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- _?_?-_________________?,- -? ________????_______????__??_?_?___????__?????_? . - ______________________________?_________> sdmtsr watchman, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not?Let all the Ends thon Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." the true southron, Established Jane, 1266 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16. 1896. New Series?YoL XVI. So. 20 %k W??wm at? ?$0M?ljim Puhlisk?? Every TSTednesday, -BT KT. G-. Osteen, SU M TER, S. C. terms : $1 50 per annum?io advance. advertisement: One Squarefirst insertion.............Si 00 Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will be charged foras advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. Row in the Kailroad Com mission. ?% I'homas Makes Some Serious Charges Against his Fel low Members and the Secretary. Below ia given in full Railroad Commisioner E R. Thomas' reply to the statement of Chairman Evans, published a few days ago. The row in the commission, judging from the tone of Mr. Thomas' communication, seems to be further from a settlerant than ever. Here is what Mr. Thomas says : In discussing the fertilizer rate, I bave eonfined myself entirely to the records. 1 have proven by Commis sioner Evans' letter in letter book, page 144, that on May 23 he commit ted himself and Commissioner Wil bom to a fertilizer dealer to reduce the rates on fertilizer, and on Sept 4, he called the iailroad officials aud the fertilizer people together to discuss the rate (page 33, minutes), when the majority of the board were al ready committed. I denounced this as trifling. I have proven by Mr. W. A. Clark, president Columbia Fertilizer Mills, and one of the chief beneficiaries of the reduced rate, that the rate fixed by the board gave the interior fertilizer mills an advan tage over the Charleston factories in the territory above Columbia, of 75 cents per ton. (See Sfate papers, Nov. 21 ) I have proven by the pub liehed account sales of our secretary, who is president of'the alliance ex change, that he absorbed from my al liance brethren this 75 cents a ton, in territory above Columbia, selling bL Columbia goods to them at the Charleston price, with the Chaileston freight added (See published State papers, Nov 21 ) I referred to J. J Mayer, Prosperity, Saluda Alliance ; P. L. Paysinger, Newberry, Hartford Alliance ; T. S. Blair, Silver Street, Eutopia Alliance; S. Crotwell, Newberry, Johnson Alliance I saw Secretary Duncan making this rate. I denounced our secretaryTs taking advantage of bis official position to make rates for him to sell fertilizer at 75 cents a ton above his competi tors as an outrage I wish it well understood that I do not charge Sec retary Duncan with absorbing 75 cents a ton for himself, for I don't know whether he got it, the Alliance exchange or the interior mills ; it is not my province to inquire, but I do know the farmers did not get it. Commissioner Wilborn's resolutiou to reduce rates north of Columbia proves that he now regards the rate in the Piedmont territory as a dis criminative rate I have proven that Commissioners Evans and Wilbom have entered into a trade with the rail road ar.d the trade was this : You work the fertilizer rate, and we will recoup you by raising rates on other articles at the request of the railroad companies (See Evans' reply, State papers, Dec 5 ) Against this I pro tested. The commission try to hide behind Attorney General Barber, who says : "It seems to me to be a method of settling what might be come vexatious litigation in a manner advantageous to the people of the state, for tiiat reason I advised its acceptance. Gen. Barber did not advise this trade, because the rate was just and reasonable as the law requires, but to avoid the expense j of the vexations litigation brought about bv Commissioners Evans I and Wilbom fixing a rate which ? Commissi.u?er Wilbom now acknowl- ? edges was an unjust and discrimin?t- ! ive rate. In my speech. Nov. '?0, \ in quoting the trade between Com missioners Evans and Wilbom, I said : "If, at the icquest of the rail road companies etc-,7' when I should have said : "At the request of the railroad companies, etc," Commis j sioner Evans says: "Would any j honorable man so falsify the records, I etc " The following letter will ex plain my misquotation, which does not affect the meaning in any way : <1 'Columbia, S C, Oct. 21, 189*6. ? ? 