The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-07-31
RAILROAD RATES MUST BE RE
DUCED.

I'D
The next General Assembly must re.
duce railroad rates. The Democratic
state Convention declared that rate
are too high. and tho legislature vii
be expected To reduce the rates II
every county where the issue has been
raised the candidates have committee
themselves to a reduction Of the rates.
In other counties men have been
named whose rccord is proof that
they viii! stand for the rights Of the
people and justice to the public ser
vice corporations. in a few counties
men have already been named who
always look through the same glasses
that public service corporations see
through, and nothing Hced be expect
ed from them. But il the people IN
the counties where no nominations
have been made will require candi-
dates to commit themselves. the vic
tory for the people IS assured.
As a result Of the primaries, Dur
ham county will send to the Legisla-
turc Hon. j. S. Manning, one Of The
ablest lawyers in the state. MI.
Manning did not ask his people to
elect him simply because Of his lo1S
and useful service to the party, his
well known ability and integrity, or
because he desired the honor. When
he announced his candidacy he did -
in a card defining his position upon
the vital questions that the Leglsla-
ture must consider, both state and
local. In his card announcing his can
didacy, Mr.. Manning said
1.-The time has certainly come in
the development and progress of the
State, in the increased amount OF pas
sengcr and freight traffic furnished by
the people Of the State to justify ana
demand a reduction of passenger and
freight rates. The Jim Crow Car law
ought to be and will be maintained
The reduction of passenger rates, IN
my opinion, cCn be safely and justly
accomplished by fixing the rates per
mile according to. the annual gross re-
ceipt per mile for passenger traffic,
iXing a and a minimum
rate-the minimum rate at two cents
and the maximum rate at three cents
per mile. In this way the passenger
rates of roads traverSing %populOus
and developed sections would be re-
duced to 2 or = IL cents per mile,
while newly built roads might be per-
mitted to charge the maximum rate
until travel was increased and the sec
ton traversed by them developed
This plan has been adopted by one OF
the States and has met h approval of
the Supreme Court of the United
States"
Upon the matter of freight discrim-
nation. Mr.. Manning said:
"Something should be done to pre-
11piIICt DETERMINATIONS IN fIGlgnt
rates both between points within the
State and to points outside the State.
Legislation ought to be enacted con-
ferring power upon and requiring the
Corporation Commission to lnVeStl-
gate all such unjustly discriminating
rates and to prosecute the matter be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and that the powers of the
Corporation Commission ought to be
enlarge and strengthened. That it
ought to nave the power to cOmDcl
better Accommodations from railroads
which do not give adequate accommo-
datiOnS: to repair the roadbedS
dangerous and power to enforce its or
ders when made
Mr.. Manning not only promised to
railroad rates but pledged him
self also to needed insurance reforms.
specifically promising to favor meas
1ItS III 'Ntio IiiNAti iiO oCA'
panies to invest money derived from
North Carolina in North Carolina.
Upon both propositions he is, there
fore, in line with the most progressive
men who will be members of the next
House.
Mr.. Manning is the sort of man to
what he promises and he has the
ability to lead in carrying through
measures tina will give effect to the
declarations made when he announced
candidacy. Some of the best men
i'm the State have been nominated for
the General Assembly, men who
stand for real reforms and who have
the ability to put them in such shape
that they will be effective. 1t is not
enough that a legislator possess ability
that is important. 1t is essential
that his ability shall be enlisted in the
cause of the people and not the public
service corporations. When ability
and devotion to popular rights are
united in a legislator, you have the
ideal and model laW-maker.
North Carolina is entitled 20 legis-
this year who will enact laws in
the spirit of the State Democratic ,
Convention as it found expression IN
the speeches and in the platform Of
that body, the most democratic DEM
ocratic State Convention of a genera
ton.