The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-27

tribunal to which they can go and eStab-
lish their right to decent treatment, or
at least to recitc their wrongs"
As an instance OF disregard for the
J convenience, welfare. safety, and accom-
mediation of the public by some railroads.,
the speaker recited the familiar condi-
ton of the accommodations at Durham,
where the passenger station has accom-
modations for only % people. and all APP
peals to railroad authorities had been in
vain, because one railroad desired TO
shut out another.
Mr.. Morton said that he opposed. the
bill simply on account 81 the power it
vested in the Corporation Commission.
II would involve. perhaps the CON
demning Of some Of the most valuable
land in the city. If the people of Dur
ham should ask this Legislature to pass
a bill giving them a Union Depot, he
would be inclined to vote for it.
He declared that the only large city
he knew Of that had a union depot was
Atlanta.
The law in South Carolina, he assert
cd. was q dead letter. 1t was 50 generally
conceded to be beyond the power Of the
Legislature to delegate such a power to
a commission, that it had never been
enforced.
lie would oppose charging the powers
Of this commission. and would favor
keeping these powers in the Legislature.
Judge Graham fought stoutly for the
bill. He said all this questioning about
the powers of the Corporation Commits
sion was inexplicable to him. He thought
that had been settled in North Carolina.
There was a time. in 1887, and again in
1889, when the bill establishing a Rail-
road Commission was defeated. but it
finally passed in 1891. when the people
had become educated to the idea that in
them lay the power to control the Ger
~poratiOns.
A very prominent corporation magnate
had once said: The people be damned
and that seemed to be the position of the
corporations in this matter: but this is
an age of enlightenment, when the REQ
pie know how to enforce their rights.
As to the doubt about the constitutions
atty Of the bill. which seemed to be
troubling some of the gentlemen, Judge
Graham quoted from Vol. of the Ameri-
can and English Encyclopedia, page SIT,
where it is expressly stated that the
Legislature may compel two or more rail
roads to extend their tracks so as to
! connect for the convenience of the travel
ing public. He also read from the 0pin-
ion of Chief Justice Chapman, Of Massa-
chusetts, in the case of the City of
Worcester against the Norwich Railroad
and others. to the effect that the right
reserved by by Legislatures to amend or
alter a charter was for the express pur-
pose Of compelling unwilling corporations
to extend their tracks SO as to connect
with other railroads fer the convenience
of the public.
" .+l 1a -:4N1 W. - C1 -,
Corporations, where he said that a Legis-
lature may compel a corporation to con-
struct bridges, guard crossings, build
stations, and in all ways exercise police
powers, and may order railroads to unite
in a union depot.
AS to the question of delegating the
power to the COMMISSION, p. lis of the
American and English Encyclopedia, %,
was cited. that there is no question as
to the power of a Legislature to compel
and regulate, either Directly or indirect
" or through a railroad commission, the
establishment OF stations.
The direct authority from our own
State was quoted in the case against the
Express Company, in which the opinion
of the court gives the Legislature right
to delegate such powers to a commission.
That this matter of a union depot was
omitted from the law establishing the
Corporation Commission must have been
an oversight. Every other power is
specified, except this one.
This bill declared Judge Graham, us
no hardpship upon the railroad COM
panics. It is simply to give the commits
sion power to Investigate cases of this
kind, and if they think necessary, de-
mand that the depot be built, and upon
! whom Dr9 Y do these cGrDDr3tjOnS do
pend for their very existence, if not the
people? 1t is necessary to have power
like this lodged somewhere.
las to the large cities not having
union depots, Boston has a union depot
on the north side Of the street, and one
on the south side, for the convenience of
the public, and those stations were cstab-
lished by permission Of the government
Of the State. Congress has just passed
a bill for the establishment of a union
depot, ever giving the right to tunnel
under the Capitol. Atlanta has a union
depot, and Raleigh has one.
This is no attempt to Cypress any cor
poration. | have confidence in our Cor
poration Commission. 1t is composed OF
Just, discreet, learned, able men Their
record shows they do not want to be TN
just to any corporation. There has been
no objection to their judgments, ana
that shows our wisdom in giving them
the power We have"
Judge Graham also touched upon the
injustice of keeping the people Of Dur
ham waiting for relief from their in
tolarabIe situation until the law suit IS
terminated.
He concluded by saying it was shown
that we had the right to compel the
building of a union depot and that it was
constitutional to delegate that right, be
cause the Legislature could not be ex-
pectcd to investigate every case OF the
s kind that might come UP.
General Davidson then took the floor.
He said he was in sympathy with the
general object of the bill. There was
possibly one objection in the form OF the
IA Ga "a