'Hon. W. D. Evans, Chairman Board of Railroad Commissioners : * ' 'Dear Sir : Gen. Henderson gave me the copy of my protest be fore the board of railroad commis- j sioners and the attorneys represent- | ing the several railroads, made in Charleston : I think he gave it to me from memory, aiter consulting with several of his colleagues. I had my written protest, and I find in my speech I published my copy, which varied in words, but not in substance, and I cheerfully give you the original signed by Gen Henderson, to be used against myeelf. "Turn about is fair play " I now respectfully ask you to furnish me with a copy of the minutes of the meeting held by yourself. Mr. Wilburn and Traffic Manager Emerson, of the Atlantic Coast Line, in the railroad commis sioners' office ; of which meeting I was not advised, and you made no record of the same in our official min utes. When you, without my knowl edge or consent. did prevail on Mr. Emerson to a second time re duce the fertilizer rate, against which I protested, from $2 70 to ?2 50,^ in the congressional district in which you were then a candidate for Con gress, and made no reduction any where else, as can be seen by reference to Supplement No 3, number 1307, Atlantic Coast Line, joint freight rate effective Feb 7,1896. Very respect fully youas. "H.R.THOMAS, V 'Railroad Commissioner ' Personally appeared before me, William Barnwe'l notary public for the State of South Carolina, Railroad Commissioner EL R. Thomas, and made oath that the joint rate on the Atlantic Coast Line, put in effect Feb. 7, makes a blanket rate of ?2 50 per ton on fertilizer from both Charleston and Columbia, delivered at stations on the Cheraw and Darlington rail road, Florence railroad, Latta branch, Wilmington. .Columbia and Augusta railroad, below Florence, without regard to distauce. This rate was fixed without calling the board to getber for that purpose, as is the cus tom, and without my knowledge or consent. Chairman Evans refused to in form me why that extraordinary manner of rate making was pursued in that particular territory, which does not obtain in. any other separate congressional district in this state. H R THOMAS, Railroad Commissoner. Wm. Barnwell (L.S.) Notary Public for South Carolina. This is another unique and novel way to make "just and reasonable" rates as required by law, where neither Attorney General Barber nor myself were Consulted. Commis sioner Evans got indignant when I asked him last February to inform me bow he came to reduce the ferti lizer rate in this particular congres sional district and nowhere else, without my knowledge or consent. The people will remember that the News and Courier advertised during the last campaign that Commissioner Evans was in the race for congress to the finieh. I gave Congressman McLaurin the above information, and also informed some of Commissioner Evans7 friends, and the next thing I knew he was out of the race. I don't know whether the reduction of the fertilizer rate had anything to do with his withdrawal or not, but I do know that this extraordinary manner of rate-making was for the politica benefit of Commissioner Evans ; for the political benefit of Commissioner Wilborn, who was introduced to my fellow citizens at Manning as the man who reduced the fertilizer rate, which rate he now acknowledges is | unjust and for the benefit of Secre tary Duncan, who sold 2.500 tons of fertilizer at about 75 cents a ton above the Charleston competitors, for which the interior mills paid him as agent 50 cents a ton ; this manner of rate making did not commend itself to my sense of justice and right, and I refused to touch it For these rea sons I protested against the reduc tion of the fertilizer rate. I have re fused to allow myself to be used for the personal and political advantage of my colleagues against the interest of the people and the laws of the State. I know I am right, and I ap peal to the people to support and maintain me, so long as I do my duly, and am faithful to the trust re posed in me. Commissioner Evans said in his reply sd State papers De cember 5, 1896, ' that the Manches ter and Augusta railroad, the road which was selected by the railroad as the one to make the fight against the new fertilizer rate, makes the follow ing showing : Gross earnings from ope rating, 1895, $ 84,319 IG Less expense of operat ing, ' 109,444.08 ! Deficit, $ 25,125.92 Gross earnings from ope rating, 1896, ?183,008 89 i Less operating expenses, 160,023.11 | Income, Income from sources, Total increase, ? 22,985 78 other 26,197.58 ? 