The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-08-26

mailed 10 Mai. j. W. Wilson, Chair
man Of the Railroad Commission and
To y. Otho Wilson, a member OF the
Commission, serving notice upon them
to answer the allegations which he
sets forth and to show cause tif they
cam by or before sept. Let, why they
are not "disqualiiied To act" under the
statute.
The statute creating the Railroad
Commission makes il the duty Of the
Governor To suspend any OF the Com
mi4sioners from office who "shall have
any interest in any way in such com
pany or "shail become disqualified TO
act" This provision is similar To the
power Of removal OF Federal officials
by the President, except that
there is the additional safeguard that
the Governors suspension is subject
to approval by the next General AS
sembly and his aplointee in any event
only holds till the General Assembly
approves or disapproveshis action. In
the former case il elects a new Com
missioner, in the latter it reinstate the
old one.
The object Of tins provision is to in
sure the impartiality Of the Commits
sioners, who are liable to every infiu-
ence which the experienced, adroit
and INSCRIPTIONS manipulstOrs Of
the corporations can bring to bear
upon them. It has been stated in the
press, and so far has not been denied
that two of the Railroad Commission
ers, Maj. j. w. Wilson and ). Otho Will
SOD, constituting a majority, are inter-
ested in railroad eating house at
Round Knob, together with Col. A. Il.
Andrews who holds an interest in said
property. TO establish this eating
house, in which the majority Of the
Commission are interested, the eating
houses formerly existing at Hickory
and at Asheyille were both ruthlessly
suppressed and the schedule arranged
Tor the trains, "agwine and acoming"
To stop at the Railroad Commissioners
eating house at Round Knob.
The railroads are in receipt of enor-
nous passenger and freig ht rates in this
State which have not been reduced
with the enhanced value of money, so
that ii results that the net income of
the railroads in this State for some
time past has been over fifteen per cent.
on the sworn value Of their
property, and the excess OF their
earnings, over and above a TeasOna-
BILE interest on that value, has
been ~ 100000 annually. This illegal
excess collected by the railroads is
more than double the amount Of our
State and school tax. There has been
a we'll defined demand by the public,
that this immense excess of 81, 300,Q 900
be taken from our shoulders. The Rail-
road Commission have the power, and
IL vas their duty to do this. For years,
they have failed to do so.
Public sentiment appealed to the
last Legislature and the measure was
defeated oniy by one vote in each
House, and many members voting
against 1t alleges that they would
have voted otherwise but for their un-
derstanding that the Commission
would itself reduce rates. Since the
Legislature adjourned, the Commits
sioners have set their faces like flint
against any reduction of the burdens
placed upon the public by the rail
roads. In sucblcircumstances, it is of
the highest Importance, and the sacred
duty of the Governor to see that the
Commissioners are absolutely unbiased
and able to do justice to the
public. But the facts brought
out to the public, and, SO far un-
oontradicted, not only show that two
other eating houses were suppressed
50 as to give the Round Knob Hotel
the monopoly of the business, but il Is
easy to see that il the Railroad Com
mission shall cut down the exorbitant
railroad rates, the Southern" can cut
down the receipts of the Round Knot
Hotel to nothing by letting its trains
stop elsewhere for meals, for no one
lives at Round Knob and there is not
another house there, and hence there
is no patronage except what the rail.
road voluntarily gives it. Further.
more the hotel itself is on the railroad
right OF way and can be taken at any
time by the company unless the owner:
have ian interest in some way" witt
the company by contract, express OF
implied. Certainly, Railroad Commits
sioners who place themselves in sucl
relations with the companies are dis
qualified to act.
There are also statements of othel
obligations. These two commissioner
have placed themselves under tn,
railroads (whOse rates they shout,
have been untrammelled in fixing) a
not only by riding on free passe
themselves but by soliciting an,
using free passes for members of thei
families, by having their freight haul
ed either free or at reduced rates, an,
one Of the Commissioners by havin,
his son "a minor) employed by tn
company, and promoted out of his or
der over the heads Of others. Thes
and other allegations, il true, rende
them unfit to act impartially in mat
ters Of so great Importance to the pub
lie, and the Governor has discharge
his sworn duty in giving them motto
to show cause why they should not b
suspended from office "as disquaIifie
to act.
The Governor has dealt right an
the investigation should be thorous
and the entire facts bearing on tn
subject should be brought out an
laid before the public and action take
In accordance therewith.
To write this editorial 10 the mos
. IA A. II