The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-10-31

IL the Democratic State ofne.slx f..
Guiding the Governor. had DISCHARGED
their duties they could hare forced
these railroads TO recognize the rich,
OF the citizens Of the State.
The Democratic State platform 10
1906 declared tha, this grea; inius-
tioe should BE- corrected By such
means as are available within the
limitations Set By the Constitution Of
the United Statss." Yet. no,wfth.
standing this declaration upon which
the Democrats carried the State, not
single effort was made to bring
about this result. nor has the Demo
cratic organization since that day re-
peated this declaration but has con-
tented itself with ignoring the de-
mands OF the people in this respect.
while It's Senators have opposed the
only measure that would give the
relief demanded within the limita-
tons prescribed by the Constitution
OF the United States. to-wit. the Hey
burn amendment
AS an excuse for this do-nothing
policy. Dir. Stephenson says: 1T
must be remembered that the rate
discrimination that We are suffer
Ing from is interstate. and that the
State Legislature has no right to reg
ulate interstate commerce." This
being so, we would then naturally
look for action on the part OF our
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress. Notwithstanding the fact that
the Democratic organization has a
solid delegation in the Senate and
House OF Representatives not one
word is said nor act performed indi-
eating that they are representing the
people OF North Carolina in an at
tempt to secure better rates.
Mr.. Stephenson further says:
When the Republican county can
didates say that If they are elected
they will abolish freight rate dis.
elimination, they are either dissem
bling or else are speaking without ar
adequate knowledge of constitutions
| law"
They can help elect a United States
| Senator who will not oppose the only
remedy offered to relieve the peopl.
along this line. They can regulate
the exhorbitant rates practiced upor
the people of the State where the
shipments are made from and tt
points within the State, and this is {
great evil as we could show IL we haC
space. One instance from our owl
city will suffice. The railroad com
panies charge the farmer for trans
fering a carload of ingredients o.
fertilizers from the depot in Winston
Salem to Spach's siding on South
side, distance of two miles, $1,000
after the freight has been paid OF
! this car from Wilmington to Wilson
This is only one instance of how
our railroads deal with the people o
the State within it's borders, which i
exclusively under the control Of tn
Legislature and the Corporation Com
mission. l am told that the railroa
companies in North Carolina have no
materially changed their rates in tn
State for. thirty-five years notwith
standing the increased amount O
freight and the improved facilitie
for handling the same.
Mr.. Stephenson indicates that b
has evidence that certain large cor
porations in North Carolina are a
present receiving rebates from tn
Southern Railway. If he has this evi
dence, if it is a matter of interstat
business, then it is his duty to re
port to the authorities before he con
dennis them for not enforcing tn
law. But a more effectual remed
would be for him to read Sectiol
1868 of the Revisal of 1905 O
North Carolina, which provides TO
the forfeiture of the charter of
railroad company for giving rebates
and then report the same to the Al
torney-General who is such a faithful
servant of the people that he will &C
at once.
| If Mr.. Stephenson would look owe
his candidates he would find that b
is attempting to send to the Legisla