The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-31

wait, OF go around hunting Tor eNlueH9c~ |
i'm these railroad reduction cases. ana
must take everything as true that rs sa9d
bv the railroads. then there will never
he any reduction
Unfortunately. the Commission I'D!
no counsel TO get up evidence, anu q
the hearings in these railroad II. mlai'eig'
are substantially eX parte !na1 y
the only part in the whole business
the part of the railroads. Ihey hi'lNs
their answers, they bring up theif o"H
rotainers and witnesses, they put lt
what evidence they please, they ilaVe
their own counsel; and on the sur ~:
The DeopIe. there are neither counsel nor
,l1itnasses do not think that there
i any rule of law or right thar re
ouires the board to believe all tIey 81!
81 appreciate. in it's full force tle
.,oin+ that Mr. Caldwell makes. as to
Tho ruling of the Supreme court OF lne
rrnitod States. in the Nebraska case lie
t.kne the ground that that ruling IS
tindinr upon him, and that he must
chcv If. until it is Over-ruled AT least,
tbot is the way understand him. This
Nahra ska case / believe to be premed-
itotcd decision rendered for the EXPRESS
nnrnose of emaseuatng the Railroad
commissions of the United States. 1t IS
NOT n mere repetition of preceding de
cisionS hut it introduces a new doctrine
thot is simply monstrous in its attempt
IN take the railroad corporations of the
country from the control of the law
making powers of the State. 1t decides
that i'm fixing the rates on domestic
commerce, the Commission must look 1T
tho value OF the plant, that is, the in
vestment. either in whole, or such part
of If as may he devoted to domestic
commerce: and then must so fix the
rates as to leave n reasonable proft to
thc railroads uDOn such domestic conf
MERGE. excluding entirely their inter
state business.
'"This is a ruling that the most intel
lirpnt railroad men Of the country in
nv opinion, never seriously hoped for
T think that our Commission and our
courts ought to give to that ruling the
came kind of respeet and obedience that
was rendered by the Republican party
and the anti-slavery men of the North
10 the Dred Scott decision. In this case,
before | would submit to such Judicial
despotism and usurpatiOn and agrees
sion upon the rights Of the State, they
should have chance to decide it again
and then again, and so on: and while
that was going on in the courts. possibly
we coulu see whether the people Of this
country can be brought to a realization
of their condition of the slavery with
which they are threatened.
II want to say one word further. Al
though / fully realize the difficulties of
beating back an injunction in the FEEDER
al courts. which / know the railroads
will grind out for themselves, | had
come to the conclusion that perhaps il
was better to back up the Commission
bv giving them counsel. and paying
them out of the State Treasury. AS the
Southern Railway Company has agreed
to settle the ninety-nine year lease case.
and pay hack into the State Treasury
| the money which has been paid out for
lawyers. had about concluded that we
could afford to take that much of their
money, and fight them with it, in this
passenger rates reduction.
81 want TO say, in conclusions that
while / greatly regret Mr.. CaldwelPe
conclusions. and was never more aston
| ished in my life, than | was within the
last sixty minutes. to hear that he had
given such n vote; / believe that he is
I Entirely conscientious. and above the
calumnes and ealunmators that will be
attempted to be hurled at him."
At the conclusion of the Governors
statement Mr. Caldwell said he also
would like to add few words:
''AIy vote upon the rate question had
no connection whatever with the ninety
nine year lease, and the Governors ac-
ton in settling that lease, the settlement
of which I heartily endorse. And the
| Governor in no sense at all. either ny
word or action. minated. or asked me
to be a party to that settlement. know
that what he has done has been done
for the best interests of the State: and
that the future will so disclose it. What
have done has been done guided by
sense Of right or wrong with me. ] as
sumo the responsibility of my vote, and
say that its results should in no way
reflect upon the Governor of the State"
When the Governor had finished die
tating this statement he returned to the
capitol accompanied by the same persons
that came with him, and this memorable
meeting of the Railroad Commission
passed into history
And with it passed the political pros
poets of one T.. Chiras Caldwell.