The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-24
is CALDWELL WITH HIM =?
REGRETS THAT HE VOTED FOR
LOWER RATES.
THINKS THAT THE RAILROADS WILL WIN
Reported that The Governor Has Ordered The
North Carolina Railroad Lease Case
Stricken Off the Circuit
Court Docket.

IUuIt DOShCts
II is reported that the North Carolina
Railroad lease case has been, by requesf
of Governor Russell, stricken from the
Circuit court docket.
This. if true. is important, in that it
goes to prove what the News and OBJ
server has for sometime been charging:
That Russell has gone ever TO Andrews
Another Jacob parts with his political
blrthright for a mess of pottage.
OF course everybody knew that sooner
or later the case would be stopped. if the
railroad had the power to do ii; that all
along the Southern has been bluffinS
and did not intend TO go into the courts
as it did not want to have its high sal
aries and free passes shown up. As
proof of it they have secured the aban-
donment of the appeal in the North
Carolina least matter to the United
States and the restoration of rates
And why all this w!ieref0reneSs
on the part Il His ESce'lency
Governor Russell Simply 10 lease
the Atlantic AMI NGrfh Carolina
Itailroad. And tht, too when Pres
ldent Spencer, if high railroad official
is to he believed. has recently said that
the North Carolina lease litigation was
interfering with the sale OF his bonds
and stocks. and he directed Vice. President
Andrews to have the matter settled if he
had to give $4,000 for the Atlantic and
North Carolina Railroad lease and let
the reduction of rates ITO and 21a cents
stand. In spite of this Governor Russell
takes $4,000 and is preparing to put
rates back to 2M and 81 cents.
Is it that Governor Russell is only
poor trader or does somebody pocket the
difference?
TO get through such deal, Though,
the Governor must have aid from the
Railroad Commission.
1t was a great big job and hard
spirits he had to deal with, but he fotch
'em. In Chairman Caldwell he seems to
have found congenial spirit whom he
could summon or dismiss at pleasure ana
always to do his will.
Hear the confession out of the chair
mans own mouth, as printed in his
home paper, the Statesville Landmark:
MIR. l.. G. Caldwell, chairman of the
Railroad Commission, returned home
last week from the meeting of the Com
mission which oyer-ruled the eXceptoi.S
Of the railroads to the order of the
Commission reducing passenger rates,
and while Mr.. Caldwell voted to over
rule these exceptions he seems TO be
clearly of the opinion that he did wrong.
He says frankly that he voted against
his better Judgment and fOolisnly
yielded to the clamOr of politicians. He
says the Commission has no evidence
to sustain its action and he feels 1nat
the railroads viii gain the case under
the recent Nebraska decision of the
United States Supreme Court when
they 90 into the courts as they viii.
Taking this view Mr.. Caldwell says he
can see no sense in contending about a
matter which will cost the taxpayers a
large sum in the courts when he can
see nothing but defeat in the end.
With reference to his voting against
Commissioner Pearson's Judgment
which the latter desired to enter on
the record, Mr.. Caldwell says he
thought if they had. to fight the rail
roads in court it was best not to show
their hand, as was proposed in this
Judgment. The judgment. it is said
was written by Judge Clark.
ut is said that Gov. Russell now adj
mits that he yielded to clamor when re
went into the courts with the lease fight,
that he now sees that he is beaten. after
his fight has cost the State a large sum
of money, and that he is anxious to get
out of it.
Mr.. Caldwell is aware that he will
subject himself to criticism by his
plain statements but he is ev lently of
the. opinion, indeed says, that tae clamor
against the railroads is largely for no
litical purposes Under the Nebraska
decision he says the authority of the
Railroad Commission is confined to in
tra-State busihess-purely domestic
matters-and its jurisdiction is so linn
tied that he is in favor OF abOlishing the
Commission and saving the State the
$4,000 or $4,000 per year that it
costs. He says the Council of State
could easily attend to such duties as are
incumbent on the Commission ard thus
effect a great saving
Mr.. Caldwell went TO Raleigh Satur-
day night, it is snpPosed for further
consultation with Gov. Russell abour
the matter II is evident thar he is en-
tirely now of the Governors way of
thinking: that he favors. under present
conditions, Russehs proposition to let
passenger rates stand AMI accent the
Southern's proposition to lease the AT
lantic and North Carolina Railroad If
the lease fight is stopped-the Southern
TO pay all the lease agitation eyrquSns.