The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-01-10
The RAILROAD COMMISSION.

our Railroad Commission. To a re
who asked Mr.. H.. @. Brown
chief clerk to the Railroad Commission
to define the present powers Of the
Commission, as authorized by the act
and the probable amendments to the
Railroad Commission Act, Mr. Brown
said:
TEE act and the amendments there.
to, creating the North Carolina Rail
road Commission, vests the Commits
SION with more duties and greater
power than is granted to the Commits
Of any other States.
THE Board of Railroad Commission
ers are invested with jldlclal and al.
illustrative powers. Eney are author
lz9d TO hear and decide all complaints;
6 4rlff5 OF railroads, telegraph, telephone
ana street railway companies; 10 make
rules for the interchange OF traffic be-
tween railroads.; to hear and adjust
differences between them; to prevent
u lsG dIscrin nation; to examine
DOCKS and papers OF railroad com
pAnles; to require toe fling or all
tariffs issued, and such reports as may
be deemed necessary; TO require the
repairs deemed necessary upon any
railroad, or any addition TO or change
OF station or station houses; to make
rules as to contracts between railroads !;
rules as to trackage, delivery OF freight,
nanulIag OF baggage, transportation or
passengers, freIghG, ETC., eUc 10 lnves
I1gate complaints Of determination on
interstate traffic, and if sustained, to
DriDg such complaint before the Inter
State Commerce Commission for re
dress, In accordance with the provis
Ions OF the act OF Congress establishing
ala inter State Commission to inves
UlgRte the cause of accidents.
Tine Com mission Is also a board Of
appraisers for railroads, telegraph and
steamboat companies; and board OF
equalization for all classes Of properly.
The act has been judlcially con
strued III iEs real points by the highest
courts, and in every essential parGicu
lar has been upheld.
LAS to the amendments that will
probably be offered" continued Mr..
Brown, 1.-The following have been sug
gested:
81. Give the Commission control
over the Pullman cars-that is the
fixing a tariff Of charges for berths and
seats on the Pullman care.
3 TIE power TO ASSESS for taxation
che Pullman Company, telegraph and
express companies, SO amending the
act that the capital stock Of those COM
panles may be reached.
8 Power 10 fix d schedule OF rates
for telephone companies, both for the
rental OF phones ana the sending OF
messages.
Il. Control of street rail ways, with,
in and without the corporate limits OF
any city or town.
IS. Free transportation to the Rail
road Commissioners, when on official
duties, such as examining roads,
bridges, depots, etc.
SO Enlarge the power of the Com
mission az to grade crossings.
z Then again amendments will be
offered eliminating parts of the act,
which are seriously objected to by the
transportation companies.
To your question as TO who will be
eIec ed Railroad Commissioners, I, of
course, have no means of knowing, /
feel certain, however, that the coming
General Assembly will be careful to
elect to this important position men
only of such State reputation, that
when q matter between the railroads
and the people ia passed upon by than,
no criticism impugning their motives
in reaching their verdict will be enter
SaiUed -