The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-27

this subject and the remedy Tor III IN
ate mum Der OF the Ameri IAN Law Re-
view. lie calls attention to the fact
hat very recently the Governors OF
Illinois and Missouri were forced TO
call special sessions because the cor
poration Hobbies had defeated neces-
sary legislation at the regular session
But instances abound. 1t Is notori-
Gus that in all the Southern states the |
corrup. legislation OF carpet-bag days
was procured by lobbies-
FREE PASSES.
Attention should now, and pending |
the election Of members Of the leglsla-
ture, be pointedly called TO the TACT |
that the most potent lever OF the cor
porotion lobby IL the free pass. AS
these fayOrs are not sent to members
before they become such, and cease
when they cannot vote longer on rail-
road measures, that fact alone should
prevent acceptance by any member.
The excuse is they all do
il and hence an aroused public con-
-cience must procure an act forbiding
free passes. This the people have now
forced into the Constitution OF Ne"
York and several other states. SIM
liar provision should be IN every state
Constitution. There Is no excuse IN any
member Of n legislature taking Tree
pass, "a he il one of the few officers ex-
pressly provided by the state with
mileage, and the sum allowed Is
enough 10 pay his actual railroad fare
TO the state Capitol and home again
not once only, but several times. let
the free pass is the railroad lobbyists
strongest pull. 4 railroad official has
a ~ thn ground
that he could "infiuence many man
by free pass To whom he dare not Of
| fer money direct" In the last North
Carolina legislature bill to forbid
free passes. copied from the provision
! in the New York Constitution, was in
PRODUCED and favorably reported by
the committee, but it was not allowed
to pass, being stolen from the files no
less than three times by some railroad
lobbyist. A legislative investigation
resulted in the desired delay and
nothing more. The bill was copied
from the New York COnstitu-
ton, and well known rail-
road official called in person TO
secure the withdrawal OF the
bill. ON being told that the bill had
not only been prepared by request
but that il was in the interest of hon
esty and honest legislation, he used
the following language which may be
pOndered over by all honest men, out
side Of North Carolina as well as with
in its bounds. said he:
alt might as well be withdrawn. II
can never pass. The fellows that come
here to the legislature are always anx
! ious to be raped with pass. There ii
; A., manning prominent MANI why
: on Yesterday he asked for a pass fO
b, himself his wife, his sister, his tW'
= children and his aunt, and do yo'
+ think such d--dsdtl, rs that will vot
), against free passes!"
, SUCH CATTLE AS THAT.
; "Such caHIc as that" is the opinion
railroad men have of legislators VIII
> are to vote on their measures and ye
II take railroad money in the shape c
II free passes. Now is the time the pee
{ pie should discriminate and see whetl
y er they are sending railroad cattle c
= men to represent them in the legisls
u ture of the several States.
&c If proper care is taken, Legislature
l. in the several States can be electe
u this fall, as well as a Congress, whic
i will give bona Ede honest reduCtiO
III TdllTOdu CndI ScS, sO lHdVCA loi
ie amount as to stop the manufacture
u millionaires, necesitate moderate sa
- aries for railroad officials, the drO]
'e ping Of railroad ownership OF new
40 papers and Hobbies and which shall r.
OF store prosperity to the wealth prOdu
~ ers OF the land. All this can be dOI
y by electing legislatures that will n
ie be humbugged or lobbied, and tn
le will faithfully cut rates down to Il
er legal limit of 6 per cent. or less on Il
r actual worth of the roads, "withO
III trimmings" for high salaries, al
IL other expensive gear.
- CONTROL BY LEGISLATION.
Is, In Wellman's case, 143 u. $. r
& ports, 1.-The court says that the pow
ne of the legislature to cut down and
wv all railroad charges sis not subscribe
u, to the discretion of the railroad CO
rt poration which may by exOrbita1
as and unreasonable salaries, or in sOr
err other improper way, transfer its ear
H. ings into what 1t is pleased to call 20
ny Grating expenses" In other wore
the salaries and other railroad e
penses being collected out Of the Pc
pie by one of their own creatur
ito their representatives, in legislatu
Ipr lldNc W SupCl
in and pass on all railroad salaries a
,Iv expenses when they come to fix
,ni reasonable rates the railroads shall
of allowed to charge. The people til
,ut have the relief in their own hands.
yer In the South one great railroad s.
so TEN has been more considerable of
nt. poverty of our people than the ra
,er road commissions, and has itself p
nal scented the public voluntarily wit
la reduction of 33 l-3 per cent. on TIL
,.- rates. Another, still more liberal,
~, granted reduction from their form
en- high rates of so per cent. though
IN has been charged-I know not h
In truly-that the latter at once prOcul
di- from judge an injunction agai
, a their own hberality. If railroad &C
for missioners will not give the people
. q benefit Of an order reducing RAJ
sod there should at least be ratchet 8
nm pawl" to prevent their going up ags
ida The railroad companies having vol
tarily reduced rates are estOpped
say the new rates are not hi gh enOu
hey They have never been accused of
,as- taking care of their own interests
be of being too benevolent to the pub
q il WALTER CLARE
we'd ----------------------
and Overproductlon and Starvation.
Ia Id People are starving in New Y
sed city and potatoes are sold by Ca