The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-02-25

themselves 10 90 unlawful Work IOt
railroads. We are not willing to
admit that members of the legisla-
ture or other persons who receive
railroad passes or franks are cor
rupted or rendered unfaithful to
their constituents or oath Of offic
thereby, and therefore are opposed
to that feature of the bill.
We therefore recommend that this
bill do not pass.
BRowER,
Chairman.
MINORITY REPORT UPON H. d. NO
Bill, TO AMEND SEC. 800, PUBLIC
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 railroads and
Railload Commissioners, to whom
was referrrd the above bill,
respectfully file this report and
report and recommend that the bill
do pass.
The first section of this bill pro-
vides for the election of Railroad
Commissioners, after the present
session. by the people at the ballot
box. The Railroad Commission was
ests blished for the express purpose
of protecting the people against ex-
cesslye rates and corporation 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 opportunity for
manipulation by corporations who
are SO intensely interested in the
personnel of the Railroad Commits
sion. When our first constitution
was adopted in I776, the Governor
and all State officers were elected by
the Legislature and step by step the
people have secured the election of
all these officers. In 1894 the Pop
ulist and Republican parties, in the
State of North Carolina, went into
the campaign asking that the peo-
pie be allowed to elect the county
commissioners and justice of the
peace which are Insignificant ficers
compared to Railroad Commission
ers, 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 principle we profess to advo-
cate. And there is still more reason
for the election of Railroad Commits
sloners by the people, because they
are to protect our interest against
corporations. If 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 maximum of 2 cents per
mile for first-class passenger fare
and ! 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
discarding all excessive salaries and
improper expenditures. The rule
for fixing Of rates for freight is ex-
actly in accordance with the decis-
ions of the U. s. Supreme Court. As
to passenger rates, the Rxilro, d
Com mission reports that the rail-
roads receive on an average 2l-5
cents per mile, and as they charge
g cents for first class. it follows
that If the large number of free
passes is cut OF and every man paws
for his own riding, cents per mile
would be q very slight reduction to
the railroads in the receipts for pas
sengers, which reduction would
more than be made up by the in
creased travel Of people Who would
travel at 2 and II cents. More monev
is made by the U. 8. Postal System
at 2 cents than If they charged 4
cents per letter, or even 8 cents DER
letter. 1t costs the railroad compS.
MES as much to haul an empty sea,
as it does to haul q filed seat. Hun.
dreds OF cars are carried over Il q
roads with empty seats, whereas If
the people could go for 2 and IL
cents per mile they would be lxays
full.
Then there is the reduction in the
numerous and enormous salaries
paid railroad officials whose abate-
ment alone would permit the reduc.
ton of rates.
The s. A. L. r. R. is using 1000
mile tickets at 2 cents per mile. II
thay are able to do this they can sell
tickets at the same price to poor
people, unless increased travel (.t
lower rates) would more than make
up for the reduction. The railroads
are only entitled to net earnings cf
d per cent. economi ally managed,
yet, with their high salaries, lobby
lists and attorneys We see they are
bidding 10 per cert. on n. C.. r. r.
and or. top of this 10 per cent and
high rates they propose to male
their profits. The Southern Z. r.
70: admits by their reports and by
Col Henderson's speech that they
cleared 81, 25. 900 on their roads in
North Carolina last year.
This might be largely increased
oy reducing salaries and other un-
nece ssary expenses. But even ST.
Zf5,OOO is about 20 per cent. net on
me trne value Of their roads in n.
7: full three times and more than
What they are entitled. Pass this
bill and reduce fare from 81 and "a
to and II cents Per mile and Won
Will save lie people (a1d the most
OF these are poor peopls) on that
road alone about 5000, 900, and still
have then net Der cent to send
hothschild's ard Pierpc mt MORGAN.