The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-06
HAS INCREASED POWERS
THE THREE COMMISSIONERS
ARE SWORN IN.
OR. ABBOTT FILES A FORMAL PROTEST
Mr.. II, C. Brown Chosen as Clerk and Mis-
Riddick as Stsnographer. Preparing
Rules of Practice and
Tariffs.

The Corporation Commission Act
passed by the last Legislature went into
effect at midnight Tuesday night.
The Corporation Commissioners were
sworn in yesterday morning 1t 800
O'Clock. by Justice Walter Clark, of the
North Carolina Supreme CourT.
The commission is composed cf the
following persons:
FRANKLIN MCNEIL. Of New
Hanover, chairman.
SAMUEL l.. ROGERS, of Macon.
EUGENE c. BEDDINGFIELD, of
Wake.
Immediately after these commi ssioners
had been sworn in, DR.. ID. II. Abbott,
who was member of the Railroad
commission with four more years to
serve. appeared with Judge MacRae, one
of his counsel, and announced that it
was his desire to be sworn in as Il
member of the board.
Chairman Mcneil declined to permit
this, stating that under the acr passed
by the Legislature and the subseque mt
| erection Dl COMMISSIONERS, III itNpSliiH'''
Mr.. Beddingfield.
10 this DIR. Abbott formally entered
his protest and asked that the Following
entry be made ON the record of the com
mission:
ID. ii. Abbott appears before the
commission and claims to- be Il mem
Der thereof by virtue Of his election
by the Legislature of North Carolina
for the term of six years from April
1st. 1891
This claim is denied and Mr. l.. G.
Beddingiield recognized as commits
sioner
'Whereupon ID. II. Abbott respect
fully enters his protest against the
action of the commission"
The record was made and DR.. Abboti
and Judge MacRae withdrew.
An executive session of the commits
sion, lasting until / o'clock was then
held, and organization of the Commits
SIGN completed by the following elections
HENRY G. BROWN, clerk.
MISS ELSIE RIDDICK, stanogra-
pher.
Mr.. Brown has been clerk to the Rail
road Commission ever since April 1st
1S91-just exactly eight years. No com
mission ever had a better one. Compe-
tent, Industrious and obliging, here is
not a more efficient and popular Off
cial III the State. Not only has the
commission made no mistake III select
ing him, it is TO be congratulated on be
ing able to secure his services. He pos
sesses in an eminent dSgree the qualifi
cations set forth in the act for Il clerk
AN expert accountant, experienced IL
railroad statistics and transportation
rates"
Miss Riddick, the stenographer, has
for the past two years been the very
efficient stenographer to the Board OF
Agriculture. Her election is u new de
parture for the commission. but one
that should long ago have been taken
by the Railroad Commission Now that
the powers of the old commission has
been very materially increased in the
new one, ii stenographer is absolutely
Indispensable \ most competent one
has been chosen.
All yesterday afternoon the commits
sion was in session. formulating The
rules of practice TO govern the commits
sion i'm the trial of causes and the dis
before it.
Other preliminary work to he done
at this first meeting is to make rules
regulating freight and passenger tariff
ries regulating the transportation 0
| freight and passengers; to fix telegraph
| telephone and express rates; prescribe
rules in regard to the banking and build
| ing and loan business Of the State.
This work will consume all Of to-day
and probably part of tomorrow.
The salary of the commissioners il
| fixed by law at $1,000 each per annum
that of the clerk at 81 800, with $500 ad
| ditional for extra work.
The salary of the stenographer is no
vet fixed. She will be paid out of tn.
| $4,000 allowed the commission annual!
| for expenses.
| There is beautiful statue in ever,
| block of marble hut only an eXup1.