The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-10-25
RAILROAD RATES
And TAXATION
AN OPEN LETTER
To the People of North Carolina
by Robert M. Douglas, Can.
didate for Corporation
Commissioner.
To the People of North Carolina:

To the People of North Carolina:
Having been nominated by acclama-
ton by the late Republican state con-
vention for the Office of corporation
commissioner, take this method of In.
forming you of my views upon the du'
ties of the position. This / shall do
with entire frankness, as / believe the
people are entitled to such statement
from those who ask their votes for
such an Office. / adopt this method, be-
cause 1 shall not make any stump
speeches, believing, as l do, that the du-
ties of 80 important position should
not be affected by mere political bias or
prejudice. In fact, the Office Of cor
poration commissioner is now becoming
to be regarded as nonpolitieal. The re-
cent act of congress, known as the Rate
Bill, which gives to the interstate COM
merce commission the power to regulate
passenger and freight rates, provides
that: "Not more than four commits
sioners shall be appointed from the same
political party" This gives the Demo
Gratis three commissioners out of seven.
Ny election would carry out this princi-
pie without changing the political COM
plexion of the state corporation commits
sion. two of whom would remain Demo
Gratis. I would have no patronage what
ever, and no one except my opponent
would lose his place.
But it may be asked what power L
would have to carry out my viewsf The
power of investigation and publicity, the
two most powerful means of effectlng
a reform. I could also present to my
associates such facts and arguments as
/ am sure would meet with their care
full and favorable consideration. More
over, in view of my known record and
opinions, my election by the people
would be the strongest and most UNI
eauivocal assertion of their just de-
mands. I have no doubt whatever that
my election would be followed by a
proper reduction of both passenger and
freight rates. / do not wish to be mis-
understood I am in favor of reduc-
ton in rates, not simply because the
people demand it, but because the re-
turns made by the railroads themselves
show that the people have right to
demand it.
am sure the people will neither ask
nor expect me to do the slightest in
Justice to any one; but of one thing my
fellow citizens may rest assured-the
Office of corporation commissioner will
never fall into "innocuous desuetude'
in my hands.
I presume that personal integrity will
be readily conceded both to my oppo-
nent and myself; but it is evident that
our views differ greatly as to the du-
ties of a corporation commissioner. My
views / will state frankly and fully,
leaving his views to be stated by him
or inferred from his official acts during
the seven years that he has held the
important position which he now holds,
and to which he seeks a reelection.
Duties of Corporation Commission.
In May, 1898, while on the supreme
court. and when I certainly had no idea
of ever being candidate for corporation
commissioner, I filed dissenting opin-
ion in the case of State VS.. Railway
(I22 N. c., 1869, in which stated my
views of the duties of the commission
as follows: I" It was the imperative duty
of the commission, without any outside
suggestion, to make all just rules nee
essary for carrying out all the provisions
of the act, the proper enforcement OF
which was the sole object of their Off
cial existence. 1t Is their duty
to actively enforce the law, and to pre-
vent, and if necessary, prosecute, all
violations thereof that may come to
their knowledge in any manner. They
are the active instruments of Its en-
forcement, and are not merely required
to construe it upon sworn complaint.
For the purposes of their creative act,
they are the grand inquest of the state,
and should diligently inquire and true
presentment make of all its violations.
ANY other construction of their powers
and duties would destroy their useful
ness and make the commission a mere
excrescence upon the judicial system OF
the state. As court their powers are
very limited; but, as a commission, they
are charged with grave and responsible
duties of the state, and are clothed
with ample powers for their perform
ance. While they may be compelled to
appeal to the courts for the ultimate
enforcement of their decisions, they pos
sess powers beyond the jurisdiction OF
any court, and which, if properly exer-
cised. may be made of inestimable value
to the people, The mere fact of thor
ough investigation, and consequent pub
licity. of existing abuses will strongly
tend to their correction fully con-
Cured with the court that free passes
were unlawful; but held that it was
the duty of the commission to notify
the railroads not to issue them.
It cannot be denied that there is a
general feeling of disappointment at the
failure of the commission to accomplish
more substantial results. This feeling
has found its fullest expression from
Democratic sources, as is especially
shown by the learned and able addresses
of Chief Justice Clark through a num-