The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-05
A SHORT PERIOD OF REJOICING.

senger fare5 TO " ana = n per mule
on many Of the lines in the State.
Tnere was general rejoicing through
out the State. AT last" the people
said, Justice has been done. Fares
have been put down in proportion to
five cent cotton" However, in their
gratitude they failed to figure the mat
ter close enough. Passenger fares al
24c. and %. would still make railroad
property several times as profitable as
farm property, with cotton at 5 cents,
or oven 6 cents.
But some OF the members Of the Rail
road Commission ~"repented," became
sorry that they had carried out the
wishes of 80 per cent. Of the
people OF the State, and at the
meeting last week the order was re-
voked. Chairman Caldwell began to
make apologies early after the order
was passed reducing fares, and his re-
versal of opinion came in the nature
Of a surprise to many OF his friends.
1t seems that he made the mistake Of
taking the advice of his enemies in
stead of his friends. We hardly think
that some of his objections are logical.
In saying that he felt sure that a re
duction Of rates would not be sustained,
judging by a recent court decision In
Nebraska, he seemed inclined to CROSS
the bridge before he came TO it.
However, we are glad to be able to
assure u readers that Governor Rus
sell has no idea of giving up his fight
in the interest of justice, and this will
soon be made apparent to all.
OF course the railroad organs and the
Islander machines have been quite
busy during the past few weeks. They
have been asserting charges in many
different forms. Boiled down these
statements amount to about this
That the Governor wants to lease the
Atlantic & North Carolina road and
that the Southern is willing to take it
on the following conditions: Provided
the State, represented by Governor
Russell, will stop his fight against the
North Carolina Railroad lease; that it
will not enforce a reduction of rates
by the Commission.
Asa matter of fact the Governor is
not willing to consider any-proposition
for the lease of the A. SC n Q. road
unless all railroad companies are given
q chance to bid for it in a plain and
open manner, and with the distinct
understanding that the ledpB be sub
jected to the approval of the legisla~
ture.
The falsity and %absurdidy of the
other charge can be plainly seen when
it is known that the State of North
Carolina has no suit pending against
the lease of the North Carolina Rail
road. On the other hand the South
ern Railroad Company started ipjunc
ton proceedings in Judge Slmonton's
Federal Court injunction factory to
prevent any interference. Toe final
outcome was that Simonton appointed
Kerr Cralge master to investigate the
charges of corruption and illegality Of
said lease, and the public is fully &C.
quainted with Mr.. Craig's manifest
unfairness in the Investigation, which
has been a complete farce. Thus
Governor Russell was placed in the
position Of a defendant instead of a
prosecutor. SO far as getting justice
in Judge Simonton's court is concerned
tho GRm&n w0SophR ar mall AA~kn~N n~aS@Gk L
the Southern Railway Company with
Col. Andrews in the seat as Judge as
with Simonton there. AS we under
stand it, the Southern was so-anxtous
to stop the litigation that it agreed to
pay all costs, amounting to probably
eight or nine thousand dollars rather
than stand in it's former position.
IL this compromise goes through the
State will save that amount 9th Q
it would probably have fallen upon the
State, and acontinual fight would have
resulted in piling up more cost. It now
appears that the State can only settle
the lease question by proper action on
the part of the legislature, unless the
railroad tools on the Federal court
benches can be gotten rid of. The fact
that the Federal court stands as a con-
slant menace 80 far as contending with
the railroads is concerned ought to
make the people more careful than
ever in selecting candidates for the
next legislature. Our legislature and
our State courts are now u only
hope. If they fail us we are gone.
CHEEK OF The RAILROADS.
They have vinlaAad the Law against