The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-31

hangs in the net. like II poor mans right
in the law; twill hardly come out. =
Shakespeare.
And his name shall be called L. Chiras
Caldwell, for he has out-Shinsed
Shiras-has this chairman of the Rail
road Commission in his voting on the
passenger rate question.
Only once did Shiras, the United
States Supreme court justice, vote to
sustain the income tax and then next
time he voted against it. Twice did
Mr.. Caldwell vote for lower passenger
rate on North Carolina railroads, and
then suddenly, without any new evil
dence or argument before the Commits
sion, he finds that he's done wrong and
straightway votes the other way. And
all because of the Nebraska decision.
he says, though it is well. known that
he had read this decision before he
gave his second vote for lower rates.
For dis vote yesterday he has been
most severely criticised, and by none
so severely as by his party associates.
the Populists. They say that he is
forever dead politically. They ought to
know.
Oven the railroad people, who had
been so polite to him and SO careful to
y
noon TO have forgotten THAT there was
such man. On everyhody's lips there
seemed to be a criticism.
The lesson of all this is convincingly
clear. The late Governor Carr was
taught it in much the same manner rs
was Caldwell After securing the mid
night 99-year lease. Col. Andrews threw
him off like an old glove, and gave his
successor suck a reception, when lie
came into office, as this city never be-
fore saw; while Governor Carr, neg
lccted and left alone, was not even i'm
vited.
Surely" said one Populist, ''Cald-
well will now have the common de-
cency to resign, apologize to the Gov
ernor and ask that 0tho Wilson be re-
appointed. Ohio at least has some de-
cision of character and will have no
backing and filling once he takes a POI
sition on u question"
Another said that only Tuesday night
Caldwell told him there'd be no restora-
ton Of rates; that he Thought the new
rates just and right, and he proposed
10 let them stand and let the railroads
fight ii ont in the courts.
But before morning q change seems
to have come over the spirit of his
dreams. for when IL O'Clock arrived
Yesterday he had finished a letter TO the
Governor announcing his conversion, aa~l
by noon he had east the vote that re-
stored the old passenger rates of 2al
and 81 cents mile.
The Railroad Commission did not meet
yesterday morning until IL o'clock The
time set for it was 10 O'clock. but when
that hour arrived Chairman Caldwell
was busy writing and did not call the
board to order, though the other two
Commissioners were present.
A few minutes later Mr.. Caldwell in
yiited DR.. Abbott into his private room.
Then he came ont and wrote more and
they retired again for consultation. La
ter Mr.. Pearson was called in and con-
suited touching his position on the rate
question and asked whether he still
thought the rate ought to he reduced
All this caused those present to expect
something out Of the usual and as the
railroad men had been boasting that
Caldwell would back-water on his rate
vote, it did not require much mental
effort to guess what it would he
Coming out of the consultation room
Chairman Caldwell said the Commission
desired to go into executive session and
asked those present to retire. This ex-
ecutive session lasted only five minutes.
During that time the passenger rate
question was further discussed. Mr..
Pearson arguing that the rates were TOO
high and he could see no good and suffi-
Gent reason why he should change his
former votes
The doors were then opened and the
regular docket taken mp and disposed Of
1t consisted Of half dozen complaints
of oyercharge or discrimination. most
of which had already been adjusted by
the railroads. Ten minutes sufficed 10
dispose of them
Gentlmen," said Mr.. Caldwell when
he had reached the end of the docket.
have communication here that
want 10 read to the board"
He then read the following letter adj
dressed to Governor Russell:
Raleigh. n. C.. March 30. 1893.
Hon. ID. l.. Russell Governor:
Sir: My vote on the messenger
question has given me the greatest CON
Germ. since it was cast at the last sitting
of the Commission Upon calm rehec-
flon i feel that it was wrong and duty
demands at any hands that the wrong
to myself, the people and the railways
be corrected. In the course | have de-
c.ded upon and taken. / will have the
approval of my conscience, but the dis
approval of those who are unacuuainted
with the evidence before the Commits
son. To stand by what | feel is wrong
world gain me the approval of those
who have not informed themselves but
the disapproval of my conscience. There
was no evidence offered for the reduction
of passenger rates. while for maintain
ing them the evidence, If believed. and
it was not controverted. was overN'lelm-
ing. 1t may be said the evidence was
untrue, but TO the Commission trying
the cause. there could be no justification
for such an oDinion. The order for the
reduction Of the passenger rates. wheth-
er there was evidence 10 support it or
not, under tie Railway Commission law,