The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-03
THE NORTH CAROLINA
ROAD LEASE. N"'L'

having been over reached by C% u
B Andrews in driving a baroa;n w. a
[ can make a suggestion wb;al But
show that the State still has tbl VIII
in bandit there is nerve enonob whip
her numerous professed frion3 plons
use it. "oS 70
The legislature of North Caror.,
the power to fix freight and naaaa US
rates for all business done on+;s u8f
this State. 1t can certainly fly tbos II
rates Of the particular cornorot'a '
question. Now if all the noua1S ID
who are bewailing the fate Of +bp PstS
in having such feeble admin, 20 o'a'e
its railroad policy, will unite ~
handing that the local PASSENGER us
OF the Southern Railway be reduces,
TWO cents a mile for frst-cIaoa "
seDgers, and that a similar rndrol
be made IN the freight rates the nr.,
legislature will be compelled to no.s
law to such effect. Public eantin
already demands it as to all rsi1r..5,
but 1t takes a great deal Of agira.
give public sentiment voice.
The Supreme Court of the rn;,.,
States has already decided that q otoI
may determine and limit the f,o,,5.
and passenger rates within its bor3e.,
provided it allows a reasonable rotn,.
for the investment; and five Or siv 49,
cent, in these times, on the vaIoa -
the Investment, would be Regarded a.,
q very reasonable return. II the Iao;,
lature, when it meets, feels az pycs,r
outraged about Col. Andregs' baro.
as the newspapers profess to be. H.,
will doubtless fix the freight and pss
senger rates 30 that they will not viq3
any more than enough to keep the An
nual rental to the State paid If te
legislature does this, Col. Andrews
bargain, for the making Of which hs
astuteness has been so highly c5mDh
O. mp
mented, would not over-reach the STATE
much at last, for whatever redouDdsn
the benefit Of the people of the State
rebounds to the benefit of the STATE
B sides. if such rates are adopted as to
one road in which the State has such
tremendous interest, it may lay The
foundation Of reducing rates on other
roads and thereby save the people Of
the State millions annually. The tax
paid to corporations, much of which
used in shamefully high salaries to
officials, is not the least burdensome
the people have to bear.
Any reason which can be giver hr
the reduction of this tax will be rt
upon by them with avidity. I sbal
look confidently forward for the re
publication of this letter by every
newspaper which sincerely bewail8 the
fate Of the Safe in being in the hard3
Of Incompetent railroad directors. The
sins Of these directors may teach the
people a lesson which, with the aid Of
honest newspapers, they will be abIe0
beat into the heads of future laWmaE
ers, It is no use for the railroads to
say that they cannot stand any reduc
ton. The high salaries paid thol
officials and the cut rates they use 70
crush cut one another show that the!
are doing a fine business and can even
aft ord, occasionally, the luxury ots
war with their neighbo-s in the sam:
business.
There is no doubt in my mind that
the Railroad Commissioners ~Oughttobe
elected by the people of the State
Their election by the Legislature has,
tendency to cause that body to be DE-
bauched by railroad infuerCe9. Many
thousand dollars, and many Ofice8aH
favors of more value than money ha0
fearfuily corrupting iIfIence Wha
directed with their full force upon
comparatively few individuals. MucA
if not most, of corporate irfuenc0n
securing legislation is exerted throus'
party machinery, for the high press
of parties are often in the active en-
ploy OF railroads. The outcome OF Slca
il fuences will often be the election"
Railroad Commissioners who are !"
conservative and lack nerve in alma
ters Of reform. Until the rallfo''
problem is settled, the Railroad CoD
missioner is the most important ONCE
In the State. All tie railroads IN W.
State put together have not more
enough nOr favoIs nor offices to W
bauch its whole people or a majorI!~
them. Therefore the whole people b.,
the latest to trust with the election Z,
officers of such vital importance
is we'll known that all the RAILROADS"
the State have money and LhisD~
enough TO either cJrrupg or daDgeF'U
~ Influence the average Legislature"