Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

E. B. MURRAY, Editor. THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1884. tbems: 02TEYEAB_.-M.50. ?TX MONTHS-.?...?... 75 c. Two Dollars if not paid in advance. THE SATANNAH VALLEY KAILBOAD. Despite the hard year the prospect for the completion of the important short railroads leading from Greenwood to ; Lanrens, Greenville and Spartanbnrg during the present year is very assuring* Indeed, these roads are almost, if not certainly, an assured fact, and with their completion the cities of Greenville, Spartanbnrg and Laurens will have the advantages of competition between two leading railroad combinations?the Clyde syndicate and tbe Georgia Central. Every business man knows the advanta? ges this competition will give to these places. The Savannah Valley Road is in a condition which requires only a "little public spirit to complete it also, I and it is for the people of Anderson and : : portions of Abbeville to determine , whether they will secure the advantages ' ~pf this road by giving a small additional . pittance to ensure its early completion. -?The City of Andersen is ready and anx? ious to do her full part to aid this enter? prise, snd we have no doubt the people, .along the line, when the matter is pre? sented to them, will likewise be willing to do their part also. The road, when built, will reduce freights all along the line. It will promote the business inter-; eats of our city, and also the people V along the route. Depots will be made and towns spring up at not less than six or seven points. The value of lands will be enhanced, and tbe conveniences of life will be carried near to miles of. country which now labors under the dis? advantages of distant markets and bad; roads. The Legislature has authorized tbe City of Anderson and all of the Towiisbips interested to make additional; 'subscriptions by taxation, ap?n tbe vote of a majority of the qualified voters in -any City or Township, provided & mav jority of the owners of real estate in such City or Township first petition for the election. The whole responsibility, Bfctherefore, rests with the owners of real estate, and we hope tbe Directors of the Savannah Valley will proceed as Soon as possible to submit tbe question to the people interested, and obtain the requi? site petitions. We have already put a great deal of money into the enterprise, and should hot now allow it to fail for the lack of the small additional sum necessary to complete the line. If pos? sible, this road should be built in time to move the next cotton crop. It will be worth to our section every year as much money as it will cost us to com? plete it. " - ' THE GEEENV1LLE NEWS AGAIN. The Greenville News devotes a column and a half of its space to replying to our article last week, and in attempting to place its malicious personal attack upon the Editor of this paper opon high grounds of public duty. It cannot suc? ceed in satisfying an intelligent and fair public that it is either fair or sincere in its abuse of us while it studiously avoids assailing others similarly situated who liva nearer to its do?rs. We do not try to shield ourselves by the fact that others are similarly situated to us. We rely upon the common sense reasons for the change to vindicate us, and therefore we do not bring the names of those who, j like us, voted for the new railroad law ! this year and for the old last year. We merely mentioned the fact to show u. j personal malice of tbe News. It is true that the News supported us for Speaker, but it is also true that it has been steadi? ly assailing us since we declined to take its advice about tbe directorship. Tho News aspire* to be a little king in the up-country, and we committed tbe un? pardonable sin of failing to obey one of its royal edicts. From that time forward it has?in season and out of season abused us for accepting a position which two'Greenville gentlemen occupy, and which Zing News has been gracious enough to permit without placing them ander his powerful displeasure. We did not charge the News wi th being controlled by the Commission's printing.. We merely stated the fact that it had made ? $660.00 out of the Commission's printing last year, as showing that the News had a pecuniary interest in the concern while we had-none. As a matter of fact, the Commission advertised its changes, and wonld probably have continued to do so. The new law takes away their power to make rates, and of course their right to publish rates. It is ; a fact, therefore, that the . News has probably lost some money by the change in the railroad law. Now, it is not strange that royalty should be displeased with a diminution of its revenues. We have not sought a controversy with the News, but its un? fair, unreasonable and untrue statements I about us necessitate a reply. When the News says that we declared the action of last Winter "a great and disastrous blunder" in our recent speeches, it states an untruth. We said distinctly that the power given to the Commission had been used in such manner as to bring disaster to some of the railroads and injury to the people,.but that we believed tbe en? actment of tbe law last year would result in much good to the people, for it had shown the railroads that the people of tho State had the power to control them, and that they wonld go just so far as was necessary to prevent injustice, the result of which would be that the railroads in future would not tempt the people to go to such extremes. We have never opposed the Commission, but have criticised the action of the Commission? ers for what appeared to us good cause. We still are in favor of a supervisory Commission with very large powers. If we mistake not, the Greenville frews was one of the most blatant and incessant critics of the Railroad Commission, and ? regaled its readers from time to time with its'comments under such headings as "Lost,' Strayed or Stolen," and point? ed its comments with remarks similar to "Information wanted as to the wherea? bouts of the South Carolina Railroad \ Commission. When last heard from, it ft was somewhere in the neighborhood of Atlanta." After the Commission gave the News its advertising, this selfsame Greenville News became its warm friend and supporter. Now, we think it time for its editor to shut np and let people alone who are actuated by as good mo? tives as he, and who, to pat it mildly, are not in as suspicious