. 1t may be further said,
in reply to this argument, that the de-
velopment of natural resources is not
desirable, under any circumstances,
unless such development shall add
some elements of prosp Gritty and hap
piness to all the people; and the expe-
rience of the masses of the people, in
connection with the development of
resources by railroad building in this
country, is not such as to justify any
very radiant hope of Astounding good
to any persons outside of the classes
known as stockholders and boards of
directors.
Legislators will be told that capital
is very timid and easily frightened
away by any proposition from any
quarter to exercise control over it's
operations. To this argument it may
be said, that there appears to be no
good reason why honest capital, hon.
estly seeking to earn honest dividends