The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-02-11

4
Senator Butler will be signed NJ. B."
WILL. THE SOUTHERN RAILROAD
CHOOSE THE RAILROAD COM
MISSION"
II will be noticed that one OF the
terms Of the pie deal between the Re-
publicans and the Hanna boilers, is
that the Republicans get the Railroad
Commission. II is almost certain that
this means that the Southern Railroad
will get commissioner OF their own
choosing. This is simply another ev-
idence to show the hand that the
southern Railroad has played in the
whole Infamous deal The Southern
Railroad learned that it could not con-
troll and run the Peoples Party as il
has controlled over both the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties for
about twenty years. That foreign
Rothchilds' corporation could not con-
troll and dictate the action OF the Peo.
pies Party caucus Of this General AS
sembly Therefore it was important
TO have the Republican caucus to
break its cooperative contract with |
the Peoples Party caucus and make
deal with the boilers. 1t was no
doubt though that ali or at least a
part Of Mark Hanna Populists who
had been handled for Pritchard could
also be handled for the Southern Rail- |
road. Hence the breaking of the CO.
operative contract and between the
Republican caucus and the boiling
Populists. This was a distinct and
signal victory for the goldbug cOrpOr
atoms. Did Gov. Russell see this
when he was advising the Republic
cans and boilers to go in and make a
deal to put power and pat
ronage into hi, hands? Did
he advise and help to consumate this
deal with hiseyes Open2 Did he know
when he entered the deal with them
that it would endanger the passage of
the Lease Bill, rs well as fasten upon
the State another Railroad COmmis-
sioner who will be against the people
and be too friendly to the greedy,
grasping and selfish interests of the
Southern Railroad? OR was Gov. Rus
sell so blinded by his desire for power
that he was led into the trap.
However that may be, one thing is
clear, that the Southern Railroad is
n ev..tt hn
wants on the Railroad Commission.
There is yet one way to partially check
their scheme. The present Commits
sion act Is probably the best and most
comprehensive law in the United
states. Ii the people had ma jority
OF the Commission, there are very few,
IL any, abuses (within the jurisdic-
tion of the State that could not be cor
rected Ivy and under the present law.
But it now seems clear that the corpO-
rations will have a majority of this
Commission. How can Gov. Russell
justify himself (if he favors co-opera-
ton, reform and justice to the people,
in taking a course that will pack the
Commission against the people?
But this makes it all the more i'm.
portant for this General Assembly tC
amend the Commission law so as to
LIST. Require the Commissioners to bt
elected by the people.
"a. The reduction of passenger rates
at least to two (2) cents per mile, and
similar reduction in freight rates.
Sd. The reduction of telegraph rate
TO ten (l0) cents for a message of tel
I0) words.
4th. To prohibit the giving, takin,
or using telegraph franks, or railroa.
free passes.
9th. To force the State Railroa,
Commission to take up and prosecut
before the Inter State Commerce Com
mission all cases of unreasonable O
unjust rates and Determinations be
tween persons and localities in thi
State and in other States.
The commission has the power o d
all OF these things under the presen
law, but they have not done it, an
will not do il in the future il man i
elected Railroad Commissioner VIII
sides with the railroads against tn
people. Therefore if the people are t
get any relief or justice these amend
ments must b. passed; if these amend
ments are passed, then even a com
mission composed of railroad attorney
could not entirely defeat the ends ,
Justice. Besides, il these amendm,p nj
are passed, the people will htreafte
elect their own commissioners an
Prevent corrupt deals in the Legisl ,
ture to defeat the will of the peop]
and betray the interest of the State
see the bill containg these amendmen,
published in another column. Let II
amendments be passed. Let Go
Russell atone, as far as possible, for h
wrongs or mistakes by throwing II
weight of his administration in fsy,
OF the passage of the bill c0ntainip
these amendments. The people a,
suffering from real and grievo,
wrongs. IL present leaders and rer
resentatives will not right the
wrongs. then they will find leade,
and representatives who will.
NJ. B.