The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-24

we should be our own judges Ct cay
interstate rates We have = Kr~a:
State II it loses the art - aeAlrs
Justly with all men
As tn TAxAtioo-
The idea that our state can la
them into a regulation 81 Interstate
rates. under any form q amended
constitution that We can adept. al
that We can by this means secur~ .
return to the State CT the g
that We conceive they have over
charged us on Interstate rates. 4.
that We can AS "a retAllstory measure
make them build their railroad iince
on Suits or through unnels all over
the sta'e-these ideas are IA NY
judgment impractical And IN any
event Will not get the relief ve are
seeking- We already tax them ar
proximateiy as high a. they are taaeA
IN any State in the American Union.
and surely old due process and
the equal protection OF the laws" ~Hn
get us II We undertake 10 go far w
advance Of other States. including the
States which have already abolxhsa
the uniform taxation clause an their
constitutions, in these matters.
| can just barely remember the
time when IL was almost as much ~
an impeachment Of a gentleman.
character 10 be nKage IN the mer-
~ NJ ~ - - III tt-e
member Of the Corporation Commas
sion You remember the time when 81
large percentage OF our people con
ceived the idea that the merchant was
their enemy, and We had co-operauv.
stores busting" all about over tn.
State. IL In the sweep OF some tide ci
temporary u~npopularity II should be
proposed TO tax the property Of The
merchants OF the State at a vastly
higher rate Of tax than the property
OF other citizens Of the State YOU
would think that We had a mighty
sorry form OF government II II did not
oner any protection from that sort Of
, discrimination. II is just such a SIT
uation as this n a tests the value and
the strength OF our institutions. Thia
is not The only storm that's gong q,
blow. We will have others. and In,
glad TO have the confidence that ne
old State will ride supremacy through
: them all. and do substantial justice
> within the domain Of her power 10 IN
her people.
There are just three remedies avail
able to the State in the regulation cl
G Interstate commerce:
I First. The powers Of p~ersuasior
{ with the carriers themselves. We has.
s tried this and SO far failed. thcugh
y there is hope that an adjustment MAY
n yet be reached by this means that vii
be Of substantial benefit TO The peopi,
OF the State.
The Interstate Commit.
g sion.
Second. Appeals to the %suthorlt
Is constituted by the Federal govern
ment to hear and determine the.
matters-the Interstate Commerc
Commission. This is not ~altoeethe
a hopeless recourse. The distrust q
f. that department that obtains w.t.
some people in North Carolina doe
lie not obtain generally %,hrcugnou
a the country. On the contrary
q has the respect in high degree OF tha
~ great army of traffic men t~hrouxhou
10 the country who represent the shlp
pers and not the railroads. and VII
N have given close study to the problem
. that come before that Commission
-, and nave some conception Of the mag
- nitude Of its responsibilities. IL has a.
ready given some relief 10 the Stat,
o. The Winston Board of Trade got
lower rate on coal by appeal 10 then
as did Old Fort and other wester
towns. The Furniture Association &,
y a reduction of through rates on furn
III ture by appeal to them. They rdere
Al a general reduction Of rates 10 VIII
o. ston and Durham on suit of the Co
break in. the high wall OF rates frol
the Virginia cities into the State. TT
at small amOun of the reduction WAS
great disappointment, but 1t should ,
Of borne in mind that at the time IN
- suit was brought one of the gre,
and railway systems OF the State was rel
al resented in its defense in that suit !
we its receivers. and the biggest sy.te
DIS in the State was well understood
or have been lingering on the brink al
r~eceivership. | suggest hat We be.
tcs these facts in mind when We are ii
II posed to deal in exaggerated figures
ate to the millions and millions Of doila
on collected in unjust tribute BY theI
~ The personnel Of the Commission h
nj also changed. and possibly improve
IN Already two OF its emb are a
pointees Of President Woodrow W
IL son, and before his term expires o IN
,ya jority of that Commission will dout
,r less be a~ppointees of this progree~i
~ President, and further appeals can
prosecuted before them at this tT
with more hope Of success. The Ia
roads are not SO anxious to defel
their North Carolina rate structure
fore the Interstate Commerce Co