49,183 36 The records in the office show that i Commissioner Evans' statement is al- j together untrue COMPARATIVE 8TATEMEXT M. 4 A. Miles operated in 1895, 143. Miles operated in 1896, 167.42. Expenses Year. Total income. Taxes. 1895, $ 84,463 41 $110,567.78 1896, 209,206.47 171,431,26 Expenses. Income. Deficit. est. 1895, $26,104.37 $48,200 1896, $37,775.21 62,175 Sabtraot the deficit of 1895 from the income of 1896 and we have $1. 670.84 to pay two years' interest amounting to $110,375 00. Io answer to Commissioner Evans. I do declare "that a maD would have to be a philan thropist, indeed" to invest millions of dollars in the railroads of this Stato for an interest of $1,670.84, and yet this is one of the best built and eqaipped rail roads in the State. "Personally appeared before me, Wm. Barnwell, notary public, State of South Carolina, Railroad Commissioner . R. Thomas, who makes oath that the railroad commissioners' show that it has always been the custom of this office to subtract from total income of the' rail roads, the total expenses and taxes to find a net iocome That (Jommissiouer Evans' statement in regard to income of Manchester and Augusta railroad in his reply to my speech, published in State papers Pec. 5th, is wholly un true, and that the statement made by myself isa truc copy taken from pages 31 and 67 Income Accounts, io the an nual report of the Manchester and Augusta railway for 1896, and that the publication of Secretary Duncan in the State papers of Dec. 4th, in regard to the icoome of all railroads in tbe State, is also utterly untrue "H. R. Thomas. 'Railroad Commissoner. Wm. Barnwell, (L.S ) "Notary Publio, S. C." If the error committed by com missioner 'Evans was unintention al, and also the error committed by our secretary with the rec ords plainly before tbem, it is proof of tbe grossest carelessness and stupidity. The ignorance of the important records of the Manchester and Augusta railroad which the majority of tbe beard has shown in their published salement proves their utter incapacity to make "just and reasonable" rates. Our secretary published in State papers Dec 4th an official statement of the incomes of the railroads. He says: "These reports are sworn to by the gen eral auditor and presidents of the rail roads, and are facts, and can be verified in this office," etc. His report shows that none of the railroads have a deficit, except the Carolina, Knoxville and Western railroad. See how earnestly he tries to impress the public with tbe correctness of his statement and yet tbe figures are all wrong, misleading and false. The people of the State have honored me with an office of honor and trust and bave instructed me in the law to make just and reasonable rates for all commodities and communities. I will join my colleagues in reducing rates to the lowest notch of justice and equity to all, but I refuse to betray my trust, to be made a party to making rates to enable Secretary Duncan to sell ferti lizer at 75 cents a ton above his compet itors, refuse to betray my trust to be made a party to making of rates to serve the political ambition of Com missooers Evans and Wilboro I re fuse to trample tbe State laws under foot and prostitute tbe office I hold from the high plane of justice and equity to all. After reading Commissioner Evans' reply to my speech on the fertilizer rate, I beg to add to my offer of a $25 suit of clothes, one month's salary to either one of my colleagues who wiH prove to to an acceptable committee that the rate they made on fertilizer is a "just and reasonable" rate as the law allows after a fair hearic?. I challenge again either one to accspt my proposi tion. in answer to the commisssoner's long, rambling reply to my speech showing the injustice of the fertilizer rate made ?rom illegal motives, I have proven tbe chairman and secretary's ut ter unreliability in making official state ments, with the records open before J them and the public can therefore juJpc i how much reliance can be placca in ? their unproved -statements when they i claim ?o reduce rates cn fertilizer for | the benefit the people. Abe Lincoln ' saia "you can't fool the people ail the j time." 11. R. THOMAS. Railroad Commissioner. ! Commission's Action on :: Fertilizer Kates. j Weil, the questioo of fertilizer freight ? rates is settled at last and there will j doubtless be an end to the incessant j talking about tbem for a ypar at least. The commission bas listened to exhaus tive arguments, gotten no end of