The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-07
ruy COMMISSION AGAIN BETRAfs
THE PEOPLE.

nv COMMISSION AGAIN BETRAIs
THE PEOPLE.
on wednesday Of last week, after
rsx CAucAsIAS had gone to press, Mr..
CALDWELL, Chairman Of the Railway
;om mission, did what We said 10 An
'ditorisl Of that issue that we believed
,e would not do. He Topped He
oined with Commissioner Abbott in
the reduction In passeo oyer
rater, which the majority OF the Con-
N ission had previously made.
We are greatly surprised at his
course and deeply regret il. HE con-
duct 10 very peculiar, to say the least,
and 10 certainly not explainable. He
attempts to justify his strange and
sudden conversion ~ We under
stand him, on two grounds: first, BY
say ing that since the decision OF the
supreme Court in the Nebraska case,
that the Commission has no power,
and that il . reduction 10 rates were
mad. the Supreme Court would over
rule it, after the State being put to
great expense in maintaining . suit.
This may be so, and It may not
be so. But it WAS the duty OF
the Commission to do right. and
TO nut the court to the test. Be-
side., we believe that the Supreme
Court of the United States under the
Nebraska decision would sUs ain tt E
m oderate reduction too and q cents
in passenger rates. But, however that
is, the Commission should have done
its duty, and left the Court to take its
own responsibility.
Second, we understand Commits
sioper G. ildwell to take the position
that the railroads made statements
purportiDg to show that they could
not make both ends meet II this re-
ductfon ia passenger rates was put in
force, and that since no one denied
these statements of the railroads mol
presented evidence to refute theiI
claims, that he was forced to accept
the ststeme mt of the roads. This po
sition is not only untenable, but is alb
surd. The legislature Of 1891 coult
have reduced passenger rates itself q
that time. The legislature knew ant
every body knew that rates were TOT
high, but no one knew, unless tn
facts could be ascertained exactl.
how much too high they were, ant
therefore, how great reduction just
ice between the people and the rail
roads demanded. Therefore the leg
islature created this Commission to az
certain these very facts. Seven year
has passed, and the Commission ha
failed to make any reduction in rail
road charges, or to do any of the Othe
most important duties it was create
to perform. This reduction in pas
senger rate should have been mad
seven years ago. For seven years th
people have paid these unreasonabl
high rates while the price of every
thing else was going down; and no.
we are told by Railroad Commissions
that he could not reduce rates becaus
no one answered the statement mad
by the railroads.
1t was the duty of the COmmisslo
itself to answer the statements mad
by the railroads. The Commission
a court of inquiry, given power to e,
anime the books of the c0rporatfo
and ascertain the facts.
But it is needless to discuss tn
matter further. Everybody knows tt
duty of the Commission, and ever!
body knows it has not performed i
duties. After Mr.. Caldwell's peculi.
conduct, he did have enough sense I
propriety to tender his resignation
Let the Governor promptly accept
aud appoint some man, and surely sue
man can be found, who knows his dut
as a Railroad Commissioner and hs
the courage to do it.
We DcAlcSc tuoV Luc 4IoIlIOoO COu
missioner should be elected by tt
people. Let the Peoples party an
every other party that is not control
ed by corporation influence at the
next State convention nominate Raj
road Commissioners and let them {
on the stump and discuss these que
tions and let the people know whel
they are before they are elected.
Commissioner Pearson has done h
duty like q man and q patriot. Let tt
!. Populist State Convention Domina
Mr.. Pearson and Populist as b
running mate made out of the san
kind of stuff. Let the people not To-
hope. Men can be found who wi
stand for justice and right in spite
the corporations influence.