St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-05-28
FOR RAILROAD CON-
MISSIONER.

M1OCxVN Lhs
Among the most important provisions
of the new Constitution is that creating
Railroad Commission. The necessity
and propriety of State control or super
vision of railroads and other common
carriers has long been recognized, and
Commissions for this purpose exist in
nearly every State of the Union, with
more or less extensive powers, and are
generally recognized as beneficial not
only to the public, but to the railroads
themselves.
The Commission provided for by the
Constitution is to be composed of three
members, who ara to be elected at the
Congressional election in November
next. The State is divided into three
districts, for the purpose Of such cleo
ton, and one Commissioner is to be
elected from each district.
This District-the Second-is COM
posed of the Parishes of Iberyille, As
cension, Assumption Lafourche, Terrc-
bonnie, st. Mary, Iberia, st. Martin,
Lafayette, Vermilion, Cameron, Calca-
siru, Avoyelles, st. Landry, Pointe
Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana,
West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge.
st. Helena, Livingston, Tangipahoa,
Washington, st. Tammany and Acadia.
The Commission is to have its Office
and domicilc at Baton Rouge. No
member of the Constitutional Conven-
ton shall be eligible to election or APP
pointment as member of the Commits
sion until the year 1908. Ample power
is vested in the Commission to adopt,
change or make reasonable and just
rates, charges and regulate railroads,
steamboats,. and other water crafts,
sleeping car, freight and passenger
rates and service, express rates, and
telephone rates; to require railroads to
build depots when necessary, to keep
the tracks and bridges in a safe con =
dition, and generally to regulate the
operating Of railroad, steamboat, ex-
press, telegraph and telephone compa-
MES, ard their charges.
The election of these Railroad Com
missioners in November will give an ad-
ditional and local interest to the cleo
tions. 1t is hardly necessary to say
that the selection of these C0mmiss ion
ers is an important matter. Their
powers are extensive, and their duties
of the most important character. We
have no hesitation in saying that At
least one of them should he practical
railroad man, thoroughly conversant
with the construction and operation Of
railroads. Such man, and one who
IS at the same time man Of the people,
and not a creature of railroad compa-
nies or corporations, will be of the
greatest practical use in the Commits
sion.
st. Tammany Parish is prepared to
furnish a candidate possessing these
qualifications in the highest degree, in
the person Of John j. Strobe, our pres
ent popular and efficient Sheriff.
Mr.. Strobe is a native of Georgia,
and has lived in Louisiana for many
years. He is about forty-seven years
old, and in the prime of his vigor. He
was appointed Sheriff Of st. Tammany
Parish, to fill q vacancy, in 1898, and
was elected to the Office at the general
election iu 1896. His performance Of
the duties as Sheriff and Tax Collector
has been beyond criticism. and has
earned HIM the appreciation and conf
dence of all the good people Of the
parish.
As has been ssid above, Mr.. Strobe
is practical railroad man of long and
experience. He began rail
reading in 1870, as clerk to the general
but Office work being not as
much to his taste as the practical part
of railroading. he went on the road, be-
ginning at the bottom of the ladder.
As brakeman, conductor, fireman, en-
gineer, and acting during intervals as
station agent and express messenger,
he acquired a most thorough knowledge
Of railroading In all its branches. The
of his mind being toward
he perfected himself until
he became an expert mechanic, and
shortly before his appointment to the
office of Sheriff, was Master Mechanic
in charge of the New Orleans and North
eastern Railroad at New Orleans. Dur
ing his railroad experience Mr.. Strobe
many miles of railroad on
the Macon s Brunswick and Louisville
{ Nashville Railroads.
In addition to his experience as
railroad man, Mr.. Strobe IS man OF
liberal education and extensive reading.
Added to these qualifications is the
fact that John j. Strobe is essentially
4 man of the people. He was elected
Sheriff on the popular ticket, against
political opposition. and is
one of the best known and most popular
men of his own and adjacent parishes.
No better or more capable man for
the position of Railroad Commissioner
can be found In the District, and if Mr..
Strobe offers himself as candidate
for the position, he is certain to re-
ccive very strong support.
At the present moment the Brit
ish empire is tifty-three times the