a position as he oc? cupies. The News tamed from censure to praise very suddenly, indeed. It has repeatedly censured the Commission be? fore it got the advertising; will it please show us any article of censure since? We do not care to follow this theme fur? ther, and therefore close our article with a paraphrase of the latter part of tbe article from the News' reply to us: But when the fact is remembered that the News favored the railroad bill last Winter and then for months criticised the Commis? sion un til it was given the advertising of the Commission, whereupon it changed its course and supported the Commission with as much force as it had criticised it before: When these circumstances are considered, thsy force .the conclusion that the New? action requires some further explanation than a general alle? gation of imbecility before the Commis? sioners advertised in the Newt, or imbe? cility after the Commissioners advertised in the News. Until some satisfactory ex? cuse is found for this coarse, it is to be expected that tht News will seek to di? vert attention from its own gymnastics by attacking other people, but personal abuse of others will not induce tbe peo? ple to forget or justify the remarkable course of the News. TARIFF FRO HABILITIER. r Very great anxiety it felt throughout the country to ascertain the purposes of the gentlemen who compose the Dew, House Committee on Ways and Means, aa they will practically determine what tariff legislation is to be had, if any, during the coming session of Congress. It seems to be pretty well conceded that a majority of tae members of that Com? mittee favor'some immediate action for the reduction of tariff revenues. They will, however, meet with no little difficul? ty when they begin.their work, for their views as to the different industries will be very divergent For instance, it is reported that seeing the havoc the Ohio wool-growers played with the Bepublican party in that State for taking the tariff off of unmanufactured wool, the Demo? crats will seek to placate them by restor? ing the tariff at once. It is also serious? ly stated that there is a strong probabili? ty that the tariff on sugar will be remov? ed or very largely reduced. It will, therefore, be seen that there is danger of the party running intc sectional and class legislation; on the matter of tariff reform. To farther reduce tbe tar? iff on sugar, without greatly re? ducing it - on all other protected industries would be little less than an outrage upon the agricultural interests of the country, and would most probably make Louisiana a . Republican State, besides producing ^serious troubles in I several other States. i It will not be possible, in our opinion, to make any material tariff changes without doing injustice to some interests, until the party is ready to formulate its position in fu'.rupon the important issue of the tariff. There is but -one of two plans that etrike us as entirely fair and equitable. The first and simplest mode of collecting revenue is to ascertain the actual financial necessities of the govern? ment, and then levy a uniform per cent, on all imports sufficient to meet those necessities and no more. This is a tariff for revenue only, making the matter of protection on incident, and not . tbe pur? pose of the duty levied. In this levy the necessaries of life should as far as I practicable be . admitted free of duty, to the end that labor might be burdened as lightly as the needs of the government will permit. It is true that this policy would afford undue protection to some articles, and inadequate protection to others, but protection not being the pur pose of a revenue tariff, this would not enter into the consideration of the ques- I tion, theoretically speaking. It might, however, as a practical question render the uniform rate of tariff impracticable, for revenue being the object whenever the uniform rate goes so high as to stop importation by permitting American in? dustries to entirely undersell any class of imports, the revenue from 'such imports would be entirely stopped; and on the other hand, when the uniform rate ren? ders the duty on a certain class of arti? cles so low that the manufacture of such articles entirely stops at home, such ar- ] tides would yield a higher revenue if the rate of duty were raised to the high? est point which would admit such foreign products to this country at a rate which would undersell the home article. Whenever the duty is made high enough to enable the home producer to compete with the foreign supply, the tariff be comes in its nature protective. We be? lieve that all tariffs levied by this govern? ment have been either directly for the purpose of protecting home industries, or such protection has been kept steadily in view as an incident of such levy. Then the only other equitable form of tariff in its effects upon American iodus tries, would be a tariff adjusted so as to raise the necessary expenses of the gov? ernment, and laid upon all imports other than the exempted necessaries of life in such manner as to permit tbe American manufacturers to make a uniform small profit in competition with imported goods. This, while in one sense it might be termed a tariff for revenue, would in re? ality become protective, for protection I would be the basis of the levy, and not | merely an incident to it. I The tariff is the most complex question I of the day, and any policy that may be adopted will be severely criticised. It I seems to us, therefore, that the safest course for the party now is to content itself with the investigations necessary j to enable it to act with a thorough knowledge upon this matter. Any re? vision that can be made now will be of necessity very imperfect, and will doubt 'ess injure instead of advancing party interests. The present indications are that the Democratic majority in the ] House will not be precipitate in its action, and there .is, we take it, but little proba? bility of so Imprudent a venture as the further removal of the duty on sugars while the tariff remains as at present ar ranged. It would be both unjust and impolitic. On the other hand, we think I a moderate duty should be imposed upon wool, for as long as manufactured wool? ens are protected the men who hare their money in flocks should also be protected. Whenever the tariff is touched, it should be with the firm purpose- of doing abso? lute justice to all American