The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-12

mission tnow Corporation Commission)
have been enlarged and its usefulness to
the people extended.
Under the new Act the Commission
has power to make just and reasonable
rates" for railroads and express com
panies, telegraph and telephone com
panies cause the building of side-tracks
and regulate grade-crossings; require
changes or repairs in stations; compel
separate waiting rooms for white and
colored passengers and separate cars for
their transportation: also to perform all
the duties and exercise the powers as
to banks and banking heretofore impos-
ed on the State Treasurer. and perform
all the duties and exercise the powers
as to the building and loan associations
formerly conferred upon the State Au-
ditor.
BY virtue of these last two provisions
several unnecessary offices are abolished
and the fees heretofore going into the
pockets of the Treasurer and Auditor
now 20 into the State Treasury.
;. In the same Act the use of free
passes, which have so often been used
by political railroad corporations to de-
feat the will of the people, is prohibited
and their use by any railroad made
punishable by fine of from 81 900 to
$1,000. The only exceptions made are
the commissioners when on actual Off
cial duty and the officers and inmates of
certain charitable institutions.
6. Another Improvement on the Rail
road Commission Act is the provision
that. beginning with the next election,
the Commissioners shall he elected direct
iy by The people. The same il; true of
the Labor Commissioner and the Com
missioner of Agriculture. Also Congress
has been petitionCd to allow us to choose
our United States Senators in the same
way
This pledge has been more than kept.
The platform demanded only that Rail
road Commissioners be a popular and not
a legislative office. The Legislature not
only provided for this, it went further
and said that the Commissioners of La
Dor and Agriculture must also be born
of direct ballot. 1t was wise. Clearly
the day has come when the people should
take the making of these officials into
their own hands.
{. I'VE oppose the removal by corpora
tons of suits or cases from our State
to the Federal courts, and favor legisla-
ton to prevent it,
This pledge was redeemed by enacting
into law a bill introduced by Mr.. Craig
of Buncombe. than whom the Legisla-
ture had no ADLER or more conscientious
member. This Act compels all foreign
corporations doing business in this State
to take out a license under the laws of
the State and to submit themselves TO
the processes of its courts III the same
degree and manner as corporations char
tered uIsder State laws.
1t is but fair and just that those
who enjoy the protection of the laws
and courts of the State should themselves
be amenable 10 those laws and for their
violation be tried in the State courts.
Once too often has the Federal bench
been packed with corporation agents
The people are long-suffering; they bear
much and say nothing, but there is a
straw that breaks even the camels
back.
8. Everything possible, in justice to all
classes of the States citizenship, was
done to encourage investment of capital
in the State and give it ample prOtec-
~
the faith of capitalists in the PROMISE
over twenty-five railroad charters We're
granted or amended, an equal number
of hanks were Incorporated or their
charters amended: upwards of a dozen
insurance companies were Incorporated
and charters were granted to over sixty
other corporations.
9. The Fusion election law, under
Il L., 1..x-
committed, and so many illegal votes
east, was wiped out and a new law.
more in accord with the genius of our
people. was enacted.
10. "And finally. brethren Jim
Crow Car Bil'' was passed.
Besides the work above enumerated
the Legislature passed a great number
of wise public laws.
1t established Department of In
codified all the Insurance laws
of the State and amplified them until
now in this class of legislation North
Carolina is abreast of the most pro,.-
ressive States. and is protected AGAINST
loss from dishonest or insOlvcnt insur-
ance companies.
The probate laws of the State nave
been carefully collated and can here
after be found in one chapter. This is Il
great Improvement over the present CON
fused condition.
The same Improvement is made as
to laws regarding mechanics liens. Now
these are carefully arranged. Alhl a
similar course has been pursued with re-
gard to the law Of negotiable ;nsfru-
p,antc tho nov, law heinz admirably
drawn and bringing North Carolina into
line with the most progressive CONNER
cial States.
Also the insanity laws are codified
A New York Physician Advises
His Patient to Take Lydia E.