The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-28
A FIGHT TO THE FlNlSH---JUNlUS ON
JUDGES.

There has never been q time when
public sentiment was so strong IN favor
of sustaining the action Of public offl-
Gals as in the present instance when
a Cooperation Federal judge has sought
to destroy the sovereignty of the State.
The Corporation Commissioners could
have assessed the railroad property IN
North Carolina sixty-siX million dollars
and the assessment would NOT have been
more than the proferty of the companies
is worth. Instead of making the assess
mplH at that figure. the Commission took
into consideration the claim that much
private property is put on the tax lists
AT much less than its value. and listed
the property of all the railroads at
something like forty-two million dollars
That is under rather than over the
true value. and if the railroads had
been willing to obey the laws OF North
Carolina they woulds have paid the
low assessment without seeking to have
the Federal court override the soyeT-
eighty of the State.
The Commission is. happily. composed
of honest men who. having fixed the
assessment at q figure they think proper.
will neither propose nor accept any COM
promise They ought to employ able
counsel and fight the matter TO the
highest. court of the Republic. denying
the right of Federal court to inter-
and proving also that the assessment
is so low that it leaves large mar
gin of profits to the owners
Of the railroad, where the as
sessants have been increased The
railroads will find in this instance that
they have honest and determined officials
to deal with. not flabby Governor who
surrendered the right of appeal to the
only court the railroads do not control
In making the contest to the Supreme
court at Washington, the people will
stand behind the Commission, holding up
their hands and voting the necessary
means to carry ON the fight.
In the days when Jeffries disgraced
the bench, he was the dishonest agent OF
corrupt ministers. To-day the modern
Jeffres is the dishonest agent of cor
rupt corporations who secure his appoint
ment on the bench. If the words ''cor-
-
ministry or government i'm the fol
lowing extract from Jnnius Vol. /, page
49, the comments Of that discriminating
critic will apply to this day:
'sThe pure and impartial administra
ton Of justice is perhaps the frmest
bond to secure cheerful submission oil
tfie people, and engage their affections te
government. 1t is not sufficient that
questions of private right and wrong are
justly decided, nor that judges are SUI
perior to the yiieness- of pecumary cor
ruption. .Ieffries, himself, when the
court had no interest, was an upright
judge.
"A court Of justice may be subject to
another So; Of bias, more important and
pernicuU.s. as ii reaches the interests OF
individuals. and affects whole com
mlInty. 4 judge under the influence OF
government may be honest enough in tn.
decision OF private causes, yet a traitor
to the public. When victim is marked
out by the ministry, this judge will Of
fer himself to perform the sacrifice. HI
will not scruple to prostitute his dignity
and betray the sanctity of his office
whenever an arbitrary point lis to bt
carried for government or the resent
ment of court to be gratified."