interests to be affected by the tariff. Until the party is prepared in knowledge of the wants of the country, and a firm purpose to do equal justice to all, no important chan? ges can be safely made. THE STANDING CONGRESSIONAL COM? MITTEES. Speaker Carlisle announced the Standing Committees of the House of Representatives on Christmas eve. The principal chairmanships were awarded as follows: Elections?Mr. Turner, of Georgia. Ways and Means?Mr. Morrison, of Illinois: Appropriations?Mr. Randall, of Penn? sylvania. Judiciary?Mr. Tucker, of Virginia. Rivers and Harbors?Mr. Willis, of Kentucky. Agriculture?Mr. Hatch, of Missouri. Foreign Affairs?Mr. Curtin, of Penn? sylvania. Naval Affairs?Mr. Cox, of New York. .. The Representatives from South Caro? lina have been assigned as follows: Mr. Dibble is on the Committees on Public Buildings and Grounds, and American Ship building and Ship-own ing. Mr. Tillman is on the Committees on Claims and Pensions. Mr. Aiken is Chain ?d of the Com? mittee on Education aud a member of the Committee on Agriculture. Mr. Evins is Chairman of the Com? mittee on Territories and a member of the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic. Mr. Hemphill is on the Committee on Revision of Laws. Mr. Dargan is on the Committee on Patents. Mr. Mackey is on the Committees on Manufactures and Labor. While there is of course some personal disappointment about the make-up of the Committees, the general sentiment is that Mr. Carlisle has .formed the com? mittees impartially, and with a view to efficient action upon the various subjects committed to their charge. Director Murray. We are really pleased to see so much good evidence that Director Murray, of the Columbia and Greenville Railroad is not a depraved or hardened man, and ie tains the sensitiveness regarding his per? sonal, and official character which char? acterizes every gentleman. The evidence is furnished by the devotion of all the editorial space of the last issue of the Anderson Intelligencer to the defence of Director Murray, the editor of that excellent newspaper, against the several public criticisms of his action that have appeared. The defences are also conclu? sive evidence of the ability of the writer, for every impartial reader of them will coincide in the verdict that they make the best possible showing for a very bad case. As regards the News, Director Murray is decidedly in error. It is always the natural inclination of a public man whose action is attacked to attribute the attack to some unworthy motive and per? suade himself that it is not caused by his fault but by tbe malice or avarice of the person making it. Director Murray has obeyed this impulse of human nature, and is probably sincere in his belief that he has acted the part of an upright and wise statesman and that the adverse crit? icisms are the results of envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness. The truth is the News has only good will for Mr. E. B. Murray. Not very long ago this newspaper led an energetic and vigorous effort to make him Speaker of the House of Representatives. But we have a very decided dislike to the proceedings of Editor Murray of the In? telligencer and Representative Murray of the County of Anderson, and to the identity of Director Murray, of the Greenville and Columbia Railroad, with those two officials. In seeking a cause for the malice ascribed to us aud for our editorial course Editor Murray reaches a conclusion which is very ridiculous. We are described as hating him because he declined to accept our advice, and as desiring to maintain the power ot the Commission because of the advertising it would do. Tbe only way to rebut the first charge is to introduce evidence that the editor of this newspaper is still al? lowed to go at large and to vote, having not yet reached a stage of idiocy demand? ing official notice and subjecting him to challenge at the polls. The second charge is eliminated from the discussion by the fact that if there is any more ad? vertising to be done we do not know it, and tbat if the new railroad law affects the advertising matter one way or the other we are profoundly ignorant of it. All of this is aside from the real point of the controversy, however. Mr. Mur? ray may squirm and throw mud as much as he likes, and may prove any amount of corruption and malice against the News ana everybody else who criticizes him. He is in the dock and his incoher? ent and foolish denunciations of tbe pros? ecutors have no Bting or force and will not affect the verdict. Neither will bis declarations that others are as guilty as he or that be has done a wrong and fool? ish thing by the advice of the business men of Anderson relieve him. As an editor and a representative of the people he is supposed to have a certain amount of brains and independenca. He is not supposed to be the exclunive property and special puppet of the merchants of Anderson or anybody else. If Editor Murray and Representative Murray had within a year reversed his position on a very important public Suestion to which he bad presumably evoted much thought, we would have been justified in charging that his mind is weak and vacillating and that he had aided in committing what ho now regards as a crime against property and an egregious folly, oecause he knew no bet? ter. If the creation of ie Railroad Commission and the bestowal of arbitra? ry powers on it was as great and disas? trous a blunder as Mr. Murray declares it iu his recent speeches to have been, no man who voted for it is worthy of public confidence; if the railroads are as dangerous and tyrannical and the Commission is as much needed as was declared in Mr. Murray's several speech? es in December 1882, no man who voted to interfere with the Commission or against the old railroad law in worthy of public confidence. Mr. Murray can accept the horn of the dilemma that be prefers. Either way he is convicted of folly by his own evidence?evidence de? livered with the solemnity and publicity that make its strength equal to that of an oath. But when the fact is remembered that Mr. Murray favored the Railroad Com? mission and supported it for months, that he was elected a director of the Columbia and Greenville railroad with no visible or known functions or duties, and that thereafter he began to oppose the Railroad Commission with as much force as he had supported it; when these circumstances are considered they force the