spe cial figures from the railroads and manufacturers, studied them all over carefully and has decided not to change < tbe schedule of rates adopted a year ago. \ For two days the commission has been considering the arguments and 6gures presented at the recent hearing and has reached a final determination of the matter. Yesterday Commission er Thomas made a long speech in be half of the Charleston interests. The State does not publish the speech in full owiQg to the fact that nearly every argument used therein bas been given its readers in one waj or another since the agitation over the fertilizer rates began. Chairman Evans offered the follow ing resolution as the settlement of the whole question and it was later adopted after two resolutions offered by Mr Thomas, found below were talked on. Mr. Thomas voted agaiost it: "Case: Complaint of Charleston fer tilizer manufacturers claiming that the present-rate is discriminating against Charleston and that it gives the in terior mills an advantage over Charles ton to points ?orth of Columbia. "After a full hearing being given and arguments made by both complain ants and defendants on two several oc casions, the board is of the opinion that the rate is a just and reasonable as well as a legal rate, and does not discrimi nate against any place or person in this State, except at some of the points on the Atlantic Coast Line where the rate is made up of the locals less 20 per cent, instead of on a straight mileage rate, as the commission intended. This difference in the views of the Atlantic Coast Line management and the com mission it is hoped, will soon be re moved by the adoption of the mileage rate by that system. "With the exceptions above men tioned, we decide that the rates shall remain as now operated " Mr. Thomas in concluding his argu- | ment against the.adoption of the above said: "I know that you gentlemen would like to pass this resolution. It is a matter of pride wit? you, and you have the power; but is it right; is it law? The rate has been tried, and the largest of the fertilizer interests in this State claim that it is' destructive of their property, and being the servants of the people it is our duty to try at any rate to give them relief, and not arbitrarily stick to a rate which you can see is not satisfactory, for we have had four or five Charleston committees before us in a year, making always the same com plaint, and I think they have proven that the rate against which they have made complaint is discrimi?ative and illegal. This is the time to rectify the rate in conformity with the law ic the Pee Dee section; so that if the Atlantic Coast Line considers that it works any hardships to them they can appeal to the legislature. It is the law to-day; it is our duty to day; and I move that the rate to-day be changed to conform to the law.*' Mr. Thomas then offered the follow ing which was adopted, Mr. Wilborn voting against it on the ground that the board had already invited Mr. Emer son of the Coast Line to come bere next week and consult with them on that very subject: "Resolved that the fertilizer rates on the entire Atlantic Coast Line system shall be computed on the straight mile age basis, and that the traffic manager be requested to submit to this board such a tariff for its approval immediate ly." The following, Offered by Mr. Thomas, was also adopted, Mr. Wil born voting against it for the reason that General Freight Agent Glover had already assured him that the Sea board would at once put the rate in operation: "Resolved, That the $3.30 blanket rate shall apply to all stations on the Seaboard Air Line from Charleston and that the trafile manager of said road be requested to at once prepare rate sheet* to that effect to be submitted to this board for approv?l." These two resolutions, it wa? decided, should be tacked onto the Evans reso lution, and that all should be given the public as a whole as the action of the board on the question of the fertilizer rates.?Tbe State To Reduce the Acreage. Texas cotton planters arc taking ! steps to bring about a reduction of the cotton acreage throughout the South, ! Mr. J M. Patterson, corresponding secretary of tbe Farmer's Club, Thorn- : ion, Texas, request farmers throughou1, ! the South to organize farmers' clubs, j He solicits correspondence. A general ' reduction of the next cotton crop can [ be brought about by co-opcratetioo. i If this is done better prices will prevail, i The planters of the South should raise j their own