The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-07
CALDWELL VOTES
TO RESTORE RATES.
Gives His Reasons in Z Letter Ad-
= dressed to the Governor, Who
Appear on the Scene and
MAKES A STATE EN- 7


In Reply to Caldwell. L~ts~r-Ths Ne
br..k. Deeistea Csu.~s the Chairmas "a
Reser~e His Former vst@-Ar. Pesrsos
Re,n.ins True and Eaters Protest Nile
age Hook Rate Reduction Enacted.
shortly after TIE CAUcAsIAx wen,
TO press last Wednesday the Railroad
Commission took up the matter Of pass
epger rates. Upon the assurances o.
Chairman Caldwell, Of the COmmis
sion, that nothing would be done IL
regard to this question 1t the meeting
and that that matter WAS settled 90 fal
~ the Railroad Commission concerned
TaE CAUcAsIAN forms were cent to thu
press rooms TO be printed % - not to
delay getting out the paper. HOWev
eF, shortly after eleven O'Clock Wed.
nesday morning, the Commission met
and much to the surprise Of oil, The
passenger rate question Was brought
up BY Chairman Caldwell in the fol-
lowing way:
"GRNrLExKN," said Mr.. Caldwell.
when he had reached the end Of the
docket, II have communication here
that l want to read to the Board"
He then read the following letter i'd
dressed to Governor Russell:
"RALE1aH, N. c., March 80, 1898.
"HON. D. L. RUSSELL, Governor
"SIR:-My vote on the passenger
question has given me the greatest con-
Germ, since it VAS cast at the last sit
ting of the commission. Upon calm
reflection feel that 1t was wrong and
duty demands at my hands that the
wrong to myself, the people and the
rsilways be corrected. In the course
have cecided upon and taken, l will
have the approval Of my conscience,
but the disapproval Of those who are
nnacquainted with the evidence before
the Commission. To stand by what
feel to be wrong would gain me the
approval of those who have not in
formed themselves, but the disappr0-
val of my conscience. There was no
evidence offered for the reduction of
passenger rates, while for maintaining
them the evidence is believed, and 1t
was not cOntroverted was Overwhelm-
ing. 1t may be said the evidence was
untrue. but to the Commission trying
the cause, there could be no justif'ca-
ton for such an opinion. The order
for the reduction Of the passenger
rates, whether there was evidence
to support it or not, under the
Railway Commission law, consti-
tuted . prima facie case. and cast
upon the railways the burden OF re-
butting that case. | could then, un-
til the decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States, have sustained
my vote, but when the railways, by L.
gal evidence, made it appear that the
reduced rates would not be fair and
reasonable, and would result in loss to
the roads, could not feel that q true
judgment had been rendered in accord
aDce with the evidence. If the decis-
ion of the court above alluded to, and
known as the Nebraska decision, is ad-
hered to, the attempt to reduce rates
10 vain and futile. Unless and until
more evidence can be offered than was
before the Commission. it will end in
litigation, the final result of which is
predestined. Sitting as judicial Of
flcer cannot permit my desires to
override what know to be my duty.
This is 3 government Of law and
those to whom its administration is
entrusted must execute a. they
ind it, without regard to public opin-
ion.
Your Excellency has been kind to
me. and l assure you of my continued
respect. but fearing you will not con-
cur with me in the course take, and
desiring not to embarrass you, my
resignation is at your disposal.
have acted with my oath of Office before
my eyes.
IL. {. CALDWELL"
Having read this letter Mr.. Cald-
we'll added, by way Of explanation:
my motives may be impugned, but
it is . matter between me and the
only person to whom I'm responsible.
1 regret it, but my oath taken on sew
er al occasions prompts me to this act.
It's a matter that has given me i'm
mense trouble but I'D rather feel that
I've done right than have the State
I shall assail no ones motive. l sup
pose, for political purposes, though
some people will criticize and abuse
me, but I can't stand back for that
when I think I'm doing right.
"In this instance think I'm right
and therefore move to again take W
the passenger rate question and sci
aside the former decision Of the Com.
m ission."
Messrs. Caldwell and Abbott votet
aye and Mr.. Pearson no. Mr.. Pearson
entered prizes: against this action
He said:
81 desire to enter my protest on th'
record against resembling the former
sotion Of this Commission by reducing
the passenger rates, there being NJ
evidence produced at the hearing o
the exceptions that in my opinion
liustifies such procedure. My protes
is in the name of the common people
of North Carolina, who receive no il
legal fav0rs at the hands of these cor
pOrati0ne, but pay their fares thereb!
enabling the railroad companies t.
make large profits and to pay ensrm
Ious salaries to their officials, the presi
dent of one system alone, it is said
} receiving % much as the chief ,execu
|; tive of the nation."
II Mr.. Pearson then moved that on an,
after the 18th of April the minimum
charge for mileage tickets for the tw
thousand miles shall be so, and tn
maximum charge for 900 mile ticket
shall be $25 on the following system
in North Carolina, including thei
branch lines to-wit: The Atlantl
!, Coast Line, the Seaboard Air Line, tn
, Southern Railway, said tickets or mile
age books to be valid on presentatio
!. By their holder, and good for f1rst-clas
passage on any passenger train on thei
respective lines by any person present
ing said mileage books without limits
D ton to individuals.
i After some debate the motion WI
= adopted to take effect April 80, 1898, D
!. Abbott voting against it.
: Before adjourning Governor Russo
I. appeared before the Commission an
! spoke IS follows:
"Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of tt
8 Commission I want to say that
4 have been, and am, greatly astonishs
at hearing = few minutes ago, tn
a Chairman Caldwell had voted to r
= store the passenger rates; and VI
, still further astonished 1T receiviI