The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-02-23
We therefore recommend that this
do not pass. BRowER,
Chairman.

MINORITY REPORT UPON HOUSE BILL
NO. 81, TO AMEND SECTION 800, PUB
Lie LAWS OF 1891, AND ALSO TO RE
DUCE FARE AND FREIGHT RATES AND
PROHIBIT FREE PASSES.
We the undersigned, a minority of
the Committee on Railrond and Rail
road Commissions, to whom was re
terred the above bill, respectfully file
this report and recommend that the
bill do pass.
The first section Of this bill provides
for the election of Railroad Commits
sioners, after the present session, by
the people at the ballot box. The Rail
road Commission was established for
the express purpose of protecting the
people against excessive rates and o
poration abuses. The Commissioners
were intended to be tribunes of the
people and should above all officers of
the State be elected by the popular
vote, thereby presenting the least op.
portunity for manipulation by corpora
tions who are so intensely interested in
the personnel of the Railroad Commits
sion. When our first Constitution was
adopted in 1875, the Governor and all
State officers were elected by the Legis-
lature and step by step the people have
In 1894 the Populist and Republican
parties, in the State of North Carolina,
went into the campaign asking that
the people be allowed to elect the coun-
ty commissioners and justices OF the
peace which are insignificant officers
compared to Railroad Commissioners,
by the vote Of the people at the ballot
box, and to fail to pass this section Of
the bill will be going back on the prin-
ciples We profess to advocate. And
there is etill more reason for the cleo
tion Of Railroad Commissioners by the
people, because they are to protect our
interest against corporation. II they
are elected by the people they will be
likely to represent the interest Of the
people.
The second section Of this bill pro
/ vides for a maximum Of Q sents per
mile for first class passenger fare and
] cents for second class fare, and for
reduction of. freight rates based upon
six per cent. net earnings on the real
value of the property, after d~iscarding
all excessive salaries and improper ex-
penditures. The rule for fixing of rates
for freight is exactly in accordance
with the decisions Of the y. S Supreme
Court. As to passenger rates, the Rail
road Commission reports that the rail
roads receive on an average 2 / 5 cents
per mile, and as they charge 81 cents
for first class, it follows that if the
large number of free passes is cut of
and every man pays for his own rid
ing, 2 cents per mile would be a very
slight reduction to the railroads in the
receipts for passengers, which reduc.
ton would more than be made up by
the increased travel of people who
would travel at 3 and II cents. More
money is made by the the y. 8. Postal
System at 2 cents a letter than if they
charged 4 cents per letter, or ven
cents per letter. 1t cos's the railroad
companies as much to haul an empty
seat as it does to haul a filed seat.
Hundreds Of cars are carried over the
roads with empty seats, whereas if the
people could go for 2 and II cents per
mile they would be always full.
Then there is the reduction in the
numerous and enormous salaries paid
railroad officials whose abatement
alone would permit the reduction OF
rates.
The s. A. L. R. R. is now issuing
1000 mile tickets at 2 cents per mile.
If they are able to do this they can sell
tickets at the anne price to poor peo-
pie, unless increased travel lat lower
rates. would more than make up for
the reduction. The r. RS. are only en-
titled to net earnings of 6 per cent.
economically managed, yet, with their
high salaries, lobbyists and attorneys
we see they are bidding 10 per cent. on
N. @. R. R and on top Of this 10 per
cent. and high rates they propose to
make their net profits. The Southern
R. R.. Co., admits by their reports and
by Col. Henderson's speech that they
cleared 1925, 900 on their roads in N.
O., last year.
This might be largely increased by
reducing salaries and other unneces-
sary expenses. But even 81, 275, 900 il
about 20 per cent. net on the true value
of their roads in N. G. full three times
and more than what they are entitled.