conclusion that Mr. Murray's action requires some further explanation than a general allegation of imbecility in 1882 or imbecility iu 1883. Until some satis? factory explanation is made Mr. Mur? ray must expect unfavorable criticism, and abuse of his critics will not justify him.?Greenville News. THE RAILROAB QUESTION. A Synopsis of the Remarks of Mr. E. B. Iii array in the House of Representatives in favor of Modifying the Powers of the Railroad Commission. In 1816 one of the most noted debates in tbe history of our country occurred in Congress, over tbe establishment of the American system, or what is more famil? iarly termed the system of protection to American industries?in other words, tbe protective tariff. In this debate Mr. Calhoun advocated the tariff, while the great Webster opposed it. When the question again was agitated in 1828, Mr. Calhoun favored the abolition of tbe protective tarifT and Mr. Webster favor? ed its continuance. Thus each of these great men had changed his position on this most vital of all the questions of na? tional policy. In consequence of this change of opinion, Mr. Calhoun was twitted with the taunt of inconsistency by those who did not agree with bim, and his answers, embodying one of the grandest sentiments of human nature, has become historic. He said: "I would rather be right than to be consis? tent." And yet, Mr. Speaker, we find men here to-day?members of this House ?on this very bill that we are now con? sidering?taunting men with the charge of inconsistency for having changed their opinions in a measure upon the question of what powers should be granted to the Railroad Commissioners in South Caroli? na. They seek to dwarf this important question into a personal issue. We are not here, sir, to try the question of the consistency of any member Oi this House, but, in the idea of Mr. Calhoun, we are here to seek the right, and act upon such information as we can command to guide us in reaching a conclusion. It is, Mr. Speaker, a question of too much impor? tance to tbe people of South Carolina to be narrowed into the compass of a person? al debate. Despite this fact, if one bad listened to the tirades which emana? ted from some of tbe members of this House on yesterday, they would have imagined that the gentleman from An? derson was on trial here instead of the railroad law of the State. I cannot con? descend to notice the baseless insinua? tions of tbe gentleman from Charleston. They have my unbounded contempt. The Speaker, interrupting: "I sup? pose tbe member from Anderson does not intend to transgress the rules of the House relating to personalities in debate?" Mr. Murray: "No, sir 1" The Speaker: "I suppose the member does not apply the term he has used to the member from Charleston ?" Mr. Murray: "I mean to say, Mr. Speaker, that I do not choose to follow the gentleman from Charleston upon the low plane of personal abuse that he has seen fit to pitch this discussion upon. Were I disposed to go into mens' motives upon this measure, I could show perso? nal reasons why the member from Charleston may be opposed to tbe pass? age of this bill, but personal vituperation is not argument, and feeling that I have substantial reasons for the advocacy of this bill, I shall not on my part attempt to lug any irrelevant subjects into my remarks. In the beginning of my re? marks I shall make reply to the personal attack that has been made upon me in this debate. And first, Mr. Speaker, my I friend from Marion reads tbe speech I made in this hall last winter upon the railroad bill. In doing so he compli? ments me over much, but he gives no in? formation to tbe members of this body, who heard that speech for themselves, I and who know as well as the geatleman himself that I now favor taking away some of the power which we then confer? red upon the Railroad Commissioners; and the gentleman from Charleston, as though he were unearthing some bidden attempt at deception, tells the House that I am a director of the Columbia & Greenville Railroad, and have been elected since the passage of the existing Railroad Law, to the enactment of which I contributed my support last Winter. The facts stated by him are true, but there is nothing new to the public in them. My election as a director was published in the daily papers last Spring, and my re election was again published since this body met, aud only a few days since. Therefore, the members of the House know that I was a director before j the gentlemen from Charleston told them of it. As this directorship has been | made the occasion of comment here, I may be pardoned for saying that there is nothing connected with it, in any par? ticular, that I would desire to withhold from the public. Tbe circumstances under which I accepted the position were simply these: Some time last Spring I received a telegram from Col. J. H. Rion asking if I would serve as a director of tbe Columbia & Greenville Railroad. I conferred with some of my friends, who concurred in the opinion that I must either accept tbe position tendered or cease my criticism of railroad manage? ment, for the position offered was one in which I could inform myself upon railroad matters, and that it was my duty to either so inform myself or cease my criticism, I telegraphed a reply that I would accept. Several of the prominent business mon of Anderson, every one with whom I have conversed about the matter, also advised me to serve as direc? tor upon the ground that they would like to have some one interested in tbe pros? perity of our city upon the Board of. Directors. There was absolutely no conference or agreement of any kind whatever as to my acceptance, aud I1 have been, and still am, perfectly un trammelled by this position. It is not a source of profit, and I have not a dollar's interest in retaining it. These are tbe circumstances under which I am before you as a director of tbe Columbia & Greenville Railroad. If it be culpable to have acted thus, then I am liable to censure for it. Now, Mr. Speaker, it is intimated that I do not represent my people, but that I favor the railroads iu advocating this bill. It is true that I do not represent my people fully in this matter, for they favor a total repeal of the existing law. These resolutions, which I will read, express the sentiments of the business center of the County I rep? resent : Anderson, S. C, Dec. 6, 1883. Messrs. E. Ji. Murray, and gentlemen, Representatives