food supplies. (Jutton will : then be certain to command higher ! prices. By making cotton a surplus! crop southern farmers can become pros- \ perous Io that event they w^uld be come financially independent. Mr Gladstone has been afflicted with I frequently recurring attacks of short ness of breath since last Thursday, The doctors attending the ex-premier state that although these attacks are mo mentarily alarming there is really no jause for anxiety, bu? it will be neces sary for Mr. Gladet one to spend ihe rioter at Canoes. ? Leaped to His Death. Clerk of Court for Lancaster Takes His Own Life. Lancaster, Dec. 9.?Clerk of tbe Court W. W. Perry committed suicide this morning about 10 o'clock by jump iog into Bear Creek from the Ohio Kiver aod Cbarlestoo Railroad trestle, three-fourths of a mile southwest of town. The whole community wps shocked when the news came io that Bill P?rry bad drowned himself. Mr. Perry was a great sufferer from dyspepsia and since his defeat last sum mer in the primaries for re-election has been very much depressed. He ate his breakfast as usual this morning and about 9 o'clock came into bis office and asked bis deputy, Mr. Jones, if be was busy. Mr. Jones replied that he had some work ahead. Mr. Perry then left the office and went to the creek, on the track of the railroad, but on reach ing the trestle turned aod came back in the direction of towo, but soon re turned to the creek. A school boy saw him walking hur riedly on the trestle with his hat off. Oo reaching the middle of the struc ture over the channel of tbe creek, he climbed down carefully to some plank nailed about 10 feet from tbe top and jumped off into the swollen waters be low. The boy who saw him gave the alarm and a man on the public read ran down the creek to render help. When he saw Perry he was holding his head above water with one band grasping a bush and had his bat in the other. The man called to him to hold on and he would help him. Mr. Perry turned bis j head, looked at him for a moment, | turned loose the bush and sayk for tbe j last time. Parties with beats and j hooks have been dragging for the body ali day but up to this time (8.30 p. m ) the search has been unsuccessful. Iiis hat was found 200 yards "below where he was seen to sink. The creek is very full and the water swift The search will be kept op all night. Mr. Perry was 45 years of age He was a cadet at tbe King's Mountain Military Institute just after the war. Several years ago he held the office of county auditor aod was elected clerk of the court four years ago. He made a model clerk. He was generous and kiodhearted to a fault and was held io high esteem by all who knew him. He leaves a wife but oo children. Mr. W. L. Porter, the newly elected j clerk, will take charge in a cay or two. Bryan in Columbia. Columbia Register. It will be welcome news to Colum bia to know that Bryan will be in this city on his regular lecture tour. As soon as it was announced that Captain McBee bad engaged Mr. Bryan for a lecturing tour, The Register promptly called upon Captain McBee to include this city in the regular itin erary. Tbe editor of The Register has re ceived tbe following communication : Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 5, 1896. My Dear Sir : In arrangiog the lec ture tour of the Hon. W. J. Bryan, it has been deemed advisable to include your city in tbe itinerary. It has been suggested that I write you to secure certain reliable information. If it is entirely agreeable, will you please give, me the n;vme of your largest hall, meeting place, theatre, exposition building or rink ; its seat ing capacity, its accessibility, and for what it can be rented ? I will be gratefal not only for the above, but for any other information you may give regarding tbe tour of the distinguished gentleman, which begins in Atlanta the first week in January. Very truly yours, Alex. Ccm.stjck. Governor Evans has commuted the following sentences : Ilamp Saterwhitey commuted, so that ho can pay a fine of $50 or serve six months oo the chain gang. Jerry Taylor, of Oconee, commuted to date. Sentenced to two years in prison for grand larceny. George W. Harrison ; sentenced to five years in the Penitentiary from Spartanburg, on the charge of man slaughter. Don't t'e persuaded ic:o buying iinirucn;? without reputation or merit?Chamberlain's Pain Balen costs no men*, and its merits have been proven t>y a lest of many years. Such letters as tbe following, frena I U . Bagiey, Buenetne, Cai., are constantly being re ceived : "Toe lie?