The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-24
THrRSDAY. March ~. 1905
HAVE WE ANOTHER SHlRAS ?

HAVE We HNUI1 OTinno
Some months ago, Governor RusSell
removed two Railroad Commissioners ON
the allegation that the two incumbenfs
were under railroad control.
After he had appointed their success
sors. he telegraphed to a New York pa
per that two of the Railroad Commits
sioners could not be bought. The friends
of DIR. Abbott construed this as refiec-
fion upon his honesty, and it was, no
doubt. so intended.
Then the Governor made a speech IN
favor of cheaper passenger rates, ana
for weeks damned everybody who didn't
agree with him as ''hirelings of j. Pier
pont Morgan" While he was in this
mood, acting after consultation with him
and in accordance with his often cX-
pressed views, and after full hearing.
the two Railroad Commissioners who
he said could not be bought, reduced
railroad rates on the three best railroad
systems in the State, DIR. Abbott, the
man who. it is supposed, the Governor
intimated could be bought. voted against
the reduction.
Only few days ago, after another
full hearing, the two commissioners APP
pointed by the Governor, refused to re-
scind the order reducing rates, though
the Governor twho has surrendered fully
and completely to the J. Pierpont Nor
gan crowd urged them also TO obey the
bidding of the ]. Pierpont Morgans.
When their decision became known, even
ton, We're glad that the two commission
ers could not be bought" bulfdozed or
threatened into an action that proclaim
ed either their corruption or their an
fitness for their places.
1t soon began to be rumored, however.
that Mr. Caldwell, the chairman of the
Commission, had no heart in his action,
and was in fact as anxious to restore old
rates as his predecessor, S. Ohio Wilson
had been to keep them up. This rumor
gained wide circulation, but none of Mr..
Caldwell's friends believed he was n
Shiras on small scale. Shiras gave his
decision for the validity of the income
tax. He then changed his mind almost
in a night without any apparent reason.
He may not have deserved the condem-
nation he received and the blistering
Senator Vest gave him, but in the mind
of the public he became the most con-
spicuous example of the unfit judge.
Yesterdays Statesville Landmark, pub
lished at Mr.. Caldwell's home contains
the following:
MIR. l.. C.. Caldwell chairman of the
Railroad Commission, returned home
last week from the meeting of the Com
mission which Oyerruled the exceptions
of the railroads TO the order of the
Commission reducing passenger rates,
and while Mr. Caldwell voted to over
rule these exceptions he seems to b,
clearly of the opinion that he did wrong.
He says frankly that he voted against
inns better Judgment and fOOliShly
yielded to the clamor of politicians. He
says the Commission has no evidence
TO sustain it's action and he feels that
the railroads will gain the case under
the recent Nebraska decision of the
United States Supreme Court When
they go into the courts, as they WILL
Taking this view Mr.. Caldwell says he
can see no sense in contending about
matter which will cost the taxpayers a
large sum i'm the courts when he can
see nothing but defeat I'm the end
with reference to his voting against
Commissioner Pearsons Judgment"
which the latter desired to enter on
the record, Mr.. Caldwell says h,
thought if they had to fight the rail-
roads in court it was best not to show
their hand as was proposed in this
Judgment The judgment, it is Said
was written by Judge Clark
ut is said that Gov. Russell now adj
mits that he yielded to clamor when he
went into the courts with the lease
fight, that he now sees that he rs beaten,
after this fight has cost the State
large sum of money, and that he is
anxious to get out of it.
Mr.. Caldwell is aware that he will
subject himself to criticism by his
plain statements but he is evidently of
the opinion, indeed says, that the clamor
against the railroads is largely for po,
litical purposes. Under the Nebraska
decision he says the authority of the
Railroad Commission is confined to in
tra-State businesS-purely domestic
matters-and its jurisdiction is SO linn
ited that he is in favor of abolsling the