from Anderson County, s. a : At a meeting of tbe Board of Trade of Anderson, which met this p. m., at 4 o'clock, the following preamble and res? olutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas, the rates and regulations established by tbe Railroad Commission for tbe State have resulted in inconven? ience and injury to our city and commu? nity at large; therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Board of Trade of Anderson, S. C, that the said Railroad Commission should be abolished, and that our Senator and Rep? resentatives be requested to advocate and urge the abolition of said Commission ; and failing in this, then that they advo? cate a repeal of so much of the Act creating said Commission as authorizes them to regulate freight and passenger rates. Resolved further, That the Act of the Legislature requiring cotton to be shipped by weight should be so amended as to allow the same to be shipped by the bale. Resolved further, That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to our Senator and Representatives in Columbia, S. C. A. B. Towers, Pres. B. Trade. J. G. Cunningham, Sec. pro tern. I cannot go as far as these resolutions ask me to go, for I believe that' it is tbe duty of the State to supervise railroad corporations, and the Commission, with proper powers, can be of great benefit to the people. Neither do I, in any way, represent the railroads. They would prefer to have the law repealed also. I stand here to advocate what my judgment tells me is right and best for the interest of South Carolina. But, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Charleston tells you what I have, as editor of the Intelligen? cer, criticised the Columbia & Greenville Railroad for running a freight and pas? senger combination train last Winter, and for stopping passengers some hun? dred yards from the depot at Anderson while freights were being shifted. It is true and I continued the criticism until the imposition was removed, and when the relief came to our people it was by the act of the railroad, and not from any assistauce from the Commission. I not only criticised these things but others al? so, and will continue to criticise wherever I think proper; but the fact that I con? demn any action which I think wrong ^oes not render me incapable of doing justice in other respects. Next, it ii stated that I have changed my position since last Winter. It is true. Then I stated, in advocacy of the existing law, that if upon trial we found it working badly, I would favor its amendment. I stated then, and members on this floor will bear me out, that the present law was experimental, that something ought to be done, and that its passage at that time was the best thing that could be done. I did not like the law, and when the amendment to permit grouping towns along any line of railroad was lost, I came very near opposing the bill, as my colleagues and others will remember. But for the fact that it was the best that could be done, and that it was to take that or adopt some scheme hastily gotten up, it is not probable I would have voted for the bill as it stood last Winter. There were reasons then which contributed to the passage of that law that did not have the significance attrib? uted to them. For instance, Richmond & Danville stock was up to 250, and we thought, of course, that that road was making immense dividends. The fact has since transpired that this was a fictitious value run up in Wall Street. Tbe spec? ulation has ended in disaster to the men who went into it, and that stock is now 3uoted as only worth sixty cents on the ollar, showing that the dividends are really nothing like so great as we suppos? ed last year. We also knew that several important railroads were being built in Georgia, which has a similar Commission, and thought therefore that the law of that State did not deter capital, and that it would not do so here. We now have the information that the building of these roads in Georgia had been contrac? ted for before the law was passed, and that now no new railroads are being built. Tbe first reason for the passage of this bill lies in the fact that the existing law deters capital from comiog to South Car? olina for investment iu railroads. The proof of this ii the fact that the comple? tion of tho Spartanburg & Asheville Railroad has been indefinitely postponed, and that the only work being done in tbe State is that in which the local subscrip? tions are being used to grade some short lines. The officers of these lines tell us that they cannot tell their bonds, because capital is unwilling to invest in property which tbe o'wnera cannot control, but which is to be managed by three Railroad Commissioners. Ex Got. Hagood, the president of the Carolina, Cumberland Gap & Chicago Railroad came before the Railroad Committee and told us that his financial agent in Europe has written to him that capitalists there are unwilling to put their money in South Carolina Railroad bonds, because of the power which the Commissioners have to fix rates here. Gov. Hagood is not interested in any road in operation. He is seeking to build a line to complete with existing roads in a large portion of tho State. Therefore, his interests are the peoples' interest. The gentleman from Greenville who spoke yesterday, (Dr. Mauldin,) who is president of the Greenville & Laurens Railroad, told us that while in New York recently he found it impossible to place railroad bonds in this State. He, too, is building a competing road, and his inter? ests are also the peoples' interests. An additional proof of the truth of this proposition is, that as far back as my knowledge extends a number of railroad charters have been applied for at every session of the Legisla? ture. At this session only one charter has been asked for, and that charter asked to have the contemplated road exempted from the powers of the Com? mission. This exemption was stricken out in the other end of this building, and then tbe charter was withdrawn, so that I might say, with entire accuracy, that not a single railroad charter has been asked for under the present law. These facts, Mr. Speaker, I take it, prove con? clusively that the present law is deterring capital from coming into this State for investment in i&'lroads and will therefore check railroad building, and thereby keep down competition. But our opponents ask us to point them to any road that has been built by