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

| that would answer the purpose aimed
at by Pearson.
Pcarson-''No sir, that is not it at
| ALL"
Abbott-'I'm opposed to fixing rates
on anything until we hear all Sides
Pearson-'"FlIere is one road in North
| Carolina that sells these tickets at pre-
| cisey the figures ! name. ] don't see
why the others shouldn't be compelled to
| do it,.
Caldwell-"It seems to me you are dis
| eliminating against the poor man who
can't afford to buy thousand mile
| ticket and legislating for the fellow who
can"
Pearson--"In view Of your recent vote,
| Mr.. Chairman, you can hardly charge
| that. / think, after that, this is about
| the nearest approach to helping the peo-
| pie in this matter that | can hope to
come"
| Caldwell-'.Well. I'm willing to vote
| for your resolution if you will change
| the date on which it is to go into effect
| to April Both"
Pearson Thank you sir. Tt gives me
| pleasure TO do SO.
| Here Capt. Bill Day, the guardian
angel of the Commission. put himself in
| evidence and protested against such ac-
| ton. After wasting several yards of
| valuable advice as to how the Commits
| sion ought to transact its business he
sat down and the Commission did the
very thing he asked them not to do
passed Mr.. Pearson's resolution by a
vote of to /. DIR. Abbott was the 1.
| Mr.. Caldwell gave notice that the
| Commission would meet again on April
| 10th and at that time argument ON ex-
| ceptons to this order would be heard.
| The Commission now disposed of one
| or two other minor matters and was on
| the point Of adjourning when the Rev.
| Baylus Cade, private secretary, came
in and took Chairman Caldwell into a
| private room. A minute later the other
two Commissioners were called in. Then
/ Caldwell and Cade hurried out toward
| the capitol.
Everybody sat, looking questions az
each other and wondering what was go-
| ing to happen next. Ten minutes passed
and the Governor and Mr.. Caldwell fol-
| lowed by Mr.. Cade and Secretary OF
| State Thompson were seen coming from
| the capitol.
'Well,'' remarked His Excellency. as
| he walked into the Commission office
and looked round at the small crowd
present, ''you haven't got much of a gal
| lery here. ] want to make a few re-
marks to the Commission. There'll be
| a stenographer here presently"
| The Governor did not sit down, but
| stood waiting. The stenographer ar
rived and the Governor still remaining
| standing, with his elbow on the mantle
dictated the following:
| Governor Russell said:
"Mr. Chairman ana Gentlemen Of the
Commissions: | want to say that | have
been, and am, greatly astOnished at hear
| ing few minutes ago, that Chairman
/ Caldwell had voted to restore the pas
| senger rates; and was still further as
| tonished at receiving from him a letter
which he has, few minutes ago, placed
in my hands; and which, / understand.
he read to the Commission"
| Mr. Caldwell-'Yes. sir"
| The Governor continued: "rhis letter
contains his resignation, or tenders his
resignation. With reference to the pas
senger rates question. and the course
| Of Mr.. Caldwell. / want to say that |
do not imnugn his motives. hut deeply
| regret chat he has taken this course.
believe that it not only places him in an
unfortunate position. with the anti-mo-
nopoly men of the State, but that unin-
| tentionaIly on his part. it gives color
| TO SANDERS and libcls upon me. and Ii
| bells and ISLANDERS that are inStigatetl by
| the malice of certain individuals, who
| masquerade as anti-monopoly men, but
who are really working for the monNpo-
| lies, the trusts, railroads and otherwise.
| Of course. they will now send out their
| lies, saying that | agreed with the
Southern Railway Company in order to
get the ninety-nie year lease suit out
| Of Judge Simonton's court, that my
fried Mr.. Caldwell, should vote to re-
store the passenger rates.
"Mr. Caldwell knows that is not true.
| On the contrary, whenever he has coun-
seled with me. / have advised him to
| stick to the reduction. 1t is true that
| was willing, in order to save, or make
for the State what / considered from
three to four hundred thousand dollars.
for its treasury, in the matter of the
Atlantic Railroad. TO advise the Com
mission to restore the rates until the
matter should be submitted to the peo-
| pie, and passed upon by the Legislature;
femltting the whole matter to the people.
| IN the coming campaign. This, the
southern Railway refused to accept and
declined to take the Atlantic road. ex-
| pressly saying that if / wrote such let
ter and thereby RENTED the matter TO
the people. they would not take the lease
OF the Atlantic; thereupon the negotia-
lions for the lease OF the Atlantic were
terminated. Since then, ] have urged
that the rate reduction be maintained
and fought out in the courts.
Mr.. Caldwell says in his letter to me-
that there was no evidence offered be-
fore your Board, for the reduction OF
passenger rates while for maintaining
them the evidence was complete ana
it was not controyerted. and IL W''e
Overwhelming.
II want TO say it, that tins Is lol
satisfactory reason for going p'lcA vi