The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-08
THREE RAILROAD COMMISSION
ERS.-NO CORPORATION MEN
NEEDED.

| change in the Railroad Commission by
| this General Assembly. The present
| law, as to the large powers given the
commission will he unchanged, but there
will be at least three changes in the law
in accordance with the Democratic
platform and the spirit of the Democracy
of the State:
/. Three Commissioners will be elect
ed by this Legislature for term of two
years, and provision will be made for
the election of all the Commissioners
at the regular election in 1900.
2 Changes will be made in tile law
to secure, in accordance with the plat
form pledge, 1.-The extension of the pow
ers of the Railroad Commission, and
closer scrutiny into their affairs in order
to ascertain, establish and maintain such
rates as shall be fair and just to the
people and to the transmission and
transportation corporations"
3. The power given to the Governor
to remove the Commissioners without
a trial upon the charges preferred will
be taken from the Chief Magistrate. 1t
is a dangerous power and ought not to
be placed in the hands of any man.
There is strong feeling to add to the
supervision of the banks and insurance
companies. and call it the Commission
Of Railroads, Banks and Insurance, thus
taking from the Treasurer and Secretary
of State the regulation of banks and
Insurance companies. There is oppOsi-
ton to this on the ground chiefly that
there should be established the office of
Insurance Commissioner to be filed by
a man who had made a special study of
the protection of the insured would be
better thus afforded than to leave their
protection either 70 the Secretary of
State or to the Commission to be estab-
lshed.
Whatever may be the changes, this
Legislature will without doubt be called
upon to elect three Railroad Commits
sioners. The selection of the three Com
missioners is the most important duty,
aside from the suffrage ques-
ton that will devolve upon the
members of this General Assem-
bly,. The present Board has dis
gusted the State. The Republican and
Populist members, having a majority,
have forfeited the confidence of the peo-
pie of the State, while the Democratic
member has served the people honestly
and acceptably.
This paper will not advocate the cleo
ton of any candidate, but will insist
that the Commission shall be composed
of the ablest'an most honest lawyer, the
most capable and broad-minded business
man, and the wisest and most level
headed farmer who can be induced to
serve. So constituted, it will represent
the chief interests of the Commonwealth.
The Commission ought to be composed
of .'sun-crowned'' men, whose character
and standing will give weight to their
decisions. Men who look at railroad
questions through the glasses of cor
would force reductions that would en-
barrass legitimate railroad enterprises
are moi wanted. The people of North
Carolina are fair-minded. They will
sanction no war ON corporations; they
will not sanction tremendous dividends
earned by imposing rates for freight and
passengers that are too high. No matter
how honest men of little ability might
be, their decisions would not carry with
them the weight of men known TO possess
the highest qualifications.
In selecting men for this responsible
duty, ability and honesty of the highest
order must be demanded. More than
that: recent experience has shown that
care must be taken to select Commits
sioners who will not yield to the bland
ishments of the officers of corporations,
and do the bidding of the men they are
paid to hold in check. To this end, the
Commissioners should be men whose re-
lations to the corporations or their Off
GERS are not so intimate as to make them
lean upon corporation agents for advice.
They must be men who believe in the
necessity of Railroad Commission and
are in harmony with the declaration of
the State platform calling for d closer
scrutiny into the affairs of the railroads
in order to ascertain, establish and
maintain such rates as shall be fair to
the people and to the transportation and
transmission corporations" 1t is as well
TO have no Commission at all as to select
Commissioners who seek to do as little
as possible, because they believe that the
Commission is not needed to reduce
rates, even when it can be justly done.
The man who does not believe in the
Snipjt that nStu hlishnd tho Commission