outside capital since tho war in South Carolina. I reply, tbe Air Line, and every road that has been built, so far as I know. I do not mean to say that no home capital has been put into these roads, but I do assert that not one of those of which I know anything could have been built on capital raised entirely at home. Therefore, if we want new railroads we must, in the experience of the past, look to foreign capital at least to help very largely in building them. The second reason for tbe modification is, that the Commission's exercise of the power to fix rates has worked disastrously to some of the important lines of rail? road in this State. To begin with, take the Columbia & Greenville Road as an illustration. During the year ending September 31, 1883, in which the rail? road rates were in force, this road paid out of its earnings its operating expen? ses and fixed charges, including interest on its debt, and spent $46,153.30 in re? pairs upon its lines. After paying these necessary expenses the income of the road and all of its branches amounted to only $304.27. The sum spent in repairs was not unnecessarily laige, for it will require a similar expenditure for the next ten years to put the line in anything like thorough order. Now during the months of October and November, of 1883, the earnings of this road were $66,534.34 less than for the same months in 1882. Of this sum about 27 per cent, is due to decrease in business, but the other 73 per cent, is due to the Commission's rate, or in other words the road lost during these months in round numbers $48,000 by the Com? mission's rates, so that if it should earn as much for the rest of the year as it did last year, it would still be about $48,000 short of its necessary expenses. It will, of course, continue to lose heavily if the Commission's rates remain. The Charlotte Columbia & Augusta Road lost during the same period $8,728. 83. Its rates have not been reduced so much, because it was already working under competitive rates at several points, and much of its business was through business. These fhcts show that the Commission has made grave mistakes. There is no doubt that they have acted in a thoroughly conscientious and hon? orable manner, but they have, I submit, acted without sufficient information. Two of the Commission were before the Railroad Committee, and one of them was examined. He could not tell what was the base of the Commission's rate, and finally admitted that they took the South Carolina Railroad's rate. He could not tell why. Said they did not know what the loading and unloading of a ton of freight and hauling it a given distance would cost, and that they had not pro? portioned their rates to meet the expen? ses of maintaining separate roads or to the debts of those roads. And when pressed for tbe reason for taking these rates, said they thought they were fair J and equitable; and, in reply to the ques? tion why they thought so, said he sup? posed becau?o they were the cheapest rates in the State. I pause a moment, Mr. Speaker, for correction, if I have misstated these facts in any particular. I hear none. Now, sir, is uot this enough to show that the Commission has not the experience or the information necessary to enable them to manage tho fifty million dollars worth of railroad property in this State? I take it that no member of this House would like to have his property taken out of his bands and its management given to men who could not give better reasons for their action in connection with it. The third reason for the modification is, that the business men of the greater portion of the State ask for it, and rep reseut that the Commission's rates are injurious to the business of the State. These petitions come here from every Court House town along the line of the Col umbia & Greenville and the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta. I believe, except the town of Union, and we have petitions from at least three-fourths of the other prominent towns along these lines, and also from some of the lower towns. There is not a petition here against the change from a single body of business men, or from any individuals in the State, so far as I know. It has been said that tbe railroads got these petitions up. I do not know how they were raised, but I do know that the resolutions from Anderson were not gotten up by the railroads, but were sent to me in response to an inquiry for my information. Even, however, if these petitions were gotten up by the railroads, they have been pre? sented by the representatives from their respective Counties, and it is admitted that tbe signatures are genuine; there? fore it shows that the railroads and the people are on better terms than the Commissioners and the people. If so, I think the Legislature should grant these petitions, and modify the law as the business interests of the State desire. But we are told that the business inter? ests must be benefited by the law if the railroads are injured. This by no means follows. The rates may be arranged eo as to annoy and inconvenience tbe busi? ness men, and at the same time to injure the railroads. For instance, the freights from Charleston to points along the Air Line?like Central. Westminister and such points?go by way of Atlanta cheaper than the Columbia & Greenville can carry them under the Commission's schedule. To points towards the North Carolina line they go by the Northeast? ern Road into North Carolina and back. It will, therefore, be seen that there are a great mat.y complex questions entering into this matter, and it seems to me that where tbe railroads and tbe business men both claim to be injured, that it should be sufficient reason to induce the change asked for. These are the reasons for the change. During this debate I have regretted to hear the railroad officials censured for being present in this House and accused of lobbying. They not only have tbe, right to come into this hall, where the highest or the humblest has the right to come; but as a matter of fact they were specially invited by the unanimous vote of the Railroad Committee to come before us. The opponents of the change were also invited. The Commissioners came. They have not been censured for doing so, and .1 submit that it is in bad taste to invite gentlemen before you aud then censure them for coming. A few words more and I will close, for I know that the House is weary of this debate. We do not propose