The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-01-27

States hsa lived In this progressive
age Of electricity, stexm railways.
telephones, telegraphs, ETC., or had
they dreamed Of the discovery, in
vention ard utilization of these
great instr snents of commerce, for
the advancement Of civiliz alton,
doubtless they would have added
clause providing for their control
and ownership by the government
fOr the benefit of the whole people.
The dangerous power. now welded
by private corporations owning these
instruments of commerce, has long
since been demonstrated. Numerous
examples of the abuses and oppres.
sions could be cited, but one will
suffice. however. Durlug the cam
paign of 1896 many of the great rail
road systems of the country were
most active and aggressive; in
many instances they coerced their
employees into voting for the interests
of the railroads, regardless Of the
inclination, interests or wishes of
the employees.
Such conduct as this-attempting
to abridge and destroy our individ-
ual liberty-is absolutely repugnant
TO the spirit and genius of our gov.
ernment.
The Constitution guarantees to
every man certain ''inalienable
righIs-among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness" But
the power exerted by the railroads.
and large corporations, oftentimes
contravenes the Constitution, for
men in their employ will yield obe-
dience to their commands or threats
rather than lose theirpositions.
We have, to-day, serious and
alarming condition. of affairs, for
nearly every profitable branch of in
dustry is dominated and controlled by
a trust or corporation; and if the
people do not awake to a full reali-
zation of the dangers of corporate
control of the great instruments of
commerce and alter valuable ad-
juncts and essentials to the advance
ment of civilization they may yet
witness subversion of their liber-
ties.
The great and dangerous tenden-
cy of the age is toward concentra-
tion and consolidation-which
means that the greatmass of individ-
uals must lose their rights and
privileges-in other words, they are
swallowed up by corporate power.
The public should sacredly re-
serve for it's own function the opera
ton and control of all natural mo-
nopolies; and it should likewise ex-
ercise rigid supervision over all cor
poratlons that are of quasi-public
character.
Number Of instances of the abases
hof natural monopolies In the hands
of private corporations could be
cited. but one illustration here will
serye our present purposes. Let US,
therefore compare the contract re-
Gently made by the board of com
missioners Of the town of Tarboro,
with private corporation to furnish
water for the town, with the oper-
alton of the water works of the town
of Wilson under municipal owner
ship.
The following questions were di-
rected to the city clerk of Wilson,
and, with his reply, are here given:
l. Does the city of Wilson own
and operate its electric light, sewer
age and water-works systems?
Ans. Yes.
9. If bonds were issued to erect
the m please state length of time for
final payment of bonds, rate of in
terest and amount paid each year?
Ans. Amount of bonds issued for
water and lights, $75 900. Sewerage,
SIT, 900. Water and light bonds 20
years at per cent. Sewerage 20
years, per cent.
| 3. Are the systems complete in de-
tail, and does their operation give
satisfaction to the people9
| Ans. Yes.
| It will be seen from the above
questions and answers that, under
municipal ownership and operation
of these systems they give entire
satisfaction; furthermore when the
bonds that were issued to erect them
are finally paid, the city will own
them.
The contract made by the town of
Tarboro, with a private corporation
to furnish ONLY a complete system
of water works provides for the
payment, by the town, Of ($2,00O
two thousand dollars for the first
year and two thousand two hundred
dollars ($2,2O0) for 90 years there.
after for the use Of water, and the
corporation has the further vaiua.
BILE privilege of furnishing water to
private parties, at a rental to be
fixed by said corporation, ard al
the revenue accruing therefrom goe.
into it Golfers. The town does moi
even exercise the authority of super
vision to prevent the corporation
from charging unjust and exorbi
tant rates.
The corporation, so l am reliably
informed, borrowed money on tn
strength of the valuable contract i
had made with the town, and th'
town guaranteed the payment o
the bonds Of the corporation; tina
is, when the payments are due eacl
year by the town they are made t.
: the financial institution from whicl
the ''Tarboro water works company
borrowed the money to erect tn
water-works.
But the town, furthermore, grant
ed the privilege of supplyin,
water to residents, and this alon
will bring il handsome revenue.
The town has the option, at tn
expiration of 10 and 20 years to bu
the plant at figure to be agree
upon by the Company and the tow
authorities, after competent hydraul
ic engineers have Investigated thor
y oughly and assessed or estimate
: the value.
The eomnanv of coursa wonld nf