* remedy for piin i bave ever used is Charaberlaio's Pain !;-;;?:?. .??.-:i? 1 say so after bav?ng tiied i; in my fa m i ?y for several years " It cures rheumatism, lame back, s;>r?iir:? and swellings. For $ ? by Dr. A. J. China. Highest cf ail in Leavening Tow i Mr. F. G. de Fontaine Dead. The Career of the Distin guished Man and Author Widely Known. Felix G. de Fontaine, the noted war*correspoudent and author, is no more. The news of his death will be a shock to his friends all over the ' United States. The end came at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He died at his home on Fickens street near Lady. Mr. de Fontaine had been confined to his room less than a week, but he had contracted a case of pneumonia and his strength began to fail rapidly. Last week during the snow Mr. de Fontaine accompa nied several gentlemen on a hunt in the vicinity of Hopkins. He con tracted pneumonia from the exposure, came home and went to bed. All that medical skill could suggest was done to save his life, but on Thurs day night it was realized that his condition was critical. Telegrams were sent to his son and daughter in. New York summoning them Yes terday morning he began to sink and realized, to use one of his own .phases, "that the silver cord was al ready loosened and the golden bowl was broken.;' No one expected 3 fatal termination of Mr. de Fon taine's illness, and the announce ment was a great shock to the hun dreds of friends of the deceased gen tleman. Since coming to Columbia Mr. de Fontaine has made hundreds of friends. He was a most lovable man, a man with soft, engaging man ners, a courtly gentleman of the old school, a man thatjio city could af ford to lose. He was cultured and possessed of talents of a rare quality7. As a writer and a conversationalist, Mr. de Fontaine displayed powers that never failed to fascinate those who were thrown in contact with him. His judgment was unerring: his character was noble and patriot ism was a part of his very soul He made friends by his open, honest way of treating strangers and never turn ed his back on tLose who suffered or were oppressed. Born of distinguished French pa rentage in Boston in 1824, he went when still a young man to New York, where he was subsequently made editor of the Evening Tele gram and afterwards financial, dra matic and musical editor t>f the New York Herald. His journalistic ca reer opened brilliantly for his ability was recognized at once He was a great oersonal friend of James Gor don Bennet, of the New York Her ald. Mr. de Fontaine came to South Carolina just prior to tbe war and it was he who sent the message to the Herald conveying to the people of the north the first news of the firing upon Fort Sumter. Mr. de Fontaine at once espoused the cause of the south and as the correspondent of th? Charleston Courier, writing under the nom de plume of "Personne," he went to the front and made a reputa tian for himself that will endure for all time. His letters were eagerly sought after by the people of ail countries. Just before the close of the war Mr. de Fontaine edited along with William Gilmoee Simms, the Carolinian in this city. This work continued for some time after the war Finally the Carolinian was burned out, and Mr. de Fontaine went to New York where he went back upon the staff of the New York Herald, working there for over a score of years, the hearty companion and friend of Mr. Bennett. Irle re turned to Columbia last summer to I publish his magazine referred to j above, selecting this point because of his love for the city and its cen j trai location j Re married the sister of the gal I lant Col John Moore, of Orr's RiSes I of this State, who was killed gallant ! ly leading his regiment at the second ? battle of Manassas. Mrs de Fon ! taine was siso a sister of the late ! Mrs. Sallie F. Chap?n, the widely ?known leader of the W. C. T. U., ! and of the Hon. J. 0 A. Moore, of Darlington countv. j Mr. do Fontaine leaves oniy three I children. The youngest, Miss ! Edythe, is at present in Columbia j with lier mother. His only son, Mr. ! Wade Hampton de Fontaine, resides j in New York city and is at the head j of the Lettuce dea::! Manufacturing i company of Fifth avenue He is quite wealthy. Tiie third child, the i eldest daughter, married a member j of the distinguished and wealthy : Schuyler family of New York, and resides at Bergen Point, . Y ?The State, Dec. 12. cr.?Latest U.S. Gov't Report icing Powder EE.Y PURE