to abolish tbe Commission. We retain it, with power to prevent oppression, but without power to oppress. The Committee is uot wedded to this particular bill. It is com? posed, in part, of my bill, and in part of the bill of my friend from Charleston, (Gen. McCrady,) and both of us voted for tbe changes that have been made by tbe Committee. The scope of this bill is to give tbe railroads the right to appeal to our own Courts, and if they violate our laws severe penalties are imposed. The Commission also have the right to report to the Legislature, and such chan? ges as may be necessary to protect tbe people will be made in our laws. This bill fixes tbe passenger rates, and enfor? ces first and second-class cars. It seems to me that it amply protects the people, and is much fairer to tbe railroads than the present law. I know, Mr. Speaker, that there are differences of opinion among the members on this bill, but I am satisfied that in the vote about to be taken tbe result will represent tbe judg? ment of the members of this body, with? out prejudice, and that the desire of each will be to do that which is best for South Carolina. I hope the results of our ac? tion will redound to the true interest of our State, let this issue be decided as it may. _ _ The Freeze in Other Places, Petersburg, Va., January 6.?The weather here last night was extremely cold, the thermometer in exposed places registering 5 degrees below zero. Many hydrants were frozen up. To-night the Appomattox River at this point is frozen over, and navigation impeded. Independence, Iowa, January 6.?A boy and girl named Hines, aged six and seven years, were frozen to death in bed last night. Jamestowk, Dak., January 5.?Yes? terday was the coldest day ever known in this locality. It was 4S degrees below zero in tbe morning and 42 below at noon. Tbe air was filled with frost, but tbe stiff breeze from the Northwest calmed down last evening and the weath? er moderated. No trains have run on the Jamestown and Northern road to Carrington since Tuesday. Chicago, January 5.?The thermome at 5 o'clock this morning dropped to 27 degrees below zero, which, taken with the cold record of yesterday, makes it the severest showing in the way of ex? treme weather known here in many years. At 8 o'clock the thermometer was still 24 degrees below and at tbe same hour Kansay City reported 24 degrees below, St. Paul 20, Omaha 34, Dubuque 32, Des Moines 24 and Keokuk 25 below. The effect in this city has been to par? tially paralyze the ordiuary course of business. A number of large wholesale houses have not sent out their heavy trucks, and those teamsters and street car drivers and conductors who are out brav? ing tbe weather are suffering greatly. The severe weather caused a great many needy people and professional tramps to besiege the relief agencies and police stations. Several trains loaded with live stock are still snow-bound ten or twelve miles from the stock yards. Some cattle were frozen to death aud others were partially frozen and bad to be killed. Hogs suffered less than cattle. Corn laden cars were on the same trains with the slock and the grain is being used for feed. The suffering for water is great. Men sent to dig out the trains were offered fifty cents an hour, but were obliged to return to tho city nearly frozen. ? The Atlanta Constitution says:? "Certain editorials and communications in the State papers are supposed to indi? cate the beginning of an organized attack not thought that the railroads desire to have the Commission abolished, but the indications are that an effort will be made to curtail its power." ? A new industry is announced for Florida?the insurance of orange grove?. It is also said that several American and one British company are now prepared to guarantee against frost and fire. A grove owner at Fort Marion has for some time past insured against fire. The premium rates for this class of insurance are said to be very low. ? Several young men in the "Corner" portion of the county and just across tbe river over in Union are reported to ho making preparations for a move to Texas. It has been estimated that between seventy-five and one hundred persons havo left Fairfield during the present season for Arkansas, Texas and Florida. ? Wimuboro News. Commission. It is Tho Grecnyillc and Laurcns Road. Greenville, January 6.?The execu? tive committee of the Greeuville and Laurens Railroad Company held a meet? ing here last night for the purpose of opening the bids and awarding the con? tracts for the grading of tbe sections of the road now ready for the contractor?. Stuart, Susong & Co., of Tennessee, were the lowest bidders, and were awarded the contract for the whole of the eight and a half miles at the Greenville end of the line, for which bids were received. The contractors are a company of wealthy and experienced men. who will push the work through with rapidity. They con? tract to begin the work by February Erst aud to complete it by the lir.it of July. Their contract covers tho most expensive part of the line and will be executed at a cost to the company of an average of twelve cents a cubic yard for earth work, including cuts and fills, which amounts te about $3,000 per mile. The railroad company have the option of paying for the work, if they desire, in Greenville and Laurens County bonds, at ninety cents on the dollar. This is a very satis? factory beginning for the buildiug of* the road. Contracts for the grading of four miles of the Laurens division will be awarded on the 23d inst. The remaining twenty-four miles of road is mostly on an easy ridge, and it is the lightest kind of work. This will be gradei'. by a con? struction force under the superintendence of Capt. J. W. Kirk, the chief engiueer of the road, who states that tbe whole line will be graded and ready for equip? ment by July 1. Many changes in the line originally surveyed have been made by Capt. Kirk, whose reputation as an adept at finding easy grades and short lines is unrivalled. The reduction in cost has been so great that it is now contemplated that the whole line of thirty-seven miles will be graded and supplied with crossties at a cost of from $60,000 to $70,000. This does not look reasonable, but it will be done, and the road will bave on hand a cash surplus of something like $75,000 with which to extend its line toward Asheville, which it is the determined policy of the Greenville and Laurens people who own the road now about to be built to do. The people of Greenville are especially wide awake on the subject and at the right temper to push the road through the mountains without delay. The survey of a line from here to Ashe? ville passing through the upper section of this county via Marietta will be made by Capt. Kirk and his corps in March or April. His knowledge of the route al? ready acquired warrants him in saying that he can cross tbe mountains at a grade of not more than seventy feet to the mile, with oue slight tunnel. Before the end of tbe present year the road from Laurens to this city will be in oper? ation, and the people of this section are enjoying rational hopes of the ultimate and early realization of the grand scheme 'of a railroad across the moun? tains and to the West.?News and Cou? rier. ? A married w<?tnan named Vander Linden has been arrested at Leyden, Holland, charged with having murdered in the last few years sixteen person*, her victims being nearly all members of her own fsmily. She insured their lives first, and received the insurance money after their deaths. The woman has confessed her guilt. It is supposed that she pois? oned five of her own children. ? The first loom, it is stated, ever made in the South was put in operation at the Atlanta, Ga., cotton factory last week. It was made by the "Georgia Mill Supply Company," and pronounced tbe best loom in the factory. ? Some of tbe orange growers of Or? lando, Fla., and vicinity, the Reporter says, have sold their fruit on the trees at ten dollars per thousand, thinking that price preferable to shipping and taking chances with commission men. Plucked Before lie Was Ripe. So 1'nr as Mr. Spcer's qualifications for tlie office are concerned, be is doubtless fully up to tbe average of Federal district attorneys in the South ; but his partisan and unfair conduct in the Sou^b Carolina cases laid him open tojust Censure, which may yet cost him his place. A distin? guished Georgian remarked four or fire years ngo that Emory Speer was a ripht smart young man, but "he was pi; *ed before he was ripe," and his subsequent career lias justified the judgment. Whether lie is confirmed or not be has the melancholy satisfaction of knowing that he has alienated the better people of bis Slate.?Savannah News. WARRING. ALL persons are notified not to hire or harbor our sons?Isham Simpson and Tony Gray, colored?as they are mi? nor.?, and tinder contract through us to work for Maj. Elias McGcc for this year. Persons disregarding this notice will be proceeded against at law. HARRY McGEE, EMILY McGEE. Jan 10,1884 26 1* MULES! -0 .A.NY ono who desires to purchase Mules on time, or transact any other business with me, bad better see me before January 14th inst.as I will bo absent from home for some timo after that date. JOHN E, PEOPLES. Jan 10, 1884 26 1 Ilotice to Trespassers. ALL persons arc hereby warned not to hunt, lish, cut any timber for any purpose, drive out of the roads, make paths through fields, or otherwise trespass, by day or night, on any of our lands, situated in Anderson County, Williamston Town? ship, S. 0. Those disregarding this notice will be prosecuted at law. A. F. ELROD, Mrs. 8. M. ALLEN, W. G. WHILDEN, J. R. WELBORN, H. M. PRINCE, W. P. WOODSON, Mrs. MILLY FLEMING, J. N. RHODES, NANCY M. CARTEE, A. F. WELBORN, F. M. WELBORN, T. F. ANDERSON, Mas. L. J. STRICKLAND. Jan 10, 18S4_26_1_ NOTICE TO CREDITORS. All persons having demands against the Estate of P. P. Haynie, deceased, are hereby notified to present them, properly proven, to the undersigned within the lime prescribed by law, and those in? debted to make payment. J. P. HAYNIE, Adm'r. Jan 10,1884 27 3? NOTICE FINAL SETTLEMENT. The undersigned. Administrators of the Estate of P. A. Masters, deceased, hcrebv give notice that they will, on the 13th day February, 1884, apply to the Judge of Probate of Anderson County for a Final Settlement of said Estate, and a discharge from said Administration. C. S. BEATY, J. L. MASTERS, Administrators. Jan 10, 1884 26 6 NOTICE FINAL SETTLEMENT. The undersigned, Executors of the Estate of West A. Williams, deceased, hereby give notice that they will apply to the Judge of Probate for Anderson County, on 12th day of February, 1884, for a Final Settlement of said Estate"and discharge from their office as Executors. A. M. GTJYTON, M. B. WILLIAMS, Executors. Jan 10, 18*4 21 ? ANDERSON CLOTHING STORE I BROCK St MAULDIN. CLEARING OUT SALE OF CLOTHING, SHOES ?ND HATS. BEING desirous of closing out our entire stock within the next thirty dem we offer some RARE BARGAINS to all wanting CLOTHING, SHOES, HATS, FURNISHING GOODS, &c. We have still a large stock on hand, and can make it to your interest to cull and examine before purchasing elsewhere. t?T COME AND BE CONVINCED |?T Appreciating the difficulty experienced by our friends in paying even small bills this season, we extend the time thirty days for closing them with us. All Ac? counts not satisfactorily arranged by 1st February will be placed in hands of a Trial Justice for collection. Jan 3,1883 25 J. P. SULLIVAN. W. A. VANDIVER. 1884. WE SPEAK FOR YOUR TRADE. You can save Time, Money, Annoyance and Unnecessary Delays. OUR PRICES WILL BE UNIFORMLY LOW THROUGHOUT, as we do not believe in the "uumercantile" practice of offering some goods at cost in order to make sales on more profitable ones. OUR STOCK IS GENERAL AND COMPLETE. The largest stock PLOWS in the City-Pure Steel. -?| 5?* The BEST COFFEE n specialty. Very respectfully, J. P. SULL.IVAN & CO. Jan 3. 1884 25_ FALL AND WINTER GOODS. Wow in Store and to arrive a A FULL STOCK OF GENERAL MERCHANDISE, STAPLE AND FANCY DItY GOODS, NOTIONS. GROCERIES, HATS AND CAPS, CLOTHING, ROOTS AND SHOES, If AREWARE, SADDLES AND BRIDLES, CROCKERY AND CLASS WARE, BAGGING AND TIES, a full supply always on hand, .ACID AND BONE A.SII, First-class Fertilizers lor small grain. ALL of which I will sell LOW for ('ash or Harter. Give me a call before buying, at No. 10 Granite Row. TT. F. BARR. Sept 13. 1833 i? _l?l? CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE, Now, Where are you Going to Get Your PRESENTS, F?UITS, *c. P Why, of course, AT SHARPE'S, JpOR he keeps a larger assortment and better Goods than you can get elsewhere* ORANGES, BANANAS, APPLES, CANDIES, TOYS, CHINA WARE, VASES, &C. Aw nil kept by him. and sold CHEAP for the Cosh, at McCULLY'S CORNER, Ander? son, S. C. Dec 13, ISS!) ->2